Dr. Sheldon Greaves earned his doctorate in ancient Near Eastern Studies from UC Berkeley. His primary area of emphasis was the Hebrew Bible. Since then he has worked in a number of educational capacities, serving on the Boards of three science education nonprofits and as a Scholar-in-Residence, currently for the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in Corvallis, Oregon. Sheldon is a professional writer and editor, working in corporate, academic, and commercial settings. He is a co-founder and was the Chief Academic Officer at Henley-Putnam University, the first private university offering accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and Executive Protection. For two years Dr. Greaves was an on-call substitute teacher and educational assistant for the Greater Albany Public School district where he worked with kids at all age levels and abilities, teaching in multiple subject areas. Sheldon currently creates and conducts local adult education programs on a wide range of subjects. He is the author of "The Guerrilla Scholar's Handbook" (2025), a how-to guide for conducting high-quality intellectual work outside of academia.

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

Donald Williams is an educator, author, speaker, and lifelong student of resilience, faith, and personal transformation. Raised in a South Carolina cotton mill village, he became the first person in his family to graduate from a major university, eventually earning three degrees from Clemson University, including a Doctor of Education. Throughout his career, Donald taught more than 5,000 students and served as an Education Research Analyst with the Department of Defense Education Activity in the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

Donald is the co-author of *Born of Nothing: From White Trash and Lintheads to Purpose Across Generations*, a powerful story of poverty, perseverance, faith, and the ability of families to change their trajectory over time. Today, he shares lessons learned from a lifetime of education, leadership, hardship, and hope, encouraging others to believe that where they begin in life does not have to determine where they finish.

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

Mari Verano is a Filipino-American Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, ADHD Productivity Specialist, and Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician.  As a therapist in private practice, she specializes in treating high-achieving professionals with ADHD, late-diagnosed women with ADHD and Adult Children of Narcissists.  She has 15+ years of mental health experience helping clients from diverse communities get sober, leave unhealthy work environments, and heal from abusive relationships.  Mari also consults with organizations to help employees with ADHD bring out their genius. 

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

Today’s guest is Christopher W. Quigley, a Nova Scotia–based artist, designer, and stroke survivor who has transformed personal adversity into a powerful national mission. He’s the founder and Executive Director and Creative Director of ALCHEMIA Art Workshop, a nonprofit arts organization rooted in the belief that public art can spark real social change.

His latest project, Transformation of Dangerous Spaces, is a cross-Canada installation that reimagines the hidden places where gender-based violence often begins, bathroom stalls, locker rooms, the ignored corners of public life. Through sound, light, and visceral design, Christopher invites Canadian men to reflect on consent, accountability, and the spaces we take for granted.

It’s art, but not just gallery art. It’s a call to action. And it’s as Canadian as it is urgent.

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

Natalie Samarjian is the President and CEO of Coro California, the unified statewide organization formed through the historic merger of Coro Northern and Southern California. For nearly a decade, she served as President and CEO of Coro Southern California, where she advanced a new strategic vision, expanded programs and partnerships, increased revenue, and built a dynamic alumni community driving impact across the region. Building on that foundation, Natalie led the complex integration of the two Coro organizations, creating Coro California and positioning it to develop ethical and effective leaders statewide with greater scale, alignment, and transformational impact.

Prior to Coro, Natalie served at the California Women’s Law Center, advancing the rights of women and girls through impact litigation, public policy advocacy, and legal education. She previously worked as a Staff Attorney and Dickran Tevrizian Fellow at Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, where she represented survivors of domestic violence, supported impact litigation – including a successful appeal in Montagner v. Montagner – and led extensive community outreach and legal education efforts.

Earlier in her career, Natalie was a Labor and Employment litigator at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, where she also engaged deeply in pro bono advocacy, successfully representing an asylum seeker before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Before entering the legal profession, she worked as a Human Capital Consultant in Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Public Sector practice.

Natalie holds a Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law, a Master of Science from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Public Policy & Management, and a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. Natalie is an alumnus of the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs and Emerge California, and was a recipient of the Empowerment Congress’ Emerging Civic Leaders 40 Under 40 award and a recipient of LA Impact-Makers to Watch award. She serves on the Boards of Public Counsel, The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, and the UCLA Alumni Association.

Learn more about Coro at https://coroca.org/ and https://coroca.org/programs/

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

T.A. Thompson developed a love for writing simply from picking up a book. An author’s ability to transport every reader to a world of their creation was awe-inspiring. They controlled how the story was unveiled, the emotional journey the reader experienced, and the twists and turns that brought them to the end.

His writing started around third grade, and without mincing words was quite terrible. It did, however, set the tone for future stories. Happy endings were boring. Almost every book would end in a predictable fashion, with the good guy or gal winning, and the world being just a little bit better than on page one. The stories that captured his attention were those where the unexpected happened, where something came out of left field to derail the protagonist and leave the bad guy with at least a little win.

