challenging 'isms' & 'phobias'
A bridge-building neighborhood discussion series covering current event topics through a lens of social justice. Available virtually and in-person nationwide.
Our marquee event focused on building unity and inspiring fellowship amongst the region's African diasporic populations and their allies.
This initiative is designed to fill the void left by cuts in arts programming in schools, addressing all elements of a S.T.E.A.M education while focusing on the "art" element.
CultureBrave was birthed in Los Angeles in 2016 out of a need to address political uprisings stemming from that year's election cycle, and to refute the dangerous and widely-held assumption that Americans were living in a post-racial society.
Pursuing social equity; challenging 'isms' & 'phobias'
Learn More About UsJoin our community of changemakers working toward social justice, equity, and understanding.
Our story, mission, and values
CultureBrave was birthed in Los Angeles in 2016 out of a need to address political uprisings stemming from that year's election cycle, and to refute the dangerous and widely-held assumption that Americans were living in a post-racial society after 8 years of President Barack Obama's administration.
The need for outreach, and to widely educate global communities on a grassroots level was acknowledged and quickly implemented– starting with our first initiative Conversations in Color, a bridge-building neighborhood discussion series covering current event topics through a lens of social justice.
CultureBrave: At the intersection of speaking our truth, appreciating our differences, celebrating our similarities, and effecting social change.
CultureBrave offers multiple opportunities for education in DEIA spaces, whether for personal growth or in order to establish a welcoming and supportive workplace; we've developed a range of cultural competence curricula in various formats, with the intention of meeting our clients and allies where they are.
Our vision at CultureBrave is to inspire and empower people who want to reach across racial, cultural, ethnic, LGBTQIA+ and gender divides -- as well as to reach within ourselves -- to learn, share ideas, and build new social constructs with energy, authority, and poise.
At CultureBrave we believe that leveraging a strong, courageous and diverse team is the way to build strong, courageous and diverse communities; we want our organization to reflect the populations that we serve.
Our backgrounds and experiences are varied, and we love it! Our differences in gender, gender identity, values, immigrant status, class, creed, race, culture, ethnicity, hopes, religion, socio-economic status, age, sexual orientation, abilities, skills and dreams equal various perspectives; these perspectives create the ideas that are so imperative in addressing the complex issues of an ever-changing, and increasingly diverse world.
At its core, CultureBrave is made up of like-minded individuals who care about their fellow humans, who care about restorative justice, and who care about making a collective transformative impact on communities globally. We are respectful of one another, we are present for each other and, perhaps most importantly, we strive for empathic action in every interaction, as this is how we manifest the innermost parts of our shared humanity.
An inclusive environment by engaging diverse talent and by removing all bias barriers
Our Diversity & Inclusion progress through transparent communication and reporting
And manage workplace equality and fairness through systematic approaches
By creating and updating a systematic set of tools and resources
Education, community, and empowerment opportunities
At its core, CultureBrave's Art & Learning Initiative is designed to fill the void left by cuts in arts programming in schools. Using an all-ages curriculum that can be adapted to meet academic standards by grade, Art & Learning addresses all elements of a S.T.E.A.M education, while focusing on the "art" element that is so often missing.
With this initiative, we at CultureBrave are vested in achieving our primary goal of helping to develop students' knowledge and appreciation of global citizenry and different cultures—by exposing them to the diversity therein.
Learn More About Our Curriculum
A bridge-building neighborhood discussion series covering current event topics through a lens of social justice. Conversations in Color meets virtually, as well as in-person in various communities nationwide.
Meets monthly to discuss timely texts, used in correlation with our curriculum. When possible, we couple these conversations with author interviews, book readings, and discussions. Book Club meets virtually, as well as in-person in various cities nationwide.
A global non-profit that uses self-reflective writing as the therapeutic foundation to empower under-represented and underserved teens; this writing is then used as the foundation for their subsequent literary, musical, theatrical, and film projects.
