Our Team
Monica James
Monica James was born and raised on the westside of Chicago Illinois, where she lived in a small basement apartment with her parents and two younger siblings. Growing up poor and black on the tough streets of Chicago Illinois, made her no stranger to interpersonal and state violence. After a lengthy period of criminalization, sex trafficking, substance, mis-use, and interpersonal violence, she picked herself up by the bootstraps and walked toward healing liberation. Ironically, she found herself alongside grassroot community organizers and leaders in the fight for social justice because she believed in a world without interpersonal and state violence.
In 2014, she testified before the Committee Against Torture at United Nations - Geneva Switzerland - before UN Dignitaries in regards to the disparities of marginalized, criminalized, and disenfranchised groups of people in the United States. During her compelling testimony she demanded social restoration. Years later the impact of her testimony trickled down and marginalized, criminalized, and disenfranchised groups of witnessed social change in their favor.
James noticed that social change demanded was trickling down but not in ways that fostered the leadership of black and brown marginalized, criminalized, and disenfranchised women, although they were at the table in volunteer capacities.That the very people that pushed her into this platform were guilty of not uplifting her leadership. In 2018, she decided that she would exit her board member capacity at TJLP to create space for the leadership of another woman of color to be professionally developed and Triumphant 2Gether was born that same year.
James and Sheth, teamed up to Co-found Triumphant 2Gether (AKA Try Together) a registered charitable organization started in Providence Rhode Island, with a working office in Central Florida. Where she sits as the Board Chairwoman, program developer, and software innovator. She uses her paralegal certificate from Boston University to navigate T2 Court Support Project and TWEEKS Project. T2 has a clear vision to introduce women to safe and affirming spaces that invoke healing wellness and leadership. Being a survivor of interpersonal and state violence, James knows first hand the challenges that survivors face when they desire to change the course of their lives and innovative approach is a working solution.
Monica James is a black transgender woman that you should know.
Tanvi K. Sheth
Tanvi K. Sheth was Born and raised in Vadodara Gujarat, India, where he grew up in a household of educators and doctors. His mother, the late Bhavna Sheth was assistant Dean of Bright Day School and his father Dr. Kaushal Sheth stressed the importance of education. In 2004, he migrated to Chicago Illinois with a heavy heart from the untimely passing of his mother, and nothing more than confidence and determination.
Sheth found himself working long hours as a cashier at a chain family convenience stores and somehow found the strength to pursue a higher learning. In 2010, he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from DePaul University in Chicago Illinois. In 2014, he earned his J.D. from UIC John Marshall Law School in Chicago Illinois, and In 2015, he became a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois. As a young attorney, he joined Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (TJLP) as their Lead Project Attorney and collective/board member.
As lead project attorney, it was an eye opener to learn that a large number of transgender and Gender Non -conforming youth and adults were much more likely to be alienated and outcasted by family and community. Witnessing and experiencing the precarious social conditions of black and brown transgender communities he felt compelled to do what he could to bring positive affirmation and hope to their lives. He considered the community as his family and not just somebody from the community that needed support.
At TJLP, he supported more than 700 youth and adults navigate federal and state identity laws, supported the Chicago municipal ID coalition and the Chicago City Clerk’s office in creating, and implementing one of the most inclusive and responsive municipal identity programs that benefited Chicagoans. He has also led the impact litigation initiative to challenge the felony restriction in the Illinois Name Change Statute that prevented formerly incarcerated and incarcerated transgender people from changing their names to align with their gender identity. This meant more to him than just fighting to support a name change, but rather, make it possible for gender variant clients to be safe and affirmed in their walk of life.
With a background in business Sheth, financially resourced TJLP, and decided to vacate his seat at TJLP in hopes of creating capacity and space for underrepresented black and brown transgender women to be developed and supported into leadership positions. He believed that his and James' transition of leadership and power would serve as a replicable model of how to create capacity and space for marginalized women to become leaders of their own communities.
Sheth Co-Found Triumphant 2Gether alongside James on the shores of Providence Rhode Island in 2018. T2 was born as an organization that centered the healing and leadership of marginalized women and girls impacted by sexual violence and domestic violence. Sheth believes that lived experience and professional experience paired together is key to uplifting marginalized communities that are underprivileged and underserved to lead. Sheth is a firm believer that self will is and the seed that fosters self agency.
Karisma Hazel
Karisma Hazel MS, LPC, NCC obtained her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. Some of her current professional achievements include being a proud member of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society, a member of the American counseling Association, and a National Certified Counselor.
Karisma has experience in Mental Health Case Management, School Based Counseling, Mental Health Training and Development, and currently serves as a Mental Health Practice Program Manager and Mental Health Therapist. Karisma works with a broad population ranging from entrepreneurs and adults, to youth and adolescents. Karisma services those that are dealing with Depression, Anxiety, Low Self Esteem, Grief, Adjustment to life transitions and challenges, and Trauma/ PTSD; teaching them positive coping skills to help them along a more effective and efficient path. Karisma prides herself in compassion and avocation to and for others. She believes that all individuals have the right to be heard, accepted, and treated with kindness and dignity no matter their race, color, gender, or sexual orientation. Karisma is truly passionate about serving others and supporting her community as a whole.