Welcome to The Collective Identity Mentoring, where our commitment to empowering youth is guided by a dynamic and experienced Advisory Board. These dedicated individuals play a pivotal role in shaping our strategies and initiatives, ensuring that our programs align with the diverse needs of the community.
Our Advisory Board is a collaborative force, offering expertise in various fields to provide well-rounded counsel on matters that impact the lives of Los Angeles youth. From education to mental health, entertainment, and beyond, our board members bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the table.
At the heart of our approach is a commitment to actively listen to and collaborate with the youth we serve. This commitment is a fundamental aspect of our mission, and our Advisory Board plays a crucial role in ensuring that we remain true to this principle. By fostering open communication and engagement with the community, we aim to create a collective identity that reflects the aspirations and needs of the youth we support.
Join us in getting to know The Collective Identity Mentoring's Advisory Board—a dedicated team working tirelessly to empower and uplift the next generation of Black. women and gender expansive individuals. Their guidance ensures that our programs are not only impactful but also responsive to the dynamic and evolving needs of the youth we are privileged to serve.
Kourtney Brodnax
Kourtney Brodnax was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She attended Culver City High School where she was a three-sport athlete and developed her passion for sports and entertainment. Kourtney brings a unique perspective to her position as an advisory board member as she is a also serves as a TCI mentor.
Kourtney attended Whittier College where she was a student athlete peer mentor, captain of the track and field team and created her own interdisciplinary major under the Whittier Scholars program. While obtaining her Masters from The University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, Kourtney was the Vice President of The Black Graduate Student Network. In her role, she created “Black Brunch SCundays” with the purpose of bridging the gap between the virtual and on campus Black Trojan community. In May 2023, Kourtney had the honor of addressing the Class of 2023 as the Graduate Student Commencement Speaker. In her free time, Kourtney enjoys attending all things sports related, fitness and exploring the best Matcha spots in LA.
Ifeayin Eziamaka "Ezi" Ogbuli
Ezi brings a unique perspective to our Advisory Board as a former mentee of the TCI program. Ezi's journey from mentee to advisory board member is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and perseverance. Ezi brings firsthand mentee experience, and contributes invaluable insights that shape our organization's approach to mentorship, community and empowerment.
Ifeayin Eziamaka "Ezi" Ogbuli holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies and a Master of Public Health from the University of Southern California (USC). She is interested in human rights as they relate to systems and institutions of governance and is passionate about history and storytelling with a regional focus on the African continent. Ezi hopes to attend law school to further her human rights education and continue uplifting the voices of Black people and other marginalized groups in this space. Ezi is a former The Collective Identity (TCI) Mentee and a strong advocate for communal spaces for Black women and girls alongside Black gender nonconforming persons. This advocacy comes from her communal and leadership work as the Executive Director of Siblings in Solidarity (S.I.S.), an affirming social and professional space for Black women and gender nonconforming persons to build community and support one another, and as a Cultural Ambassador at the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA), a space for Black students to call home and gain professional, academic and social support, both while attending USC. Ezi is returning to TCI, now as a member of the youth advisory board, where she will work to support the work of the mentee program.
Kelly Ferguson
Kelly is a nonprofit professional with experience in both direct service and development She has worked in various arenas in the sector, including anything from a startup nonprofit providing free in-home volunteer childcare to low-income women getting their Associates and Bachelors degrees, to an organization providing long-term adult mentors for youth in foster care in MA.
Kelly is passionate about youth empowerment, and leveraging her skills to bring resources to underserved communities including the LGBTQ community, communities of color, immigrants, those with low income backgrounds, and women and girls.
Kelly is so proud to serve as an Advisory Board member with The Collective Identity Mentoring, and to be a part of a new nonprofit founded and run by an amazing team of passionate black women creating opportunities for young black girls. Originally from New England, she enjoys hiking with her partner and pup Ripley, singing karaoke, and reading fiction.