Meet the Team
Dana Cheatum
Founder and Exective Director
Dana Cheatum was born and raised in San Francisco, Ca. From the ages of 10-13 Dana was brutally molested. By 16 she found herself the victim of human trafficking and hooked on drugs and the age of 18 she was serving a life sentence in prison. Dana would eventually spend the next 25 years and 330 days in prison.
Dana is a leading voice for women and is spearheading a national movement to help save the lives of women who have been abused and who have faced challenges in their lives. Dana is a survivor, motivational speaker, mentor, Certified Professional Life coach and thought leader whose story of survival and personal transformation has inspired many.
Molly Kittle
Cheif Strategic
Adminstrative Officer
and Twe workshop leader
Molly is a catalyst for connection: bringing people together in creative, authentic and brave ways. She is the creator and host of STORY; because our voices matter, our story is a gift and connection is the key to unlock the best in us. Committed to uphold the crucial role of story in our lives. Molly is passionate about reconnecting women to their voices. Her work is informed by both her business strategy experience and experimental theatre training.
TaNisha Young
Chief Financial Officer
and TWE Workshop Leader
TaNisha Young is passionate about sowing into the lives of women, young adults, and youth, helping them to recognize and reach their full potential. She has over 20 years of volunteer experience and has worked with several youth organizations. TaNisha has served as a teacher and leader at her church, a teacher/mentor with True Bridge of Hope, and now serves on the Board of Total Women Empowerment where she is working to uplift and empower women.
TaNisha received her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Public Management & Public Policy from California State University, East Bay. She is a trainer and facilitator and believes her best moments spent are those where she is investing in others.
Laverne Taylor
Director of Fundraising
and TWE Workshop Leader
Laverne Taylor, previously a Total Woman Empowerment Workshop participant, now a member of the TWE board was born into dysfunction, a victim of abuse and incest, both in her family and foster homes. By the time Laverne was 15 years old, she was involved in drugs, prostitution and was living on the streets. In 1994, after countless arrest and convictions, Laverne was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. She served 26 years of that life sentence and then, as a result of her transformation while in prison she was given a commutation by Governor Brown. Today Laverne serves as compass for change women everywhere.
Dr. shaina hammerman
Curriculum Developer
And Grant Writer
Shaina Hammerman is a writer and cultural historian who teaches Jewish studies, history, film, television, and literature at the University of San Francisco, including a course on black-Jewish relations. Her current research focuses on race on television. Since teaching college courses inside prison, Hammerman has worked toward amplifying the voices of those who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated. She is the author of Silver Screen, Hasidic Jews: The Story of an Image from Indiana University Press. She holds a Ph.D. in Jewish History and Culture from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.