Our Team
Shantrelle P. Lewis, Founder + Exec. Producer
A ninth generation New Orleanian, Shantrelle is a multi-hyphen creative and scholar who accesses multiple disciplines to help elucidate African Diasporic history, aesthetics, culture and spirituality.
Her critically acclaimed directorial debut, IN OUR MOTHERS' GARDENS, was released on Netflix via Ava Duvernay's ARRAY. Her book, Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style, was published by Aperture in 2017. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, LA Times, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, NPR, BBC, Washington Post, Slate, The New Yorker and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She co-founded SHOPPE BLACK with her husband and fellow Howard alum, Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson.
As an initiated Lukumi Sango Priest and Hoodooist Shantrelle can be found waxing poetics about all things African spirituality online and in person at the BEAUCOUP HOODOO SHOPPE, at the annual BEAUCOUP HOODOO FEST and within her community, the ATRS BOOK CLUB.
Monika Pierce, Producer
Meet Monika, the visionary behind the Homegirl Collective, dedicated to transforming leaders and organizations through diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Renowned for her expertise, Monika is a dynamic holistic coach committed to empowering executives on their professional and personal journeys with a holistic well-being approach.
With extensive experience as a Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity and Operations Lead, Monika has positively influenced countless lives, guiding individuals toward personal transformation. Her relentless advocacy for intentional leadership and transformative workplace culture has cemented her reputation as a pivotal leader driving measurable and impactful change.
Monika challenges others to embrace authentic growth, catalyzing meaningful change and fostering accountability, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment and inspiration.
An active member of the ATRS BOOK CLUB and the Chair of its USHER BOARD, Monika is super excited to serve as the Operations Lead for this year’s BHF!
Tamara Guinyard, Experience Liaison
Tamara is a fourth generation Texan with roots extending throughout the Deep South. She’s a Day One ATRs Bookclub Member and a member of the Bookclub’s Usher Board. 2026 BHF will be her fourth festival and she can wait to serve and connect with you!
Jas Sia, Vendors Liaison
Jas Ngegba is a first-generation Sierra Leonean entrepreneur, community curator, and cultural wellness advocate based in the DMV. She is the founder of Sia Jasmine, a lifestyle brand rooted in African adornment and global sourcing, and Sia Maternal Wellness, a concierge birth doula service supporting birthing families through community, education, and culturally grounded care.
With over a decade of experience vending, coordinating pop-ups, and working closely with small businesses, Jas brings a vendor-first, community-centered approach to her work. Her background as a popup vendor gives her a deep understanding of the needs, challenges, and goals of creative entrepreneurs, allowing her to support vendors with intention, clarity, and care.
As Vendor Coordinator for Beaucoup Hoodoo Fest, Sia is committed to creating a seamless, supportive, and aligned experience for vendors while honoring the magic, culture, and healing that make the festival a sacred gathering.
Dr. Charisma Houston, Volunteer + Facilitator Liaison
Dr. Charisma Houston brings healing, heart, and presence to the work of transformation. As a licensed therapist with a holistic, culturally affirming approach and a full-spectrum doula, she understands that healing is not just psychological — it’s emotional, ancestral, and embodied. Through The Charisma Collective, Dr. Charisma creates brave, compassionate spaces where women of color can unpack generational patterns, deepen self-knowledge, and reclaim peace and purpose on their own terms. Her work blends clinical experience, cultural intuition, and spiritual reverence so each woman who sits with her feels held in her entirety — story, wounds, wisdom, and all
Amber Renee, Operations
Amber Crowder is the founder of The Been Down Project, a digital platform amplifying the voices of women impacted by incarceration and the criminal justice system. An abolitionist and advocate, she works to address systemic inequities while supporting women through sentencing, incarceration, and reentry. She is also the Editor of The Capital News, a Washington, D.C.–based community newspaper and digital platform focused on hyperlocal storytelling, civic engagement, and elevating voices east of the river. A Los Angeles native and Howard University alumna, Amber is an entrepreneur and public speaker based in Washington, D.C., where she lives with her family.
Tiara Lewis, Community Liaison
Tiara is a 10th generation New Orleanian by way of the Lower 9 and 10th Wards, and is excited to serving as this year’s Local Community Lead for the Annual BEAUCOUP HOODOO FEST.
Tiara is a Spatial Alchemist and Lead Interior Designer at her Design Studio, Haus of Nsight. She designs with the understanding that the home is truly an extension of the body. Her practice is guided by her intuitive nature and her Haitian, Jamaican, and Native American roots. By integrating herbalism, crystals, and mindfulness into her work, Tiara focus on spatial cleansing and intentional healing in both the home and the spirit. She is honored to be part of our team and collective journey as we create sacred space for our community to thrive.
Folasade Lawson, Assistant
Folasade is a Sophomore Psychology major at Howard University in Washington, DC.