We honor our youth, and welcome them to our Teen Activist & Advocator Coalition. Here their voices are heard loudly and clearly as they endeavor to make the world a better place.
It is not your job to educate other populations as far as equity and inclusion goes, unless you want it to be. Here at CultureBrave we want to provide you with the support you need– whether it be an ear to listen, or sharing strategies to engage in difficult conversations– we've got you!
What is an ally? How can you be one? Join the CultureBrave discussion on how you can be an ally to marginalized populations. Learn to use your privilege to stand alongside and support your fellow humans in achieving true equity and equality.
The LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit people are encouraged to join the CultureBrave collective to engage in discussions, share experiences, and build awareness of specifically relevant issues, as well as of the many intersections therein.
CultureBrave has built an action-oriented space in which to bridge races, religions, beliefs, and creeds. Come prepared to think critically, work toward justice for marginalized populations, and discover how inclusivity and diversity can enrich your faith.
Join us for transformative conversations and connections
Rooted in Blackness is CultureBrave's marquee event, focused on building unity and inspiring fellowship amongst the region's African diasporic populations and their allies.
With this conference we offer opportunities for authentic engagement, giving Black voices a safe space to address topics relevant to us. We are, after all, rooted in Blackness–which means that we approach all things through a Black cultural lens.
The Rooted in Blackness conference tours globally.
Register for Next Event"I attended CultureBrave's book discussion on November 24th, 2019. The authors of A Language of Healing for a Polarized Nation were very engaging and the discussion was expertly facilitated by the erudite and lovely Lisa Vitello, who has clearly found her calling. I am definitely not the only one who found this event relevant as it ran far over its allotted time frame. I am excited to attend the next Conversation in Color!"— Nicole Chahrouri
Interested in hosting a CultureBrave event in your community? We bring our programming nationwide and would love to partner with local organizations and community leaders.
Get in TouchTools and materials for learning and growth
Join our community of changemakers
CultureBrave is dedicated to facilitating respectful, informative conversations free from bias, conflict and criticism about all things related to DEIA. Driven by current events and topical global issues, we provide programming, initiatives and events as opportunities for self-reflection, awareness, education and understanding.
Become a Member"As a Facebook group member of CultureBrave, I have found an authentic group of people willing to be able to self reflect, sit in discomfort, share and shift their thinking and ways of being vis a vis whiteness, anti-racism and anti-poverty. As a result of being in a group of kindred spirits, I have been able to 'be brave' and to have difficult conversations with family and friends."— Sharon Herrick
Use your time and talents to further the CultureBrave mission. We welcome volunteers to support:
Gain valuable experience while contributing to social justice work. Our internships offer:
Your donations help us continue our mission of education, advocacy, and community building.
Donate NowHelp fund our teen writers' residency program, providing them with intensive creative development opportunities.
Help cover travel and lodging costs for young activists to attend our leadership summit.
We gratefully accept donations of:
Partner with us to amplify your organization's commitment to social justice while supporting our programs.
Join our ongoing quarterly fundraising series that helps financially support our teen program's free to sliding scale model.
Let's start a conversation
A thought leader and big-picture thinker who passionately weaves equity, culture, and issues of restorative justice into her work. A modern day griot representing multicultural and intercultural voices.
Meet Lisa
A prolific blogger and commentator on societal and equality issues. A firm believer in "When people know better, they do better," focusing on personal growth through discussion and action.
Meet Tara
Experienced in finance and politics with global perspective. A Cal State Sacramento Senate Fellow and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, committed to lifelong service.
Meet Maya
A dynamic figure in journalism and business, championing Black excellence and community empowerment. CEO of EA Public Relations with unwavering commitment to uplifting communities.
Meet EmmaBased in 5 countries with programs available virtually and in-person nationwide
Founder & Executive Director
As a thought leader and big-picture thinker, Lisa is a versatile multi-hyphenate who passionately weaves equity, culture, and issues of restorative justice into her work. A modern day griot, she hones her dexterity in storytelling from the standpoint of a diasporic cultural anthropologist, representing multicultural and intercultural voices.
