This year marks my 20th anniversary of moving to New York City—a milestone that invites both reflection and forward vision.
When I arrived two decades ago, NYC represented possibility and pressure in equal measure. Like many who come here, I carried ambition, resilience, and uncertainty. What I didn’t know then was how deeply this city would shape my work in ethical advocacy, trauma-informed coaching, and systems change—or that it would eventually lead to the creation of 2EmptyChairs.
From Lived Experience to Purpose-Driven Work
2EmptyChairs was founded to address the gaps I kept witnessing—where individuals, families, and organizations were expected to navigate crisis, disruption, and overwhelm without adequate support.
The work grew from lived experience into structured, ethical practice:
- Trauma-informed advocacy
- Executive and private coaching
- Organizational consulting during periods of transition
- Survivor-centered and equity-focused systems work
New York City didn’t just provide opportunity—it demanded accountability, adaptability, and clarity of purpose. Those lessons became foundational to how 2EmptyChairs operates today.
Collaboration, Community, and Colleagues Who Shape the Work
Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with extraordinary colleagues across advocacy, social services, leadership development, and mental health spaces. This work is not meant to be done in isolation, and NYC reinforced that collaboration isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Each partnership strengthened the belief that ethical advocacy and sustainable leadership require community-centered solutions, not individual heroics.
Working With Clients During Their Most Critical Moments
At the center of this journey are the clients—individuals and organizations who trusted me during moments of crisis, transition, and rebuilding.
From survivors seeking stability and voice, to leaders managing burnout and organizational disruption, every engagement reinforced the same truth:
support must be human, strategic, and rooted in dignity.
These experiences shaped the guiding philosophy of 2EmptyChairs—often described as Momentum After Interruption—helping clients move forward without minimizing what they’ve endured.
Looking Ahead: New Initiatives and Expanded Impact
While this anniversary marks reflection, it also signals expansion.
In the coming year, we are launching our first Annual Virtual Coaching Summit, designed to bring together advocates, coaches, and leaders navigating change, overwhelm, and ethical leadership in real time.
We are also developing the first FASE Campus through the FASE. This initiative focuses on building long-term infrastructure for advocacy education, leadership development, and social equity, expanding access to tools and training for historically excluded communities.
Twenty Years in NYC—and the Work Is Still Unfolding
New York City taught me how to build without losing compassion, how to lead without silencing lived experience, and how to sustain momentum through interruption.
Twenty years ago, I moved to NYC searching for opportunity.
Today, my work is about creating access, structure, and support for others.
The city has changed.
The work has evolved.
And the mission continues.