Violence ends when we center those who've survived it.
Join us in collectively building and sustaining real change
Violence ends when we center those who've survived it.
Join us in collectively building and sustaining real change
About Us
Our Founder/President
Our Founder/President
Our Founder/President
Saving Ourselves Foundation, Inc. was founded in the state of Maryland by Christian F. Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW-C, LCSW, a seasoned strategist, internationally recognized speaker, licensed clinical social worker, with over 20 years of experience, Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist, and internationally recognized expert in mental health, gen
Saving Ourselves Foundation, Inc. was founded in the state of Maryland by Christian F. Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW-C, LCSW, a seasoned strategist, internationally recognized speaker, licensed clinical social worker, with over 20 years of experience, Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist, and internationally recognized expert in mental health, gender equity, and digital safety. Her insights have shaped national conversations on platforms including CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, The Guardian,and The Washington Post.
As National President of the National Organization for Women (NOW) from 2020-2025, Christian made history as only the second African American woman to hold this role in the organization's 60-year legacy. Under her leadership, NOW underwent profound transformation, anchored in intersectional feminism and anti-racist practice, restructuring its systems, governance, and strategic priorities to center racial justice and intersectionality, mobilizing a new, diverse generation of feminist leaders, and amplifying marginalized voices within the movement.
Christian's expertise spans evidence-based clinical practice, policy advocacy, DEIJ, and organizational transformation. She is the author of the children's book No Hug Today, centering consent education and bodily autonomy, and a sought-after leader who weaves social work, research, and social justice frameworks throughout her work. Currently pursuing her Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) at Simmons University, Christian continues to advance scholarship on trauma-informed practice and systemic change. Also as the Founder and CEO of Equity Bound Solutions LLC, she has guided organizations through equity-centered transformations, while focusing on psychological safety.
Her vision for Saving Ourselves Foundation is rooted in a fundamental truth: communities already possess the skills, knowledge, and power needed to create lasting change. What they need is to center survivors, and they deserve equity, access, and safety.
Our Founding Board
Our Founder/President
Our Founder/President
Tanishia Bailey, Chair, is an experienced government management consultant with over a decade of experience specializing in healthcare quality improvement and leadership development.
Tanishia Bailey, Chair, is an experienced government management consultant with over a decade of experience specializing in healthcare quality improvement and leadership development.
Tanishia currently serves on the Silver Spring Advisory Board and as co-chair of the African Affairs Committee for the United Nations Association of the USA.
Outside of work, Tanishia enjoys domestic and international travel, hiking in the DMV, and exploring DC’s many cultural events throughout the year.
Our Founding Board
Our Founder/President
Our Founding Board
Crystal Brigham, Treasurer,
Crystal Brigham - Brings 18 years of professional experience in human resources and administration. She holds a Bachelor of Business Management from Prairie View A&M University and an MBA, supporting her practical and strategic approach to organizational leadership.
She supports the work of Saving Ourselves Fou
Crystal Brigham, Treasurer,
Crystal Brigham - Brings 18 years of professional experience in human resources and administration. She holds a Bachelor of Business Management from Prairie View A&M University and an MBA, supporting her practical and strategic approach to organizational leadership.
She supports the work of Saving Ourselves Foundation, Inc. by contributing a practical, people-focused perspective that promotes equity, accountability, and positive outcomes for all individuals and communities.
In her personal time, Crystal enjoys both domestic and international travel and values opportunities to experience different cultures whenever possible. She values experiences that broaden her perspective and strengthen connection across communities.
Our Founding Board
Our Founding Board
Our Founding Board
Dr. Gary Ford Jr, Secretary,
Dr. Gary L. Ford, Jr. obtained a B.A. cum laude in African American Studies from Harvard University, a J.D. from Columbia University, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The New School, and a PhD in American Studies with a concentration in African American Studies from the University of Maryland. He is an Asso
Dr. Gary Ford Jr, Secretary,
Dr. Gary L. Ford, Jr. obtained a B.A. cum laude in African American Studies from Harvard University, a J.D. from Columbia University, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The New School, and a PhD in American Studies with a concentration in African American Studies from the University of Maryland. He is an Associate Professor in the Africana Studies Department at Lehman College/City University of New York. He taught African American Studies as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Maryland. While pursuing his law degree, he worked as an intern for a law firm and a United States Attorney’s Office.
