Who We Are
Our goals are to advance racial equity and culturally responsive services within organizations and communities. To organize communities for collective action to improve wellness, justice, education, and social well-being, and to improve outcomes for communities of color through advocacy, research, and leadership development.
Crystal Hawkins, LCSW
The Founder
"Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, I witnessed firsthand the residual effects of racial divide, inequity, and a lack of access to resources and supports. These things affect not only the physical community but also the mindset of the individuals in particular neighborhoods."
Crystal Hawkins, LCSW, PPSC graduated from Norfolk State University, with a Master's in Clinical Social Work, where she also received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.
Crystal Hawkins worked as a highly recognized clinician, supporting parents and guardians with children who were at-risk for out-of-home placement. Her career in social work and public education has included program development, facilitating training, child and adolescent mental health, social and emotional learning (SEL), parenting young children with special needs, and trauma-informed practices. She currently works as a dedicated educator with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) where she develops and administers all aspects of the highly successful and state-recognized Shoestrings Children’s Center, an Early Childhood Program in Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco.
While working in the early childhood setting, Crystal co-founded “Black Girl, Brown Girl Books” with her childhood best friend in order to emphasize the importance of representation of Black and Brown characters in books for children 0-8 years old.
She’s the founder of C.Hawkins & Associates, LLC. C. Hawkins & Associates, LLC promotes early childhood education through professional development and workshops to human services agencies, business organizations, and school districts. In addition, She also provides individual and family therapy services in Oakland, CA.
Crystal is a co-founder of Melanated Well, a group of Black Mental Health & Wellness Professionals.
Letitia Laurien, BSW, LCSW, QS
Letitia Laurien is a distinguished professional and Social Architect in the mental health field, committed to fostering sustainable communities that prioritize holistic wellness. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Social Work from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Certification in Clinical Supervision. With over 25 years of diverse experience encompassing residential care, inpatient care, community mental health, worksite wellness, and program development.
In addition to her extensive fieldwork, Letitia serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. As the Founder and CEO of Looseleaf Holistic Wellness, LLC, she spearheads initiatives aimed at creating systemic change to enhance holistic health at both community and organizational levels. She designs and facilitates workshops and training sessions to advance mental health awareness and education. Letitia is certified in Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, holds a Teacher Certification in Meditation, and has specialized training in trauma and holistic wellness.
Letitia is a visionary Creator and Designer, self-coined as “The Social Architect.” She embodies the principle of being the change one wishes to see in the world. Her mission is to design and create healing spaces that empower people to live their most optimal lives. She encourages everyone to take intentional steps toward their mental health, targeting mind, body, and spirit, with the ultimate goal of creating healthy and sustainable lifestyles globally.
Clayton Johnson, M.A., Psy. D.
With nearly 20 (twenty) years of experience in human behavior and professional development, Dr. Johnson is a self-driven leader committed to the development and growth of individuals, teams, and organizations. He has an extensive background in the nonprofit sector, program design, training & development, and workshop facilitation. He is also an adjunct professor of Psychology and Organizational Development.
He is a full-time consultant specializing in change management and Leadership Development. He has a Doctoral degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Organizational Management & Consulting, and a Master's Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family therapy.
He lives by the motto: Once we have accepted our reality, we can create our destiny. Until then, we are living in fantasy. Dr. Johnson loves traveling the world and spending quality time with his family in his free time.
Lashawn Francis, QMHP
Lashawn is a highly skilled mental health professional with extensive experience across multiple roles in mental health and education. As a Consultant, she has secured contracts with organizations in the Bay Area of California, developing curricula and presentations on parenting, diversity, equity, inclusion, and mental health.
As a Mental Health Skill Building Program Coordinator, she has managed the day-to-day operations of a high-volume program, supervised clinical assessors, counselors, and clients, stayed current with regulations, trained new staff, coordinated client assessments, proofread reports, and managed client files. She has a rich history of providing direct mental health services and implementing Individual Service Plans to enhance clients’ coping, problem-solving, and communication skills. During her time at the Barry Robinson Center, she served as a Substitute Teacher and Residential Counselor, creating and updating lesson plans for children with special education needs, monitoring classroom behavior and educational progress, conducting case management, maintaining educational files, documenting students' progress, and providing academic enrichment while managing residents' medical charts and daily progress notes.
She has years of experience working in behavioral health hospitals, serving clients with psychiatric disorders as the lead psycho-educational group facilitator. Lashawn seeks collaborative opportunities where she can apply her expertise in program coordination, client management, and curriculum development to contribute to the success of partnering organizations.