The book that set the tone was Stephen King’s Cujo. The evil spirit of a past villain living vicariously through the rotten mind of a St. Bernard with rabies. A small boy dying unexpectedly in his mother’s arms at the end when he should have lived. When he stopped to think about it, though, T.A. Thompson decided everything pointed to the boy not making it. The only logical reason for thinking he should have lived was because of “the good guy always wins” mentality. The horrific story was an eye opener for him, and always sits in the back of his mind when he’s creating something new.

Having worked in the insurance profession for over twelve years, T.A. Thompson observes most things through a worst case scenario lens. What is the maximum amount of damage that can be done? How is someone likely to get hurt, and how bad could it really be? Being immersed in this way of thinking has expanded his imagination to encompass more than the ordinary man might think of without encouragement. Very few things in life go as planned. Being able to see those negative possibilities has allowed T.A. Thompson to incorporate twists and turns into his writing that bring the unexpected, though not always welcome, to his writing. Through this he feels he brings something a little different to the literary world.

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e 

Dan Siskind has served as the Program Director of the Bay Area region of the California JusticeCorps since its founding in 2006. His favorite part of the job is connecting young people, who are looking to make a difference in their communities, with meaningful opportunities to do so. Dan received his Bachelors in Rhetoric with Honors from Bates College in Lewiston Maine and a Master’s from the University of San Francisco in Teaching for Social Justice.  After college he served as an AmeriCorps member with Teach for America where he taught 7th and 8th grade Math, Science and U.S. History in the Oakland, California public schools. Following 5 years in education he served in California state government as an Executive Branch Fellow in the Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism (California Volunteers). In his free time Dan enjoys spending time with his family and friends outdoors and coaching youth sports.

JusticeCorps has three regional programs in California: LA, the Bay Area and San Diego. Learn more about the different regions by clicking here. 

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

Grand Agent is a Philadelphia hip-hop pioneer, political recording artist, independent music veteran, and cultural organizer whose career spans decades at the intersection of music, activism, and community impact.

Known for his thought-provoking lyrics, uncompromising authenticity, and commitment to truth-telling through art, Grand Agent built his early career as part of the fabric of hip-hop’s independent and underground movements. Over time, his work evolved beyond music into broader conversations about culture, politics, entrepreneurship, and social change.

In 2020, upon returning to his hometown of Philadelphia, Grand Agent was confronted directly with the city’s ongoing gun violence epidemic. Drawing on decades of experience navigating the music industry, building networks, and mobilizing audiences, he recognized that the same skillset used to build a career in entertainment could be applied toward community intervention and organizing.

This realization led to the creation and leadership of PEACE PATROL, a violence disruption initiative that has become a flagship program under PHILLY TRUCE, focused on reducing violence through presence, engagement, and cultural intervention. His work in this space bridges the worlds of hip-hop, civic responsibility, and grassroots organizing.

As he resumes his recording and touring career, Grand Agent approaches his artistic work with an organizer’s mindset—viewing culture not just as expression, but as infrastructure for influence, economic opportunity, and political power.

With America approaching its 250th anniversary, his central question is whether the hip-hop generation is prepared to fully capitalize—politically and economically—on the cultural capital it has amassed over the past several decades.

Podcast audiences value Grand Agent for his ability to connect lived experience in music with real-world insights on leadership, community building, creative independence, and cultural strategy.

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e 

Niketa Kumar is a communications, narrative, and campaign strategist with 15 years of experience working alongside immigrant communities, unions and working people, scientists, researchers, and organizers. Her work helps organizations and coalitions sharpen what they want to win, find new avenues to grow their power, and nourish more durable, creative partnerships. 

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e

Rola Halawanji is an innovative leader with a deep commitment to workforce development, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment. As the Program Director of California Climate Action Corps (CCAC), she has led the program's remarkable growth from a cohort of 50 fellows to more than 400 fellows statewide in just four years. She has guided the program from a start-up initiative to a nationally recognized climate service corps by building scalable systems, strengthening strategic partnerships, enhancing the fellow experience, and driving operational excellence. Under her leadership, the program continues to expand its impact while preparing the next generation of climate leaders to serve communities across California.

Rola's leadership is rooted in inclusion, belonging, empathy, resilience, and efficiency. She believes that investing in people, fostering collaboration, and building systems that enable others to thrive are the foundation for creating lasting, meaningful impact.

Originally from Tunisia, Rola came to California more than 20 years ago as the first person in her family to pursue higher education. Her professional journey has been driven by a passion for education, workforce development, and sustainability. She has held leadership roles at Long Beach City College, the Los Angeles Community College District, and The Energy Coalition, where she developed and led initiatives that expanded career and technical education, connected K–12 students to higher education, and created pathways into green careers.

Beyond her professional achievements, Rola is an active parent and community member. She is involved in her children's school as a room parent and PTA volunteer, helping foster an inclusive environment through arts and cultural activities. Whether at work or at home, she is passionate about empowering others, building community, and creating opportunities for future generations.

Want to be a guest on Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community? Send Danise Sugita a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1763751693205864f9876416e