Ford’s book, Constance Baker Motley: One Woman’s Fight for Civil Rights and Equal Justice under Law, examined the life and work of Motley. She was the only woman lawyer on the Brown v. Board of Education legal team, the first African American woman who argued cases before the United States Supreme Court, and the lawyer who won cases that desegregated public schools, the universities of Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, housing, transportation, lunch counters, museums, libraries, and parks as well as cases that freed Martin Luther King, Jr., freedom riders, and sit-in protestors from jails. The book was included in the April 22, 2018, New York Times book review under the title, “Trailblazers in Politics and Civil Rights.” It was also included in the Harvard Authors’ Bookshelf, the Columbia Authors’ Bookshelf, and The New School Authors’ Bookshelf.
Ford was a producer of the award winning Quinnipiac University documentary, Justice Is A Black Woman: The Life and Work of Constance Baker Motley The film has been recognized nationally and internationally. It received an award as the Best Higher Education Film of the year. It received a Telly Award. It was voted as the best documentary at an international film festival in France, and it was nominated in the best historical documentary category at the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Awards held in Boston.
Ford has presented his work in the following venues, in addition to others: the Association For The Study Of African American Life And History Convention film festival in Jacksonville, Florida, PBS and Black Entertainment Television, historical societies, Atlanta Center For Civil Rights And Human Rights, Philadelphia Civil Rights Museum, Harvard Club, Columbia, and other colleges, universities, high schools, theaters, churches, and national conferences including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Annual Meeting, the New York State Bar Association Annual Meeting, the National Bar Association Annual Meeting, and the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Selma to Montgomery March.
Our Founding Board
Our Founding Board
Our Founding Board
Nicci Gilbert- Daniels, Vice- Chair,
Dr. Nicci Gilbert-Daniels is a Grammy-nominated artist, media executive, and cultural
architect committed to advancing creative ownership and authentic representation. A
founding member of the iconic R&B group Brownstone, she is also one of television’s most
impactful executive producers, having cre
Nicci Gilbert- Daniels, Vice- Chair,
Dr. Nicci Gilbert-Daniels is a Grammy-nominated artist, media executive, and cultural
architect committed to advancing creative ownership and authentic representation. A
founding member of the iconic R&B group Brownstone, she is also one of television’s most
impactful executive producers, having created TV One’s groundbreaking franchise R&B
Divas and BET’s acclaimed docuseries From the Bottom Up. Her upcoming documentary
Film Broken Things and short film Social Conflict continue her mission of truth-centered
Storytelling by addressing critical issues impacting the safety and well-being of women and
children. As Founder and CEO of WIRF Media and visionary behind the emerging streaming platform.
Divine 9 TV, Dr. Nicci is building a national infrastructure that empowers communities
especially women of color to create, own, and distribute content that uplifts, educates, and inspires.
She is a fierce advocate for generational wellness, wealth-building, and the protection of intellectual property ownership as a foundation for lasting community empowerment. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including two Grammy nominations, BET Her Woman of Impact, Lincoln Shining Star, Influence HER Awards, Billboard Music Awards recognition, and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award presented under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. A proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., she is also the founder of the From the Bottom Up Foundation and serves on the boards of Hip Hop Sisters, Saving Ourselves Foundation Inc, Beyond the Game Foundation, and The Center for Black Women’s Wellness.
A true multi-hyphenate—singer, writer, producer, actress, speaker, designer, and advocate. Dr. Nicci Gilbert-Daniels is a fearless advocate for creative equity and generational legacy. Guided by faith, resilience, and purpose, she continues to build platforms that shift culture, not just follow it owned by the culture, led by the divine.
