Meet The Collective Identity Mentoring’s Team.
Welcome to The Collective Identity Mentoring, where passion meets the purpose and our commitment to empowering the youth is unwavering. At the heart of our organization is a dynamic team of dedicated individuals, each contributing their unique skills and expertise to ensure the seamless operation of TCI. Get ready to meet the faces behind the scenes, the driving force that propels us forward in our mission to provide unparalleled support to the next generation. Join us as we introduce the incredible individuals who form The Collective Identity Mentoring team, united by a shared vision of creating a positive impact on the lives of young people.
Jessica Akintunde, MSW/ASW
Program Manager
Jessica Akintunde (She/Her) holds a Master's in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California. Her passion is deeply rooted in empowering communities of color through individual & collective healing, non-traditional enrichment programs, and advocacy/social justice. Jessica has a range of both clinical and management experience, mainly working with black and brown youth in South Los Angeles. Within her various roles, she has provided individual/group counseling to adolescents, developed behavior intervention support models for secondary schools, and designed comprehensive social-emotional wellness programs for non-profit organizations. Although this is just a minor snapshot of the work Jessica has done over the years, she strives to inspire, motivate, and empower communities through her work.
Ebony Robinson, BA,/MA
Confab Facilitator
Ebony Robinson is a Los Angeles native with a heart for service. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology. Ebony is the Associate Director of Fitness and Nutrition at AIDS Healthcare Foundation. She is also a Relationship Coach and Consultant who helps couples, families, and corporations focus on core relationship components to ensure healthier and stronger personal and professional relationships. Ebony is the mother of an adult daughter and teenage son. She is passionate about fitness and business and enjoys music of all genres, traveling, art, and spending time with family and friends. Ebony embodies a growth mindset in all aspects of life.
Dr. Mariah Dillard, Psy.D
Relationship Support Specialist
Mariah Dillard (she/they) is originally from Philadelphia, PA and has been living in Los Angeles for the past 7 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Family Science and Human Development, Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy, and a Doctorate of Psychology in Education Psychology. Mariah’s doctoral dissertation focused on the dehumanization and criminalization of African American female students in K-12 schools. Her research highlighted the need for educational and professional spaces to include more culturally competent, antiracist, affirming language, practices, and curricula to best support Black girls.
Mariah’s professional experience has given her the privilege of working in community mental health, teen residential rehabilitation programs, private practice, startups, and non-profits all throughout Los Angeles. Mariah is passionate about providing culturally responsive, attachment focused, and trauma-informed care with the diverse group of clients that she works with. In her spare time, Mariah enjoys traveling (her favorite city is Tokyo, Japan), reading fantasy/sci-fi books, playing video games, and spending time with her partner and three dogs.
Tanisha Moncrieffe- Grant, BA/M.Ed
Curriculum Developer
Tanisha Moncrieffe-Grant is a curriculum developer and instructional designer. Born and raised in NYC, Tanisha focused on specialized learning, content development, and instructional development. She has earned her A.A. in Deaf students, B.S. in Special education and English, and Master’s in education concentrating on curriculum and instruction. Throughout her professional career, she has specialized in improving project ideas, developing effective programs, and finding solutions that align with organizational goals. Her passion for education is fueled by the idea that everyone should be provided with the educational tools and resources to succeed.
Araya Blakely, BA
Confab Facilitator
Araya Blakely (she/her) is a Los Angeles transplant who moved around the Midwest and the South for much of her life. As a Black/mixed girl, her family experienced homelessness, incarceration and policing, and poverty while living in predominantly white areas. After graduating from the University of Iowa (2022), Araya moved to Los Angeles to combat the criminalization of Black girls and trans youth. Araya hopes to support TCI’s Abound cohorts as they approach college graduation, navigate new career paths, and explore identity as young adults
Tehana Weeks, BA/BS
Lead Confab Facilitator
Tehana is delighted to be the Lead Confab Facilitator for The Collective Identity Mentoring! She is thrilled to be working with a talented team of amazing black women and excited to positively impact the lives of young women and girls. In her role as Lead Facilitator, she uses her leadership experience to guide and advise TCI facilitators and her background in facilitating, moderating, and hosting to cultivate safe expansive spaces for TCI mentees.
A native Houstonian with Liberian roots and a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Tehana is an award-winning actor and filmmaker. Though acting her passion, it is her joy to create powerful content and to tell stories about underrepresented people, places and things.
Tehana is also proud to be the Senior Director of Community Programs, Events, Outreach and Engagement for We Make Movies, a film studio and production company determined to revolutionize the film business.
Claressa Everett, BA/MSW
Executive Assistant
As a dedicated social worker, Claressa brings a wealth of experience in mental health, non-profit leadership, school-based services, professional coaching, case management, and combating human trafficking. Currently serving as the executive assistant at The Collective Identity, her work revolves around promoting social justice and mental wellness and fostering self-awareness in individuals. Passionate about people, she strives to make a positive impact in every facet of her professional journey. In any team role, Claressa firmly believes in the principle that the progress of one individual signifies progress for all. This conviction underscores her commitment as the Executive Assistant, where she leverages her diverse experiences to move the TCI mission forward.
Have a question or request? Email Claressa
Ariana Williams, BSPH/MPAc
Grant Writer
Ariana M. Williams, BSPH, MPAc is a Strategic Grant Writer and Public Health Practitioner. She specializes in small/grassroots nonprofit management, community and population health projects, healthcare, and social justice. After experiencing overt, systemic, and institutional racism in an undergraduate nursing program, Ariana transferred schools and shortly after being introduced to public health, also changed her major. Ariana earned her B.S. in public health in 2017 and is a master’s in public administration candidate with completion anticipated in May 2024.
With a dynamic background, Ariana brings six years of invaluable experience, having secured over $5 million in awarded funds for small nonprofits and small businesses. Ariana envisions a future where the power of strategic grant writing serves as a force for positive change, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for communities. Her work is driven by a vision of a more inclusive and equitable society, where health disparities are addressed head-on, and everyone has the chance to live a life of quality and purpose. Her passion lies in intentionally utilizing grant funding as a powerful tool to dismantle barriers that hinder populations from experiencing a high quality of life.