← Back to TeamHer vast talent and experience are grounded in a Diploma of College Studies in Languages & Literature with certifications in Bilingualism and Women's Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with an emphasis on Feminist and Minority (global majority) Women Writers, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with an emphasis on Writers of Color. These skills have furthered her work as a writer, a lauded director of staged productions, as well as that of a filmmaker.
As an educator, Lisa's skills are rooted in her expertise as a cultural competency and diversity expert. With a personal mission to empower and teach the global citizenry at a grassroots level, she is adept at curating and guiding the development and partnerships of vibrant and vital transformative initiatives. With her ability to think strategically, she provides direction to and leadership for relevant advocacy platforms, and is a champion of arts education both in her native Canada, as well as stateside.
A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated, Lisa holds dear the principles of advocating for social change and equality.
Associate Director
A prolific blogger and commentator on societal and equality issues, she credits her parents with laying the foundation of the four social justice principles: equity, access, participation, and rights. A firm believer in, "When people know better, they do better," she focuses primarily on helping people achieve personal growth and awareness through reading, writing, discussion, and action.
← Back to TeamTara is fluently bilingual (English and French) and holds a Diploma of Collegiate Studies in Social Sciences with an emphasis on languages and literature. As a writer and managing editor in the life sciences for over 20 years, she adeptly manages continuing education from concept to completion, from grant and content development to publication/posting.
Tara is a professional member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), Editors Canada, and Science Writers & Communicators of Canada (SWCC).
Special Projects Consultant
Maya has a wealth of experience in the finance world--from preparing campaign finance reports, to processes campaign contributions and expenditures for candidates, officeholders and PACs. She was a Cal State Sacramento Senate Fellow, where she worked for the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee as a committee consultant; Maya also served as a field representative for Senator Steven Bradford in his Inglewood, California district office.
← Back to TeamShe is a graduate of Fordham University at Lincoln Center with a Bachelor of Political Science and a minor in African and African American Studies, and also attended the illustrious HBCU Howard University in Washington, DC for two years prior to transferring to Fordham. During her time at Fordham Maya became a member of Pi Sigma Alpha (national political science honors society), and served as treasurer of the Deaf Education American Sign Language Club. She is also a certified yoga instructor, and was Vice President of Bison yoga at Howard University.
A global citizen in the truest sense of the word, Maya is fluent in French after having spent two years at boarding school in Paris. Furthermore, as a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated, her lifelong passion for service is evidenced by work in Accra, Ghana with Global Leadership Adventures; Maya also previously worked with Joyce Banda, then President of Malawi, with the Joyce Banda Foundation.
Communications & PR
Emma Ansah has been a dynamic figure in journalism and business, using her platforms to champion Black excellence and drive community empowerment. As the Canadian correspondent for the African Diaspora News Channel, Emancipation Media and The Daily Scrum News, she has dedicated her career to telling stories that matter, particularly those centered around the Black experience in Canada and beyond.
← Back to TeamAdditionally, Emma's entrepreneurial ventures have provided businesses with the tools to thrive; her role as CEO of EA Public Relations has helped her build a reputation for integrity and strategic vision, as she offers comprehensive marketing and public relations support by guiding businesses to success with thoughtful brand visibility and impactful campaigns.
Ansah's work—whether in journalism or business—demonstrates an unwavering commitment to uplifting and empowering the Black community. Her dedication to telling the stories that matter and advocating for real solutions in business positions her as a true champion in the fight for visibility, equality, and success. As a journalist, businesswoman, and community leader, she embodies the essence of Black excellence, reminding us that progress and achievement are built through dedication, resilience, and action.
Her influence continues to grow, and through her reporting, entrepreneurial efforts, and leadership, she remains a powerful voice for change. Ansah's contributions ensure that the stories of Black communities are not just heard, but celebrated– all year round.