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About Us
MISSION
Our mission is to empower women to live Freely and Fully in a safe and supportive community through healing, education, research, and social advocacy.
VISION
Our vision is to be a leading lighthouse of freedom, justice, and economic advancement for women.
Core Values
Freedom
We believe all women should live free from fear, oppression, and systemic barriers.
Faith
We believe that spiritual values provide a solid foundation for hope, healing, and empowerment.
Respect
We believe in the dignity and worth of every individual.
Community
We believe in the power of connection and support to help women thrive together.
Integrity
We believe in acting with honesty, transparency, and accountability in all that we do.
Justice
We believe in championing gender equality , health equity and social justice for historically marginalized women.
Trust
We value supporters and stakeholders, and partnerships that foster mutual respect and understanding.
Our Team
Esther Hephzibah
ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Esther Hephzibah is a visionary leader, advocate, and mentor dedicated to empowering historically marginalized women and visible minorities. As the Founder and Executive Director of Shine Gathering for Women Foundation (SGWF), she is committed to creating safe, healing-centered spaces where women can grow, lead, and thrive. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities, Esther works to break down systemic barriers, ensuring women have access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to step into leadership roles.
Beyond her leadership at SGWF, Esther is passionate about faith, personal growth, and mental well-being. She integrates these values into her work, inspiring women to embrace their purpose, overcome limitations, and lead with confidence. She also enjoys traveling to explore new cultures and perspectives, reading inspiring books on leadership and faith, and hosting soul-care retreats that help women find restoration and clarity. Esther finds joy in deep, meaningful conversations over a great cup of tea and treasures quality time with her teenagers and close-knit community.
Esther continues to champion initiatives that uplift, equip, and advocate for Black and minority women. Whether through coaching, speaking, or community engagement, her mission remains the same: to help women rise, heal, and shine.
Ifeoluwa Omaghomi
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Ifeoluwa is passionate about empowering historically/culturally marginalized women and fostering safe spaces for healing, growth, and leadership. As the Project coordinator at Shine Gathering For Women Foundation, she plays a key role in advancing our mission to support underserved women through mentorship, advocacy, and community-driven initiatives.
With a background in social work, women empowerment and wellbeing, nonprofit leadership, Ifeoluwa brings expertise in program development, resource coordination and community management. She is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible opportunities for women to heal, build resilience and thrive beyond limits.
Beyond Shine Gathering, Ifeoluwa enjoys volunteering, reading, advocacy work, and dancing. She is committed to driving meaningful change and ensuring that every woman has the support and resources to thrive.
Kacy-Ann Walcott
EVENT COORDINATOR
Kacy-Ann Walcott is the Event Coordinator and Team Leader with Shine Gathering for Women Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting Black immigrant women in their mental health and wellness journeys. Originally from Jamaica, Kacy-Ann immigrated to Canada in 2022 and currently resides in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Kacy-Ann’s personal journey as a Black immigrant woman informs her deep passion and commitment to Shine’s mission. Shortly after her arrival in Canada, she overcame significant personal challenges, including fleeing domestic violence and navigating life in the shelter system for nearly 10 months while facing immigration and legal barriers. During this difficult time, Shine Gathering for Women became a source of hope and community for her. The support and sisterhood she experienced inspired her to give back.
Today, Kacy-Ann leads and coordinates events for Shine, ensuring each gathering is thoughtfully organized and provides healthy, nourishing meals for participants. Her lived experience fuels her dedication to creating safe, empowering spaces where immigrant women can prioritize their mental health, build community, and feel supported as they adjust to life in Canada.
Kacy-Ann continues to advocate for Black immigrant women, using her story to inspire and encourage others who may be facing similar challenges.
Our Board of Directors
Esther Hephzibah
BOARD DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT
Esther Hephzibah is a visionary leader, advocate, and mentor dedicated to empowering historically marginalized women and visible minorities. As the Founder and Executive Director of Shine Gathering for Women Foundation (SGWF), she is committed to creating safe, healing-centered spaces where women can grow, lead, and thrive. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underserved communities, Esther works to break down systemic barriers, ensuring women have access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to step into leadership roles.
Beyond her leadership at SGWF, Esther is passionate about faith, personal growth, and mental well-being. She integrates these values into her work, inspiring women to embrace their purpose, overcome limitations, and lead with confidence. She also enjoys traveling to explore new cultures and perspectives, reading inspiring books on leadership and faith, and hosting soul-care retreats that help women find restoration and clarity. Esther finds joy in deep, meaningful conversations over a great cup of tea and treasures quality time with her teenagers and close-knit community.
Esther continues to champion initiatives that uplift, equip, and advocate for Black and minority women. Whether through coaching, speaking, or community engagement, her mission remains the same: to help women rise, heal, and shine.
Carolyn Solanke
BOARD DIRECTOR & TREASURER
Carolyn Solanke is a forward-thinking specialist in Financial Auditing, Special Projects Management, Corporate Governance, and Training and Professional Development, bringing over 20 years of progressive experience to Shine Gathering for Women Foundation. With a rich background in the management consulting, banking and finance, education, nonprofit, government, and tourism sectors, Carolyn has propelled the growth of various organizations by consistently driving strategic planning, adaptive leadership, and exceptional communication. She is known for her ability to stimulate not less than 30% annual growth in the companies she has worked with.
A globally trained professional development facilitator, Carolyn is passionate about translating project visions into reality and offering tangible results that align with client expectations. She is dedicated to creating comprehensive reports that analyze learning objectives, delivery success rates, training expenditures, and ROI. Carolyn is known for her resourcefulness, energy, and precision in meeting organizational training and development needs.
As a member of the Board of Directors at Shine Gathering for Women Foundation, Carolyn plays an integral role in establishing governance processes and ensuring the organization's objectives are met, risks are managed, and resources are used responsibly. Outside of her professional work, Carolyn enjoys traveling, creative arts, and meeting new people.
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Ochuwa George, PhD
BOARD DIRECTOR & SECRETARY
Ochuwa is a dedicated advocate for workplace psychological health and safety, with a strong commitment to protecting vulnerable women. She is a certified CMHA Psychological Health and Safety professional with extensive experience in implementing workplace mental health and safety strategies.
An experienced business leader, international keynote speaker, certified management consultant, project management professional, and lead auditor, Ochuwa brings over 20 years of expertise in leadership, organizational development, and strategic planning.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, a Master’s degree, and a Doctoral degree in Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management.
As a member of the board, she is committed to advancing Shine Gathering’s mission, ensuring that women in vulnerable situations receive the resources, advocacy, and support they need to thrive. She is eager to contribute her knowledge and experience to strengthen the foundation’s initiatives and create lasting change.
