Chioko Grevious is a lover of life, a wife, mother, an avid reader, new beekeeper and self-described Tupac historian. She believes that everyone has a story to share that could, not only benefit her, but someone else, significantly. This is why Cocoa Butter and Communion started; to build space for conversation and communion; to provide the space for her village to share their stories to inspire the listeners to hold space for themselves and the villages they are a part of. Chioko looks forward to having conversations with her family, friends and community to continue growing as a wife, a mother, a friend, a sister and community member.

Theresa Fortune is an established public speaker, actress, screenwriter, director, executive producer, editor and founder of Communion with the Community, which was established in 2017. The focal point of her work is art and creative expression and boldly sharing her personal experiences with economic challenges, social injustices, and postpartum depression.

As a creative-community service leader, Fortune orchestrates events that inspire dialogue around mental health and artistic expression in the black community. Fortune’s work in drama theater, storytelling, and visual art exist to provide a container for dialogue around many of the issues affecting black families and individuals in our increasingly disconnected society.

Her devotion to contributing to the community inspired her to build and facilitate a year-round mentorship program for underprivileged children in Oakland. In this program, youth are introduced to the arts and encouraged to explore their creative identity. Theresa Fortune was born and raised in Oakland and is a mother to an 10-year-old daughter.