Our Team

Richard is a former auto industry executive who is now a business coach with the Michigan Small Business Development Center supporting  small businesses in underserved communities throughout Detroit. He is also a board member and advisor to non-profits across the US.

Playful Fact: Richard and his family have lived in seven countries (and he’s traveled to nearly forty). While in Shanghai, they had a full-size trampoline in their 3-story living room. 

Anitra is an educator, family therapist and Compassionate Parent Coach. She is also the Founder of The F.O.L. Foundation reimagining well-being with a playful spirit for black youth and families in Detroit in memory of two of her sons Josiah and Jaden who died by suicide. The FOL Foundation will be leading its first Healing Arts – Drama program this summer in Detroit led by Anitra and her youngest son Nick. Anitra has a soul generated by love and is the author of the book ‘Sojourner of Grief.’

Playful Fact – Anitra recently almost had a bouncy house at her own birthday party!

Allo founded Izani formerly called Global Leading Light Initiatives and Fuel for Purpose (F4P) supporting entrepreneurship and empowerment in Africa. Allo is a breathwork coach, certified yoga instructor, and also taught for over a decade in rural South Africa empowering parents and families. Allo is the author of the book ‘Breeze of Liberation – The End of the Struggle for Survival’ and is a co-author of a robotics book with his son Jeff.

Playful Fact – Allo and David once had some “good mood food” in South Africa together and the name has stuck!

Erin Wills is the Founder of AnchorED Leaders elevating the impact of education leaders across the US.
Driven by over two decades of dedicated service in Detroit as a social worker, teacher, and principal, Erin Wills founded AnchorED Leaders with a clear vision: to empower leaders in high-stakes environments to not just navigate challenges, but to thrive. Witnessing firsthand the isolation and burnout that can plague leaders in demanding roles, particularly within the educational sector, Erin recognized a critical need for robust support systems. This personal experience fuels her passion for equipping leaders with the strategic navigation tools necessary for sustainable success.

Playful Fact – Erin is known by some as ‘Wonder Wills’ as she may have kicked off a school year in a full wonder woman costume!

Xiaoan Li is the Senior Program Officer at the Fetzer Institute building the spiritual foundation for a loving world. Prior to his work at the Fetzer Institute, Xiaoan held numerous teaching and leadership positions in educational institutions in China and the United States. He received his PhD in higher education and organizational change at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Xiaoan’s passion towards working with young people naturally includes two of his own: David and Clare.

Playful Fact – Playing baseball with David and reading together with Clare are his favorite things to do in the world. When he has time to spare, Xiaoan plays basketball and daydreams about playing for the New York Knicks.

Raj Vable founded Young Mountain Tea with a promise. If a co-operative of Himalayan farmers would grow tea, he’d start a company to sell it. Since then, he and his team have been on a mission to work with Indian and Nepali farmers to raise the quality of their tea, so they can earn more and raise the quality of their life. Today Young Mountain Tea has launched an organic specialty tea factory that they co-own with Himalayan farmers, creating a new model for how tea can create regenerative food systems.

Raj’s work has been supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, Fulbright, Acumen, and more. He holds an MS in Environmental Studies and a BS in Electrical Engineering. He loves hiking in the forests, combing the shoreline for beach glass, swimming (ideally outdoors), playing guitar, logging time in the sauna, and cooking.

Playful Fact – Raj is a prankster. Watch out. He also once had a back hair that connected on both sides.

Steve Small is Professor Emeritus of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University.
Throughout his career Steve collaborated with communities across Wisconsin and the nation to better understand and address the challenges, aspirations, and positive and problematic behaviors of children, youth, and their families. Working alongside students, policy makers, professionals, and community leaders, he sought to enhance practices and policies that contribute to the well-being of individuals and families.
His current work explores the concept of practical wisdom—how people develop and use it to navigate important, challenging, and uncertain situations in daily life and professional practice.
Steve is a father of three and devoted “Pop Pop” to four grandchildren. He remains active in retirement serving on several city commissions, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels, volunteering as an election official, and creating unique sculptures, robots, and lamps from recycled materials.

Playful Fact – A lifelong baseball player, he still plays shortstop for his senior softball team—where, for a few hours, he’s 12 years old again.

Willie Kunert is a board certified Buddhist chaplain, with a passion for supporting people through times of illness and loss. He co-runs the Metta Mind Therapy counseling practice and assists the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Spiritual Care. He is influenced by Jungian thought and the contemporary model of Internal Family Systems therapy, and loves helping people connect with their ‘inner children’, and giving them the freedom to play!

Playful Fact – Willie has a seven-year-old daughter, and when he was a child himself, he could spend endless hours playing in the sand on the beach (and if he’s honest, he still can)

Mohan is known as the “Batman of Social Impact,” as an executive leader by day and keynote speaker + hip-hop artist by night. Throughout his career, Mohan has supported local and national organizations in orchestrating sustainable transformation and systems change across corporate social responsibility, education, civic engagement, and philanthropy. 

Mohan is the founder of Harmonious Leadership, a movement to address the workforce disengagement crisis through cultural change, leadership development, and sustainable impact. Prior to launching Harmonious Leadership, Mohan served as the CEO of Our Turn, a national, youth-led organization that closed education opportunity gaps. 

Mohan was awarded the “40 Under 40 Rising Star” by New York Nonprofit Media and a “Next Generation Leader” by the Human Services Council. Mohan’s keynote talks and thought leadership have been featured by TED, ESPN, the World Economic Forum, Fast Company, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Greenbiz, Synergos Institute, Nationswell, and more. His music has been awarded by the International and USA Songwriting Competitions, and his debut film “In Pursuit Of” received awards from multiple film festivals.