Young Women’s Commission Speakers

Areva Martin, Esq.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Passionate, outspoken and insightful, AREVA MARTIN is one of the nation’s leading voices in the media . An award-winning attorney, advocate, legal and social issues commentator, talk show host and producer, Areva is an audience favorite on a long list of shows from Dr . Phil, Good Morning America to ABC Live to World News Tonight . Areva is a CNN/HLN Legal Analyst whose television credits include cohosting CBS’ daytime syndicated talk show Face the Truth and The Doctors, an Emmy Awardwinning talk and informational show in its 14th season . Areva is the host of Areva Martin Out Loud on KBLA1580 Talk Radio and the politics, legal and social issue digital talk show, The Special Report with Areva Martin. Known as “America’s Advocate,” Areva is well known for her no holds bar and candid commentary on a range of topics from celebrity news, pop culture, race, politics, the law and breaking news . Blending her legal expertise with common sense approaches, Areva can confront and then coddle while gaining the trust of audiences, viewers and guests . She has become a valued confidante, source of reliable information and an inspiration to many including countless followers and friends she connects with across her various social media platforms . Her fourth book, Awakening: Ladies, Leadership and the Lies We’ve Been Told (Leadership Press 2021) hit bookshelves on October 26, 2021 . Kirkus says, “Even jaded readers are likely to put this book down feeling that their perceptions of sexism are accurate, the problem is indeed a fixable one, and Martin is in their corner, cheering them on as they try to transform the world . ” A Harvard Law School graduate, Areva founded the Los Angeles based civil rights firm, Martin & Martin, LLP . As an attorney, she has been involved in high profile cases and has been identified as a Southern California Super Lawyer consecutively for the last five years, a designation reserved for the top 5 percent of attorneys in the state . Areva is also the founder and CEO of Butterflly Health, Inc ., a behavioral health technology startup focused on addressing the unmet mental health needs of underserved communities .

Shantell Kennedy

MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES

A native of Pasadena, Shantell Marie Kennedy comes from a family that believes in community service . As an independent consultant with United Wealth Education, she runs a financial training program to help individuals stabilize their finances, build their credit, and increase their financial literacy . She attended local schools and Pasadena City College . She enjoys traveling as well as spending time with family and her close girlfriends . Her priorities are her work, volunteering, and supporting her wonderful son Jaxon Taylor who is the beat of her heart .

Social Media handles: IG: shantellmkennedy Facebook: shantell kennedy

“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.” – Michelle Obama

Bonita Bennett

The Bo & Arrow Group

COMMITTED . COLLABORATIVE . CREATIVE . CHARISMATIC . Southern California’s newest revolutionary in the space of people-development, Bonita Marie is the founder and CEO of the Bo & Arrow Group, a non-profit organization that encourages and equips individuals to develop the best version of themselves . The organization provides carefully curated events and programs through its subsidiaries HER and BosKidz . Bonita is a seeker of joy, coupled with a deeply rooted passion for the moral and wellbeing of women, children, and youth, She builds a legacy of investing in the lives of others as a means to their self-discovery . Bonita’s impact of twenty-five years in service of others reaches across a large spectrum of modalities . When not serving others, time with her family is treasured and priceless .

Ciera Foster

Ciera Foster is an artist and activist as well as one of the first leading female black superheroes as Valiant Comic’s Livewire . Ciera is the former Director of the United Nations Women’s LA Speaker’s Bureau and board member / speaker for the Tom Steyer 2020 presidential campaign . Ciera holds three degrees in social behavioral science in Psychology , Ethnic Studies, and Women & Gender Studies . With nearly a decade of international human rights and public speaking experience, Ciera Foster is the founder of the non profit organization Black Allies Speak, and co founder of B .L .A .C – Black Leadership Allied Coalition .

Felice LaZae

Producer, singer/songwriter, and performer

Felice LaZae’s credits include Kanye West, The Killers, CBS, ABC, and Disney . Her work is featured by Forbes, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Vice, The Grammys, and ESPN . She is also a proud bi-racial/Afro-Latina with a passion for social justice, advocating for early release for inmates arrested for non-violent crimes and considered highrisk for contracting Covid .

