As a social entrepreneur, nonprofit and brand consultant, and public health advocate, I have dedicated my career to sickle cell awareness. I founded am the CEO of NotJustYou, a national support organization for individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease. I also serve as the graphic and merchandise design lead on the Creative Team at Cornerstone Christian Church of God (CCCG), where some of my most meaningful leadership lessons have taken root.
Born in Toronto to Nigerian parents from the Urhobo tribe in Warri, Delta State, my life began with a leap of faith. My parents immigrated to Canada in 1998 while expecting me, their first child. A decade later, we moved west to Alberta with two more children and the hope of better opportunities. That bold decision laid the groundwork for the life, leadership, and sisterhood I now walk in daily.
Building Beyond Content
For the past five years, I’ve had the joy of serving on CCCG’s Creative Team alongside some of the most visionary women I know. Looking back at our work, from sermon graphics and content planning to full-scale documentary shoots, it’s amazing to think we accomplished it all without formal training. Just a shared vision, grit, and the grace of God.
What started as volunteer service turned into a masterclass in content creation, production, leadership, and execution. The skills I’ve gained have shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today and continue to give me an edge in every space I enter.
But more than teammates, these women have become sisters. Together, we’ve built something far beyond content. We’ve built community, purpose, and legacy.
Meet the Creative Sisters
Dorcas Woolaston is the Founder and CEO of Layered, a luxury custom cake business, Head Pastry Chef at Rogers Place, and the lead of our Creative Team. A cultural blend of Jamaican and Trinidadian roots, Dorcas is the engine powering our creativity with excellence.
Esther Marah is an author, counseling psychology practitioner, host of the Hear Me Out Podcast, assistant lead on our team, head of videography, and Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Adewusi’s page manager and stylist. Born in Sierra Leone and raised in Edmonton, Esther’s resilience and perspective enrich every space she enters.
Yawa Idi is a mental health expert, counseling psychology practitioner, Senior Council Assistant with the City of Edmonton, and a spoken word artist. Born in Nova Scotia to South Sudanese parents, Yawa leads our photography and HR work with strength and compassion.
Christine Nantchouang is a Business & Entrepreneurship Specialist with the Government of Alberta and owner of The Buttercream Effect. A Cameroonian born global citizen, Christine manages Pastor Ibukun’s page and brings a unique voice to our team.
Mariam Giwa is a public health expert and social worker. Born in Lagos to a Yoruba father and Idoma-Igbo mother, she moved to Canada in search of better opportunities. Today, she holds down our admin systems and leads NotJustYou’s Bright Program.
Victoria Nyambane is a fashion expert, stylist, and Apostle Emmanuel’s lead stylist. Born in Kenya, her family’s move to Canada laid the foundation for her creative rise. Victoria leads all things social media for our team and is our go-to style revivalist.
This is what the creative backbone of CCCG looks like. This is what sisterhood looks like.
Why I Founded NotJustYou
I lived with sickle cell disease for the first 18 years of my life. After receiving a bone marrow transplant that cured me, I knew I couldn’t walk away from the community that shaped me. Sickle cell is both stigmatized and misunderstood. I built NotJustYou to be the safe space I never had.
Sisterhood carried me through. It shows up as encouragement, accountability, and strength when I need it most. Running a nonprofit as a young Black woman is not easy, but being surrounded by faith-driven women reminds me who I am and why I started.
Working with the women at CCCG has taught me that giving up is never the option. Every problem has a solution. Their belief in the impossible shaped how I lead in every other space. In NotJustYou, we build that same type of sisterhood, one that empowers individuals with sickle cell to see themselves as whole and worthy.
Creating Impact Through Community
I’ve watched people join our team broken or discouraged and, through community, come back to life. We love them into the version of themselves God intended. Whether online or in person, our culture is rooted in presence. We follow through. We show up.
Our community is our strength. There’s a quote I live by: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Sisterhood changes lives. It forces healthcare systems to listen and take notice. When we talk to each other, share our challenges, and refuse to hide our pain, the world starts to pay attention.
Looking Ahead With Purpose
The vision for NotJustYou is to grow into a nationwide lighthouse for those affected by sickle cell. We want to offer tangible hope and create a celebratory space for healing. Women will lead that charge. Because women have always been the carriers of culture and communication.
Sisterhood will take us farther than any strategy or campaign ever could. It is the key to sustainability, growth, and true impact. And with women like the ones I serve alongside, I know we’re just getting started.
