Get To Know Us

Sera Bonds, MPH + founder

Sera (she/her) is a Queer, Jewish social justice writer + activist committed to balancing the scales of access and equity. Her community organizing background range is dynamic and diverse, having been involved in public health actions in over twenty countries and raising over 25 million dollars. She is the founder of a leading feminist global aid organization, Circle of Health International, and two social impact companies, Waking Giants + Better Union. She recently served as Interim Executive Director at Congregation Beth Israel. She lives in Austin, TX, with her two adventurous teenage sons and her loving husband, where they can be found creating their wild + wonderful lives together.

briona jenkins, murmuration coaching co-host + Development jedi

Briona “Bri” Jenkins (she/her) is a Black, queer woman changing the world by empowering people to own their stories through vulnerability. Bri has a diverse range of development experience for non-profits around the country including founding her own consulting business, Briona Jenkins Consulting, where she helped small nonprofits with their fundraising and marketing goals as well as offering DEI trainings and more. Bri started ‘The Tea with Bri’ so that she could have a deep dive conversation with her friends and colleagues. She is a strong believer in sharing stories and having conversations as a way for all of us to expand our views. As she says, “Change happens in the uncomfortable places,” Her role at Waking Giants is as co-host of our social impact coaching programs and stepping in with our retainer clients to provide fundraising and operations support.

Tias volker, Client Support Coordinator

Tias (he/they) is based in Brooklyn, New York. He has extensive writing, research, and grant management experience, both for a wide portfolio of clients and for personal grants for his artistic practice. From personal assistant work to karaoke technician to salon management, Tias' career has made them a jack-of-all-trades. He has a passion for data and proficiency in Python and SQL. They have over five years of customer service, managerial, and administrative experience at nonprofits and for-profits along the East Coast, and now in ATX! Outside of work, Tias enjoys reading with his partner, watching reality tv, and exploring the park near his house. They are a cat stepdad to two beautiful boys. 

Autumn houston, marketing and business development intern

Hi, my name is Autumn Houston (she/her), and I'm so happy to be working for Waking Giants! I'm born and raised in Austin, Tx, but am finishing my senior year at Tulane University, in New Orleans, where I'm double majoring in Marketing and Management. I'm passionate about social justice, working with children, film and television, and community building. I have a background in DEI, event planning, and leadership training. I'm excited to bring these skills to help everyone at Waking Giants!

Dr. Sharita Ambrose, Trainer

Dr. Sharita Ambrose (she/her) is a public health professional with over 22 years of experience in HIV/AIDS education, advocacy, and health promotion. She holds a Doctorate in Health Education, specializing in Health Promotion, with a dissertation focused on Black women’s awareness and acceptability of PrEP. Dr. Ambrose is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Certified Community Health Worker Instructor (CHWI). With a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration, Dr. Ambrose is committed to advancing the health of Black women. She has spent 15 years training HIV providers across Texas. Currently, she serves as Co-Founder and Executive Director of Allure Alliance, Inc., an organization dedicated to addressing sexual health, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health disparities among Black women.

Emily Weerts, ONLINE Community Support Specialist

Emily (she/her/hers) is a community builder and facilitator with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector. Building on her work in the museum and education sector, Emily is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion through justice and joy. Emily is expanding her coordination skills to manage Graduate Medical Education Fellowship programs for Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Years of managing STEM programs has helped Emily be as comfortable behind a screen as she is around a conference table. When she’s not facilitating a workshop, Emily is probably sewing, cooking, or planning the next adventure with her chosen family.