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Community is Stronger than Cancer™: Surviving and Thriving through Empowerment

Join Natalie Smalley and Alison Wong from the Cancer Support Community Pasadena (CSCP) to discuss the power of community in one’s journey through cancer. Hear their experience about how education, action, and community facilitated thriving, beyond fear of the unknown, and a passion to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

Alison Wong, PhD, LMFT, is the Program Director at Cancer Support Community Pasadena . She is published in the area of psycho-oncology in journals such as Social Work in Healthcare Journal, Supportive Care in Cancer, and the Canadian Journal of Urology. Dr . Wong is also a licensed marriage and family therapist and has a small private practice in Los Angeles . Natalie Smalley is a breast cancer survivor and member of Cancer Support

Community Pasadena’s Board of Directors, serving in the areas of marketing and outreach as well as diversity, equity and inclusion . She is a Walt Disney Branded

Television executive and author of I Have Breast Cancer Now What? A Cancer Support Tool published in 2020 with the loving support of her husband, Gamal Smalley .

Kardia Pinckney

Financial Advisor

Kardia Pinckney & Associates offers professional advice and guidance with personal attention and knowledge from our 15 years of experience . We understand that the path to a clear financial future can often be confusing . We believe financial education is the key to understanding financial principles and concepts . In addition to sharing her knowledge about finance, Kardia is passionate about her family, friends, and community’s quality of life . In 2008 her profession fueled her passion, co-founding and leading Ideal Youth Incorporated, a Pasadena, CA 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to youth career readiness and leadership development . Helping others reach their goals and dreams is Kardia’s commitment as well as her passion .

“When a woman knows her rights, how to use them, and how to advocate for her rights, she is stronger.” –Amal

Irina Melkumyan

City National Bank BREATHWORK

Ms . Melkumyan leads Breathwork workshops, using a powerful breathing technique that allows people to release anxiety and connect with their authentic truth . As a Breathwork facilitator, Ms . Melkumyan has made it her mission to help people feel empowered, noticed and valued by educating them on powerful tools that they can use daily to better their lives . Irina Melkumyan is a Relationship Manager with City National Bank’s Personal & Business Banking team, based in the Hollywood Office, working very closely with the entertainment industry . Ms . Melkumyan works directly with clients to proactively manage and develop their business and personal banking relationships . Ms . Melkumyan is fluent in both Armenian and Russian . She is actively involved in the community . She has been working with St . Baldrick’s Foundation since 2014, using her voice and skills to help raise money and awareness for children with cancer . She is passionate about helping nonprofit organizations and serves on the board for a local nonprofit, Troublemaker Foundation . As the chief of Young Women’s Commission, Ms . Melkumyan also uses her time and energy to educate, mentor and inspire young entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and dreams authentically .

Jacque James

Certified Personal Trainer, Certificated Pilates Instructor MOVEMENT

Jacque was raised in Pasadena, and graduated from Blair High School, Home of the Vikings . She is the Health Committee Chair of the NAACP Pasadena Branch .

Jacque explained that as long as she can remember, a moving body felt better than sitting still . As a youth she was very active . She enjoyed gymnastics, ran track and played hardball and softball . She is up for a challenge . In an instant, she will call out and challenge all of her grandchildren to a good run and hunt you down super soaker water gun fight .

Jacque teaches Pilates Mat and Pilates Reformer . Her weekly schedule is filled with Zoom and in-person one-on-one training and group sessions . Jacque says the body and muscle function amazes her . She loves to share what she knows about the body with clients and her friends . She likes to bring awareness to her clients, and she enjoys teaching functional body principles .

“Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.”

– Roy T . Bennett, The Light in the Heart

19 YEARS OF GIVING

Since 2003, Brighton has donated over $7 million to support more than 300 breast cancer charities nationwide through the annual sale of its Power of Pink jewelry. This year, the company continues in this legacy of love. For every 2021 Power of Pink bracelet purchased, Brighton is donating $5 to aid in the quest to eradicate breast cancer through research, education and treatment.

Limited quantities, while supplies last. Power Of Pink 2021 Bracelet $78