🖐️❤️ Why We Help

A Florida native, I moved to California in 2004 and have lived in the Sacramento area since then. I have worked for several State of California agencies as well as several private consulting and technology companies. I was laid off three times in 5 years, so I decided to start my own company to provide professional development services.

In 2013, a month after I completed my doctorate in Education from the joint UC Davis- CSU Sonoma program, I was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called a craniopharyngioma, a ‘benign’ tumor located on my pituitary gland. I had my first surgery in August 2013, then another in October of 2013, and a third in February of 2014. In between the 2nd and 3rd surgeries, I had 6 weeks of almost daily radiation treatment.

In February 2018, the tumor had a recurrence, and I had my 4th surgery for the craniopharyngioma.

In late 2018, I was experiencing shortness of breath and tightness in my chest, and was diagnosed with severe atherosclerosis (blockage of the arteries) and had a 5 way heart bypass in February of 2019.

In 2020, several months after the COVID-19 pandemic had taken hold, my daughter and I started creating cards with messages of gratitude and kindness for people still working and providing services during that difficult time. In November of 2021, we created the CD Kindness Movement, a 501(c)3 dedicated to spreading and promoting kindness.

By combining the experiences and my hope for the future, I hope to help other recognize their strengths, increase their mental and emotional flexibility, and enhance their strengths while encouraging kindness to oneself and others.

We can provide:

• Workshops: Breathing techniques, vision boards, and reflective journaling for deeper self-connection.

• 1:1 Coaching: Personalized support to uncover your strengths and reignite your spark.

• Speaking + Storytelling: Real-life resilience from someone who’s lived through it—brain tumors, heart surgery, and divorce—and found strength on the other side.