Sovern is an intersectional community center, located in LA’s West Adams district, focused on supporting Black and Indigenous women​ and gender non-binary people.

​Sovern’s mission is to act as a vessel for people (across generations) to build intersectional community and bridge–without othering– across disparate perspectives and lived experiences; to world build to dismantle oppressive systems that act as barriers to hope, liberation, and collective healing; fostering creative ecosystems that branch out and coalesce around shared values; and to offer an alternative model within the art and “healing” world that centers relationship building and community wellbeing; creative incubator building solidarity and challenging transactional relationships across art & healing spaces within L.A. 

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STAFF

At Sovern, our team is a collective of people who work, learn, and build alongside one another. We come from different histories, lineages, and lived experiences, and it is this intersection of identities that shapes the heart of our work. Together, we cultivate a space where creativity, healing, and community care are not just ideas but daily practices.
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We are united by a shared commitment to challenging the systems that have historically excluded and marginalized so many. Rather than positioning ourselves as experts, we approach our work with humility and accountability, knowing that liberation is a communal effort.

Nicole Shostak-Sabourian
​Co-founder, Artistic Director​

Nicole is passionate about upending power inequities in the arts landscape through her advocacy for emerging artists and curation of bodies of work with community accessibility and transformation in mind. As co-founder of Sovern LA, Nicole is an artistic director, curator and healing arts practitioner and advocate who colors outside the lines to cooperatively build new systems that support collective care and equity in and through her fields. 

As a lifelong creative with a B.A. in Art History from Cornell University and 15+ years as an artist, healing arts practitioner and entrepreneur, artistic practice and spiritual practice living hand-in-hand guide her curatorial approach. She has curated and/or organized 16 solo and group exhibitions for Sovern which serve to anchor the personal and collective healing work that takes place within the center, alongside co-developing community offerings that explore each exhibition’s themes to foster dialogue, introspection and healing.  ​

Cinthya Silverstein
​Cultural Programs Director

​A visual activist and cultural worker committed to creating liberatory spaces through art, storytelling, and community-rooted programming, Cinthya assists practioners in developing multidisciplinary offerings that uplift healing justice, intergenerational connection, and collective liberation. Her work at Sovern focuses on building sustainable systems, programming workshops, and nurturing relationships with artists, facilitators, and organizers across Los Angeles and beyond.
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Cinthya holds a B.A. in Anthropology from UCLA, and her photographic practice currently explores how visual narratives in birth photography can resist medical violence and affirm the agency of Black and Brown birthing people. She also co-directs Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp with her husband Joshua Silverstein, helping lead an intergenerational arts community in Northern California dedicated to cultural connection, accessibility, and arts education.

Maia Ramirez-Beaver
Operations Assistant

Maia Ramirez-Beaver, born in 1998 in Los Angeles, California, is a versatile artist whose work reflects a profound connection to her roots and an unwavering commitment to sustainability. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with a specialized emphasis in painting and a minor in sustainability, forging a unique blend of artistic expression and environmental consciousness.

Nordia Simmonds
Programming Assistant

​Nordia brings 7+ years of experience in programmatic development within the non-profit sector. With a M.A. in Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies, she grounds her practice as a scholar-activist in Afro-Caribbean traditions and the medicine of community. Her current work explores art-based responses to our current climate crisis.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christina Tajalli
Board President
Senior Business Affairs Executive, Range Media Partners
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As Senior Business Affairs Executive, at Range Media Partners, Christina Tajalli negotiates and drafts above-the-line and license agreements. She is a member of FEME (Female Executives in Media & Entertainment) and its diversity committee.  Christina came across Sovern as a community member in the pursuit of healing justice - seeking a place to grieve personal loss and to practice meaningful self-care. Sovern has taught her that the practice of wellness is a multifaceted endeavor - chief among them being surrounding yourself with other women of color who validate your lived experiences, empathize with your suffering and celebrate your joy and glory.

Rena Braud
Board Member
Realtor, Compass and RenaRealEstate
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​With over thirty years of experience and expertise, Rena is one of Los Angeles' most trusted and top producing Realtors and Real Estate Strategists. Born and raised in South LA, Rena comes from a lineage of Real Estate Investors and legacy Realtors. Rena is passionate and skilled at bringing Californians' dreams of homeownership to life. Rena is grateful to be a part of Sovern's community and its mission of helping women heal through arts, movement and wellness. This kind of dedication is indeed incredibly important, as it recognizes the holistic nature of healing and well-being, empowers creativity and self discovery and inspires positive changes in a safe and non-judgmental space.

Whitney Davis-Houston, J.D.
Board Member
Attorney at Law, WHD Firm
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Whitney was raised in South LA and is passionate about giving back to the community. Well-versed in all areas of business law and civil litigation, Whitney's legal practice specializes in real estate and entertainment law. Her passion for justice for clients extends to her nonprofit work. As Board President for A New Way of Life, Whitney works on behalf of the organization in whatever capacity is needed to ensure the success of women recently freed from incarceration. Whitney is also a mother of two sons who are her greatest source of pride.

 

BJ Davis
Board Member
Strategic Operational Executive
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BJ Davis is an accomplished strategic and operational executive with a remarkable track record of over 20 years in progressive leadership roles.  BJ was introduced to Sovern and its co-founders by her sister, K’era Morgan, a mixed-media painter whose work has been shown at Sovern. She is drawn to Sovern’s mission and the ever-present powerful, safe, and welcoming energy. She is excited about the opportunity to collaborate and lend her talents to supporting Sovern’s mission.