Frequently Asked Questions

First, I would encourage you to think about: 

• your specific goals for our time together,
• what kind of support or coaching style might be needed (e.g. do you prefer ongoing hands-on guidance versus a one-time specific project or time-sensitive request?),
• what type of budget is available for services,
• how much time you can devote to working together, including how often you would like to meet

RAFA offers three main areas of support:

• College & Career Coaching for individuals navigating educational transitions while honoring their authentic identity
• Sustainable Program Design for organizations building equity initiatives that withstand changing landscapes
• Strategic Grant Development to secure resources for community-centered work and translate community wisdom into compelling funding opportunities

During our initial free 20-minute consultation, we'll explore which approach best fits your goals, get to know each other, ask questions, and discuss the details of your request. 

If it's a good fit, then you will let me know you're in! I'll send you a services agreement form to sign and return to me within 3 business days and a link to set up your next appointment.

Yes! Payment plans are offered for all package options and individual services offered on the pricing menu. Ask me about these options during the consultation meeting or be sure to mention it in your intake form. 

For one-time or flat-rate services, payment is due before or at the time of your scheduled meeting  or project (an invoice will be sent with a link to remit payment virtually). 

For services purchased via a payment plan, please refer to your signed copy of your service agreement for your individual payment plan terms and due dates.

In-person meetings can be scheduled at a location of your convenience if you live within 20 miles of the metropolitan Toledo, OH area. 

Virtual meetings are also available regardless of whether you live in the Toledo metropolitan area or not! I use Google Meet to conduct client meetings and workshops. If you require technology accommodations beyond this platform to better suit your specific needs, please let me know ASAP and I will do my best to find a solution that works for us both.

Yes! RAFA partners with educational institutions, nonprofits, community organizations, and individual changemakers to design sustainable equity initiatives, develop grant proposals, and build authentic community partnerships. We use the same values-centered, strengths-based approach whether working with individuals or institutions.

Our organizational work includes program design that can withstand leadership changes and funding fluctuations, grant development that centers community voice, and capacity building that honors the wisdom organizations already possess.

Great question!

RAFA uses a unique framework that helps you Reach beyond limitations, Analyze systems critically, Find your best fit, and Activate your authentic ambitions. Whether you're a student navigating college applications or an organization designing sustainable programs for equity, this approach ensures you don't have to choose between success and staying true to who you are. 

I take a holistic, strengths-based, and individualized problem-solving approach to my consulting services. As a result, you will never see me apply a "one-size-fits-all" strategy to your specific needs. This is reflected in my educational training as someone who values understanding how systems, policies, and cultural phenomena shape individual people and their interactions with the world around them. 

Additionally, my diverse professional experiences as a woman of color leader in the education space are par to none having supported students and their advocates at various levels of the K-16 college pipeline, while also working within institutions to create more equitable systems and processes. I know what it takes for highly talented individuals and organizations from a variety of educational settings and communities to navigate complex systems while maintaining their authentic identity and values.

My mission now is to share that knowledge by working together to transform educational systems and create authentic pathways for diverse changemakers.

That's exactly what our free 20-minute consultation is for! We'll explore your goals together and identify the approach that feels right for you during this initial conversation.

Sometimes students think they need help with college applications when what they really need is support navigating family expectations or financial constraints. Other times, organizations reach out for grant writing when they actually need to strengthen their program design first. And, occasionally, what looks like an individual challenge is really about institutional barriers that need addressing. 

That's why I always start with listening deeply to my clients' needs first to find a way forward together. There's no pressure to have it all figured out before we talk -- that's what I'm here for! 

As a lifelong equity advocate and queer woman of color, it is important to me to keep my services accessible to those who need them most! 

For Individual Clients: Make sure to ask me about my sliding scale pricing menu for college coaching services if you identify as at least one or more of the following:

• Historically underrepresented ethnic or racial groups (e.g. Latine/x, Black, Native American, Hawaiian or Alaskan Natives),
• First generation American,
• First in your family to attend college,
• LGBTQ+,
• Someone with high financial need (i.e. lower-to-middle socioeconomic income),
• Currently enrolled as a full-time student and part-time employee (i.e. you work at least 20 hours a week on top of your school responsibilities),
• A person with a disability

For Organizations: I use tiered pricing so that grassroots and community-led organizations pay significantly less than well-funded institutions, ensuring accessibility based on actual organizational capacity. 

Additional Support Options include:

• Payment plans for all services to distribute costs over time
• Partnership opportunities that can reduce costs through collaboration
• Partial to full scholarships for individuals with exceptional promise and significant financial need

Even if you're unsure if you fit any one of these categories, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm very excited to work with you soon!