Voices That Propel Us: Stories of Justice, Action, and Community

Eden Lima is a passionate seeker of truth, equity, and self-empowerment whose journey into social justice began as a teen navigating the chaotic, often hostile terrain of the internet. Raised in a biracial home by an American mother and Guatemalan father, Eden witnessed the forces of ignorance and bigotry early on and chose education and curiosity as tools of resistance. From online subcultures to real-world movements, they’ve always been guided by a desire to right injustice wherever it shows up.

A transmasculine changemaker who came to his identity later than many of his peers, Eden’s path has been shaped by resilience, introspection, and the courage to question deeply held norms. Growing up Mormon, he spent years in religious therapy that denied his dysphoria, delaying his ability to live fully in his truth. But his story is not one of defeat—it’s one of reclaiming power through knowledge, self-definition, and community.

As a Dream Architect, Lanetta helps purpose-driven people not just dream about a better life, but actually build and live it. With her heart-centered coaching style and powerful SoulSync Method, she guides clients to align Spirit, Mind, and Body so they can create success from the inside out, breaking through fear and self-doubt to design and live a life they love—full of joy, purpose, and abundance.

But her path wasn't always easy.

After earning over $1 Million, Lanetta lost almost everything and was left with just $900. After plugging into a system of support, she learned that struggle is a choice. She had been unknowingly creating her own limitations. By applying what she learned about Universal / Spiritual Laws and Principles, she completely rebuilt her life from the inside out. Within 18 months, she invested over $100,000 in her transformation without a single credit card and discovered her true calling in the process.

In 2023, her work earned her the title Transformational Coach of the Year with Brave Thinking Institute. Today, Lanetta is on a mission to help others live with grace, ease and unshakable faith in what's possible for them.

Her greatest gift? Connecting with people so they feel seen, heard, and deeply loved. As she often says, "I love Lovin' on people. I don't want people to struggle and suffer like I did, because struggling is a choice and the choice I want for others is to say Yes to their Yes for something more in their life, because everybody gets to go in my book."

Sam Castle is a certified Trauma-Informed Coach and the founder of Be You Do You Coaching, where his mantra is: “You don’t need permission to be who you are.” He lives in sunny California with his wife, Vanessa, and their fur babies, Hershey and Snicker.

A transgender man, Sam is passionate about authenticity, kindness, and personal growth. After years of self-reflection, he began his gender transition at 36 and has since dedicated his life to helping others heal from trauma and embrace their true selves. With 13+ years of experience in mental health, Sam’s trauma-informed coaching centers on Freedom, Faith, and Empowerment.

Sam was recently accepted to the University of the Pacific and will be pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work to deepen his impact. He is committed to uplifting his community and inspiring others to live fearlessly and authentically.

Steven Cong is a queer Chinese American emcee and a West Coast native. He found a love for rap as someone who was an "outsider" in every way during his teenage years. Music became a safe haven to share his truths and center his voice. By extension, his songs center the voices of those who are often pushed to the margins, even though our experiences and perspectives can be just as universal. Steven has performed at events across the Bay Area from San Jose to San Francisco, including the A&PI Stage at San Francisco Pride.

Sneha Gandhi White is a passionate Empowerment Coach dedicated to helping women reconnect with their inner strength, voice, and purpose. With a deep belief in the power of healing, authenticity, and conscious growth, Sneha creates brave, inclusive spaces for individuals to unlearn limiting beliefs and step into their full potential. Drawing from her lived experience, cultural wisdom, and training in trauma-informed coaching and embodiment practices, she supports clients in navigating life transitions, reclaiming self-worth, and cultivating aligned, joyful lives.

Whether through one-on-one coaching, workshops, or community gatherings, Sneha’s approach is rooted in compassion, truth-telling, and sustainable transformation. She believes empowerment isn’t about becoming someone new — it’s about coming home to who you already are.

Monique Pham-Louie is a social innovation strategist and proud AmeriCorps alum committed to designing systems that reflect the strengths, voices, and dignity of the communities they serve. She currently helps lead a global place-based initiative at a major tech company, focused on mobilizing cross-sector ecosystems to advance digital equity, economic mobility and community resilience.

Her past work includes nationally recognized efforts like OneTen, which builds equitable, skills-first career pathways, as well as designing and leading programs that promote inclusive leadership and expand advancement opportunities for emerging leaders from historically excluded communities.

With a background in social work, public sector engagement, and program design, Monique brings deep expertise in upskilling, inclusive leadership, and human-centered innovation. She champions asset-based community development and has led enterprise-wide collaboration to align internal teams around equity-driven initiatives - ensuring that community strengths and voice shape sustainable, measurable outcomes.

Monique’s “why” is deeply personal. Named after the social worker who helped her mother rebuild her life as a single mom and refugee, she’s committed to breaking cycles of exclusion and expanding access to opportunity — wherever people call home.

Outside of work, Monique enjoys creative side projects with her family — from co-authoring a children’s book called Dunder and Munster in the Rescue to going viral with her stop-motion video Pregnant to Baby in 90 Seconds, which has reached over 30 million views on YouTube.