Founder / Coach / Consultant: Angela Fontaine, ACC, ELI-MP
As an ICF Certified Coach, Consultant, and ELI Master Practitioner, Angela possesses a wealth of knowledge in multiple fields and industries. She has over ten years of experience focusing on transition and managing change in various sectors. Her ability to think outside the box while focusing on real-world solutions leads those she works with toward positive outcomes.
She believes that an organization's strength lies in its ability to hold space for diverse thought and experience, as well as its ability to welcome change while staying focused on its vision and purpose. She centers her work around creating solid partnerships with clients to create and reach goals while taking intentional and well-informed actions.
She is a lifelong student of philosophy and theology. Her passion for these disciplines has deepened her understanding of the fundamental questions that shape our lives. This intellectual curiosity infuses her coaching and consulting work, allowing her to guide clients toward self-discovery and personal transformation. Her family's roots are as dynamic as her professional background, providing her with many experiences and a mosaic of diverse perspectives.
Beyond her coaching and consulting career, she loves supporting Richmond's music and arts scene, and raising her son. Her dedication extends to supporting nonprofit organizations, especially those championing social, environmental, and food justice initiatives.
Consultant: Dr. Eli Coston
Dr. Eli Coston is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Coston received their PhD in Sociology from Stony Brook University, specializing in Criminology, Gender and Sexuality, and Race and Ethnicity. Trained in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, their research examines how the intersections of race, class, and gender create differing experiences of marginalization and oppression for LGBTQ+ people and people of color in their interactions with the criminal legal system.
Dr. Coston has served as a consultant for organizations across Virginia, offering training on LGBTQ+ issues, inclusivity, and allyship. Additionally, Dr. Coston has facilitated focus groups, performed audits of organizational practices, and reviewed and made recommendations regarding inclusive workplace policies.
Dr. Coston is also actively involved in their community. Dr. Coston has been a member of the Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project since 2017. In 2022, they served as the co-chair of the Task force to Establish Civilian Oversight of the Richmond Police Department. And formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Anti-Violence Project. Dr. Coston’s involvement in community driven work informs both their research and consulting work by putting them in direct contact with those most impacted.
