The Space Where I’ll Fit:

Maven welcomes new members to our learning community

(L-R) Mavens Arsimmer McCoy (she|her); Laurah Merisier (she|they); and Katherine Leviste (she|her) share a moment in Durham, North Carolina during the Maven Leadership Cohort.

“The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.” –James Baldwin

Maven’s signature program is about having the courage and support to reimagine creative solutions to critical issues at transformational moments. For three social impact leaders who immersed themselves in a five-month professional development experience, “graduation” is only the beginning. It actually represents unlimited access to wide-ranging professional development support that includes coaching, catalytic funding, and digital resources–often cost-prohibitive to queer and trans social impact leaders of color and allies when they need it most. Most importantly, it means being able to deeply connect with a broader community of founders, executives, entrepreneurs, artists, and advocates who are rethinking just futures for all of us.

2024 Maven Leadership Cohort

Maven Laurah Merisier (she|they)
Founder, Miami Sound Space

Laurah (she|they) helps you to find your voice. Literally. Whether in a radically accessible community choir, at the bedside of terminal patients, or with men in confinement, she has a place for you in Miami Sound Space, a music collective that fosters joy and community-building. In Maven’s cohort, Laurah strengthened her board of directors and pivoted to a more sustainable business model to thrive for many years to come.

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Maven Katherine Leviste (she|her) (she|they)
Access Advocate | Founder, Eye Tea Podcast & Mentor Program

Katherine (she|her) is a passionate advocate for creating equitable pathways to medical and research professions. As founder of a podcast and mentorship program, the perspective she gained on what it takes to navigate these highly competitive and often exclusive fields is invaluable to self-discovery and developing as a health practitioner.

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Maven Arsimmer McCoy (she|they)
Founder, Ms. Mary’s House, The Carol City Museum

Arsimmer McCoy Arsimmer McCoy goes her own way. She is a multidisciplinary artist and arts administrator that has fortified many of Miami’s most beloved cultural organizations. During Maven’s cohort, Arsimmer turned her attention to assessing the viability of birthing her own artistic venture, a museum, and pursuing new outlets for her craft.

We explored Baldwin’s quote through a lens of collaboration and alchemy as we reclaimed agency over our wellbeing and professional practice by connecting with each other, like minds offering lifelines, and ourselves in Miami, Costa Rica, Raleigh/Durham, and Orlando.

We have deep gratitude for the Mavens who supported this year’s newest learning community members as teachers, reviewers, and coaches. A collective like this only works through a collaborative approach that moves away from the myth-making of the singular leader. It relies on relationships, rigorous exchange through a cross-pollination of ideas, and asset-sharing that is not rooted in the exhausting transactional nature of professional interaction and development.

Maven Nadege Green, (she|her) | Black Miami-Dade Founder
Maven Pioneer Winter, (he|they) | Pioneer Winter Collective Executive Artistic Director
Maven Dejha Carrington, (she|her) | Commissioner Co-founder
Maven Adam Ropizar, (he|they) | Maven Leadership Collective Project Lead
Maven Gaby Garcia-Vera, (all pronouns) | Flamboyan Consulting Founder
Maven Iliana Santillan, (she|her) | El Pueblo Executive Director
Maven Alex Rosales, (he|him) | The Elevate Prize Foundation Senior Program Manager
Maven Gabriella Rodriguez, (she|ella) | QLatinx Executive Director
Maven Andrés Acosta, (he|him) | Pineapple Healthcare Community Engagement Director