Samantha Paige Davis (she/they) is the Founder of the Black Swan Academy (BSA). She is a Black Feminist, organizer, policy wonk, and story teller working through an anti-oppressive framework. In the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin verdict; Samantha was sparked into action, leaned into her life-long commitment to racial and gender justice and founded BSA, to create a pipeline of Black youth civic leaders.

She currently serves on the Black Women & Girls Advocacy Taskforce and the Self Development of People national committee of Presbyterian Church USA. She is the former field engagement manager for YWCA USA, where she has developed a new state-level advocacy initiative, a nationwide get out the vote effort and mobilized over 200 associations to do racial and gender justice work. Samantha has her Master in Public Policy from American University. Her work has been recognized by American University, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, the National Urban League and among Essence's 2019 Woke100.

Monica Gray is the Chief Executive Officer for the YWCA National Capital Area. In that role, she oversees all development, operations, program activity, advocacy, and finance. Ms. Gray joined the YWCA National Capital Area in September of 2016 as Chief Operating Officer. She was named interim CEO in May of 2017 following the departure of the previous CEO, Tamara Smith. In June 2017, the YWCA NCA Board of Directors named her Chief Executive Officer for the YWCA NCA.

Prior to joining the YWCA NCA, Monica served as Chief Accountability Officer for The College Success Foundation. In this role, Monica was responsible for partnering with DC and Washington State team member to ensure program quality and fidelity, data-driven program monitoring and improvement, curriculum development and innovation, and student-serving staff support services (professional development) for all CSF sites. Monica joined College Success Foundation in November 2007, as Program Officer of the newly established organization. She distinguished herself as Director of Programs where she has designed and developed programs, managed program budgets and led many fundraising and development initiatives. She managed the $117 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that funded the College Success Foundation work in the District of Columbia.

Monica has significant experience in the fields of non-profit management and education. Prior to joining the College Success Foundation, Monica was Assistant Dean and Director of MBA Admissions at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Monica also served as Project Director, Federal Interagency Partnerships and Manager, Strategic Planning for Communities In Schools (CIS), the nation’s largest drop-out prevention program. In that role, she provided training and technical assistance for federally funded initiatives for more than 40 CIS sites around the country.

Education:

BSBA in Marketing, Georgetown University, Washington, DC

MBA in Finance and Marketing, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

Erin Whelan (she/her) is a creative and innovative strategist with nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, cultivating teams, program development and oversight, and community collaboration. She comes to SMYAL from LifeWorks, an organization that provides housing and services to thousands of youth each year based in Austin, Texas. She most recently served as the director of their $11.5 million Housing and Homeless Services program. Erin’s experience working in the Homeless Response System in Austin, as well as the National Movement to End Youth Homelessness provides her with a unique skill set for convening stakeholders, influencing leaders, and working with various partners to develop opportunities for impactful results.

Erin shows up in relationship to the work through her life experiences as a Taurus, licensed therapist, queer woman, mother and friend who loves red wine, to laugh until her sides hurt, travel, and time spent with chosen family.