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

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

Maya Rupert is a political strategist and the third Black woman in history to run a presidential campaign. She is the Executive Vice President at Blue State and hosts the podcast When We Win, an NAACP Image Award nominee. A nationally respected voice on progressive politics and the Democratic party, she has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, and NPR; and in The New York Times and The Atlantic. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her cats.

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

Dave’s journey into law began with a desire to fight injustice. But after a decade practicing in federal court, he began to notice uncomfortable patterns in the system itself — incentives to escalate conflict, a fixation on money as the primary measure of justice, and a profession that rarely teaches lawyers anything about the psychology of conflict or how people actually heal after the legal battles are over.

His decision to step away from traditional litigation opened the door to a deeper exploration of how professionals navigate conflict, burnout, and identity shifts in their careers.

Today Dave explores a provocative question:

What if lawyers were trained not just as advocates, but as healers of human conflict?

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

Karen Kendra Holmes is a transgender advocate, author, TEDx speaker, and dedicated public servant whose life story is a testament to the power of authenticity, courage, and self-belief.

From the age of 13 to 53, Karen lived an internal battle- navigating four decades of identity struggle before finally stepping into who she was always meant to be. Her memoir, 40 Years and Wandering No More: Loving My Life Being Transgender, chronicles this deeply personal journey from self-suppression to radical self-acceptance, offering readers a rare and honest window into the transgender experience.

Today, Karen channels her story into action. She retired from the Federal Government after serving for 24 years and a half as a Trust and Safety Officer, and served with the with the Maryland Defense Force and the U.S for 5 years and now serving with US Veteran Reserve Corps, and volunteers with the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). She speaks across the country - to the military, law enforcement, the medical community, federal agencies, and students at schools, colleges, and universities - bridging the gap between the transgender and cisgender communities. Karen has been named one of LGBTQ Nation's Top 50 Successful Transgender Americans, received the AARP Maryland Andrus Award for Community Service.

As a sought-after speaker, Karen travels across the country addressing audiences in the military, law enforcement, healthcare, federal agencies, and educational institutions - from schools to universities. Her mission is twofold: to empower transgender individuals to live as their authentic selves, and to build genuine understanding within the cisgender community.

Karen's philosophy is simple but profound:

“If you believe in something, you may achieve it. But if you believe in yourself, you will.”

She is a living example of that truth.

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

Morgan DeNicola is the Executive Director of the DeNicola Family Foundation. The Foundation incorporates the four Passions of World Health, Humanitarian Recognition, Conservation and Cultural Diplomacy. Morgan recognizes the importance of doing good while recognizing those who are equally committed.

Morgan is the Vice Chairman of the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) in New York. HDI works around the world to inform and foster dialogue amongst critical stakeholders on key global issues. They do this through their programs with the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Department of State, United Nations, and International Embassies, engaging young people, supporting cultural diplomacy, and working on humanitarian programs.

Morgan has been active in Congressional Delegations to the United Nations. Her time there led to trips to Beijing China in August 2017 for the Taihe Global Civilization Forum and to Malawi in February 2017, where she visited the Amitofo Care Centre (ACC), alongside other HDI board members. The level of poverty kicked off a fundraising initiative for Morgan, called the Cosmo Cares Mobile Healthcare Van. The Van is being donated to the ACC and will service remote villages of Lesotho, Africa. A formal dedication will be celebrated on November 17, 2022, in Lesotho with dignitaries and residents. Recently Morgan has led a congressional delegation in Rwanda.

Morgan has been a team member of the Steinberg DeNicola Humanitarian Awards, which recognizes members of the NFL for the work they do in their communities. She is also active in the dissemination of the CDC Scientific Scholarship at the annual American Thoracic Society Global Conference, which recognizes the international medical community’s contributions to science in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Morgan has a BS degree in Elementary Education from Long Island University CW Post and is an active Board member of the Elmwood Zoo, located in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The Zoo is dedicated to providing the community with varied learning experiences that encourage people to play an active role in wildlife and environmental conservation activities.

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

Danny T. Duong is a certified Integral Coach, healing justice practitioner, and mindfulness facilitator. She serves as Chief Operations Officer at Braided Wisdom, a cross-cultural mindfulness non-profit organization in San Francisco, CA. Danny blends curiosity, insight, and use of meditation and trauma-informed somatic tools to support the facilitation of positive and sustainable change for individuals, teams, organizations, and communities. Her work is grounded in contemplative practice and earth-based spirituality. In 2019, she made a humbling vow to walk the path of an aspiring Bodhisattva which informs her intention to help in the relief of suffering for all living beings. Danny is certified through New Ventures West, an ICF accredited program and holds Master’s degrees in Public Health and Public Policy from University of California, Berkeley. Her professional and leadership experiences span across non-profit development, healthcare operations consulting, politics, public policy, and government affairs. She is a graduate of the Braided Wisdom Leadership Training Program, EBMC’s Practice in Transformative Action Program, Biodynamic Breathwork Institute, and 2-Year Energy Program with Lynda Caesara. Danny is currently participating in the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders 7 Program. Learn more about Danny: Insight Arising | Substack | LinkedIn. 

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 

Dr. Stuart D. Jones is a retired higher-education executive and former church minister who now teaches college courses part-time and writes with a passion shaped as much by life as by books. Over the years, he has spoken at many universities, churches, conferences, seminars, workshops, and leadership events around the world on a variety of topics. A devoted advocate for disability rights, he believes every life has purpose and worth. ​

Yet no credential has shaped him more deeply than being Steve’s brother.

​Dr. Jones holds advanced degrees in both education and theology and has been published in several academic forums. For the Love of Stephen is his first work of narrative nonfiction—and by far, his most personal.

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

Emilio Alfredo Oliveros-Reyes is a first-generation college graduate, born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, and a passionate advocate for youth development and community empowerment. As an alumnus of Bay Area AmeriCorps, the program helped launch his eight-year career in education and nonprofit work focused on supporting young people and cultivating future community leaders. Emilio currently serves as a Regional Supervisor for BAYAC AmeriCorps, where he supports and develops emerging youth workers across the Bay Area through mentorship, professional development, and leadership training. He believes deeply in the importance of cultivating the next generation of youth workers and is passionate about finding good people who want to do meaningful work in their communities. His work is rooted in lived experience, wellness, identity, and creating opportunities that empower young people to thrive.

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

Justine Chang is an eldest daughter of immigrants, mother, activist, and the Station Master/Chief Storyteller at Red Balloon Station. With a law degree and 10+ years developing, producing, and writing movies that sell globally, she knows how to craft stories that reach real people everywhere. Now she helps equity-driven founders and leaders—especially Women of Color—sharpen their messaging so it doesn’t drown in a sea of AI sameness, earns trust, and reflects their truth with clarity and staying power.

When she’s not writing, she’s wrangling her two boys and filling their lives with colorful, adventureful stories to remember. And when she finds the rare quiet moment to herself…she’s getting lost in a book, trying to make even a small dent in her “To Be Read” pile.

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