Our Founding Board
Our Founding Board
Our Founding Board
Faith Wachira, Co- Founder of Aki Si Normal Initiative, is
a Kenyan development professional with experience across the UN system, development advisory, and civic engagement spaces, with a focus on gender equality, food security, and social justice. As a young woman working at the intersection of policy and practice, she has contributed
Faith Wachira, Co- Founder of Aki Si Normal Initiative, is
a Kenyan development professional with experience across the UN system, development advisory, and civic engagement spaces, with a focus on gender equality, food security, and social justice. As a young woman working at the intersection of policy and practice, she has contributed to programmes operating in complex humanitarian and development contexts, supporting efforts to advance women’s empowerment and inclusive approaches to development.
She has also worked within development consultancies, supporting strategy, research, and partnership-driven initiatives, and remains actively engaged in youth and civic dialogue spaces that use communication and storytelling to deepen participation and public engagement. Alongside this, Faith continues to shape her contribution to grassroots feminist work grounded in community realities. She believes inclusion is both a value and a practice, rooted in equity, relationships, and accountability, and is committed to contributing to a world where systems work as they should, enabling fairness, opportunity, and dignity, particularly for young people, and for women and girls.
Our Partnerships
Our Partnerships
Our Partnerships
We are proud to partner with a variety of organizations and businesses to support our community. Our partnerships enable us to expand our reach and provide even more resources and services to those in need.
Strategic Priorities
Legislative Advocacy & Systems Change
Community Power & Collective Liberation
Community Power & Collective Liberation
This priority advances survivor- and community-led, nonpartisan policy solutions to prevent gender-based and digital violence. Through coalition building, legislative education, and public advocacy, we work to strengthen state and federal protections while holding systems accountable to those most impacted. Our approach ensures public policy is shaped by lived experience, equity, and evidence-based solutions
Community Power & Collective Liberation
Community Power & Collective Liberation
Community Power & Collective Liberation
This priority transforms cultural norms that enable violence by centering on healing, education, and collective responsibility. Through community workshops, survivor-informed retreats, and public awareness campaigns, the program promotes consent, empathy, and safety as shared values. Its goal is to shift mindsets, disrupt harmful beliefs, and empower communities to prevent violence before it begins.
AI & Digital Safety
Community Power & Collective Liberation
Men's Engagement & Accountable Masculinities
This priority advances safety, dignity, and equity in online and AI-powered spaces. We provide digital rights education, advocate for platform accountability, and lead initiatives to prevent and respond to online harassment, surveillance, and algorithmic bias. The program also advances policies and protections for marginalized individuals disproportionately targeted by digital gender-based violence and technology-enabled harm.
Men's Engagement & Accountable Masculinities
Economic Justice & Survivor Self-Determination
Men's Engagement & Accountable Masculinities
This priority equips men and boys to actively challenge toxic masculinity and prevent violence through empathy, respect, and accountability. We deliver trauma-informed, age-appropriate curricula in K–12 schools and train male leaders to model healthy relationships and nonviolent behavior. The program strengthens communities by engaging men as partners in safety, equity, and cultural change.
Economic Justice & Survivor Self-Determination
Economic Justice & Survivor Self-Determination
Economic Justice & Survivor Self-Determination
This priority builds economic power as a pathway to safety and self-determination for communities at risk of exploitation. Through civic education, financial literacy, and community-led resource building, participants gain tools to divest from predatory systems and invest in sustainable opportunities rooted in their strengths and assets. The program advances long-term stability, dignity, and resilience as essential foundations for violence prevention
Donate to SOS
Support Saving Ourselves Foundation
Your donation makes a difference in the lives of those we serve.
We are a grassroots nonprofit that relies on the donations of our supporters. Help us make impactful change by becoming a monthly SOS champion and committing to donate $10, 25, 50, or $100 a month. Contact us at sos@savingourselvesfoundation.org to sign