Emerging Light Advisory Board

---

Drawing from her own life experiences and deep personal connections with those affected by the justice system, T’nia brings empathy, insight, and determination to her work. She has witnessed firsthand the challenges that returning citizens face from social stigma to lack of family support and is committed to being a guiding light through that process.

Passionate about creating real second chances, T’nia’s mission is to help individuals rebuild with dignity, purpose, and hope. Through Emerging Light, she strives to provide access to resources, opportunities, and mentorship that empower people to build stronger, more fulfilling lives for themselves and their loved ones.

David O. Fakunle, Ph.D. is a “mercenary for change,” employing skills and occupying spaces to help anyone divested from their truest selves. David serves as Assistant Professor at the Morgan State University School of Community Health & Policy, and Chair of the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission. David’s interests include built environment stressors, manifestations of systemic oppression, and utilization of arts and culture to cultivate holistic health through humanity, equity, justice and ultimately, liberation.

Maisha Davis, a native of Baltimore, is driven by her passion for the thriving potential that exists within our communities. She has almost 30 years of social work practice experience, including direct clinical care, program administration and leadership, public policy, community engagement, indigenous and anti-racism frameworks and modalities, and systems change, with various populations, across the country. Today, Mrs. Davis is a change agent working within the public sector on behalf of justice-involved youth and their families. Additionally, she’s an adjunct

professor where she enthusiastically trains the field’s budding leaders, from a practice and curriculum-based perspective. Finally, she is a principal leader with Rafiki Consortium, LLC; and

her own private practice, Diaspora Healing and Wellness, LLC – where she continues in her mission to create, facilitate, and fortify sustainable programming and practices that are healing for communities and the practitioners who serve them.

Ralph Bailey was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended Catholic school from first through twelfth grade. He graduated in 1982 from St. Frances High School, making history as the first student to earn a basketball scholarship. Though he began college shortly after graduation, Ralph soon found himself drawn to the streets, a path that led to a significant turning point in his life.

In October 1984, Ralph was sentenced to life in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Murder and related charges. He served 32 years before being released in October 2016. Upon his release, he was welcomed by his youngest brother, a certified HVAC Master, who introduced him to the trade.

With guidance and support, Ralph became certified in HVAC and eventually launched his own business. He is currently in the process of obtaining his official license. Grateful for the second chance he’s been given, Ralph looks forward to the future with faith and optimism, trusting in what Allah has planned for him.

Deborah Pierce-Fakunle is a post-doctorate student at Grandma College, University of the

Ancestors. As such she bows down to the Elders as she teaches and uplifts diverse audiences. In songs and stories, She creates power-filled cultural experiences based in training from the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, the National Association of Black

Storytellers, The Growing Griots, as well as from BALTIMORE CONNECT.

Mama Deborah is the co-Founder and Facilitator of DiscoverME/RecoverME which encourages the utilization of storytelling as the powerful modality for change that it is, while

incorporating acknowledgement of “virtuesˮ – positive intrinsic qualities possessed

by all people.

Makaila Hyman, a Baltimore native, is a Political Science student at Johns Hopkins University. She has worked with the Baltimore City Council, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and in the Office of Congressman Kweisi Mfume, gaining experience in policy research and community engagement. In addition to her public service, she is the owner of Kaytoure Boutique LLC, where she channels her passion for leadership and entrepreneurship.

Erricka Bridgeford is a healer and peace warrior from Baltimore. She has been working for over 20 years to ensure that violence and murder do not have the last say in communities. Erricka is Executive Director at the Baltimore Community Mediation Center and Co-Founder of Baltimore Peace Movement, formerly known as Baltimore Ceasefire 365. She is a dedicated mother, grandmother, and protector of Baltimore's well-being.

Love + Truth = Freedom x Power