Meet the Facilitators

Latishia James-Portis aka Rev. Pleasure is a spiritual and sacral coach, facilitator, social movement chaplain, and writer working to create a culture of sanctity, pleasure and wholeness for Black femmes, girls, and women. A Master of Divinity graduate from Pacific School of Religion she lives — and works — at the intersection of faith, sexuality, reproductive and healing justice. Latishia also holds a bachelor of arts from Villanova University in Human Services, which is where she first understood that she could be a healer beyond a medical professional and began advocating for the wholeness of women and girls of color. Her startup spirit and witness of presence reaches beyond the physical walls of “the church.” Her service as a rape crisis counselor, LGBTQ activist, hospital and abortion-clinic chaplain blossomed into Empathic Solutions. Her consulting and spiritual coaching practice for people harmed by religious rhetoric and power-based violence where she employs customized affirmations, guided meditations, and workshops to support folks in their spiritual and sacral development. Her approach is trauma-informed, healing-focused, and steeped in womanist theology, and her experience as a Black queer woman. Most recently she was the Assistant Director of Prevention and Response at historic Spelman College, where she helped students navigate sexual misconduct and gender discrimination. In addition to her work as Rev. Pleasure, Latishia is the program manager at Move to End Violence and member of the Clergy Advocacy Board at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Alexis Pauline Gumbs is a Queer Black Feminist Love Evangelist and an aspirational cousin to all life. She is/they are the author of several books, most recently Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals and the co-founder of the Mobile Homecoming Trust, an intergenerational experiential living library of Black LBGTQ brilliance.

Brianca Smith-Austin is a trauma informed therapist. She specializes in working with BIPOC identifying individuals who have experienced complex trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief. Brianca has knowledge in different therapeutic modalities and is currently working on decolonizing psychotherapy. For over 14 years, Brianca has worked with her family (maternal and paternal line) on decoding and exploring her family's history. This work has allowed her to uncover several lost stories in her family's histories. Brianca uses all of her combined expertise to help BIPOC identifying individuals heal from colonial and intergenerational trauma.

J.M. Conway is a Education Administrator, DEI Facilitator and Creative. They're a proud Black Chicagoan. They dance to the music in the supermarket and make up songs in the shower.