Our Story
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“My experience in the mountains was that people really care about their communities in an up close and personal way. And they were having conversations about race and gender identity and class differently than I’d experienced in most places. They aren’t always getting it right, but they are having hard conversations. That’s where change starts.” – Danaé Aicher
Our Story
BZora, Inc. is a civic education and engagement nonprofit committed to expanding access to equity education and immersive civic experiences. We were founded on a simple belief: the tools of understanding, dialogue, and civic engagement shouldn’t be locked behind corporate budgets or academic gatekeeping. Every community deserves the chance to learn its history, practice honest conversation, and build the skills to participate more fully in civic life.
BZora grew out of years of on-the-ground equity and inclusion work, facilitating conversations, leading trainings, and walking communities through the history and practice of justice work. What started as workshops for organizations became a broader mission: bring that same depth of learning directly to individuals and communities, not just institutions that can afford to hire consultants.
Our Mission
BZora is a nonprofit organization specifically for individual community members and smaller community groups who want access to the same type of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging trainings and workshops that larger, better resourced organizations are able to pay for. In addition, BZora is a place where community conversations can take place in a brave and safe space held by well-trained facilitators.
BZora also was inspired by the great American Writer, Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora was a revolutionary. Her work is among the greats of American Literature. Her work and legacy make her an intellectual giant. Her influence and memory lives on today, including on this site.
“You Don’t Know Us Negroes” adds immeasurably to our understanding of Hurston, who was a tireless crusader in all her writing, and ahead of her time. – New York Times Book Review
Meet Our Board Members
Lawonda Jiggetts
Florida, USA
Irrum Shah
North Carolina, USA
Jody Escaravage
North Carolina, USA
Suzanne Misur-Porter
North Carolina, USA
Latisha Reed
California, USA
Community Inspiration
Jenny Pickens Art
Jenny Pickens is an Asheville, NC area native. She is a self-taught artist who has been making art all her life.
Working in mediums including fiber arts, pencil, pen & ink, pastels, oils, as well as hand built pottery and repurposed jewelry, Jenny’s work has been featured in a variety of articles, galleries & festivals around the community.
Founder & Executive Director
Danaé Jones Aicher is the Founder and Executive Director of BZora, Inc. and the founder of CultureValue, LLC, an equity and inclusion consulting and strategy firm. Her background spans more than 20 years across political journalism, messaging strategy, and public relations before she moved into full-time equity and inclusion consulting and facilitation. That history of telling stories, shaping messages, and organizing people around a cause shapes how BZora approaches its work: rooted in truth-telling, courageous dialogue, and civic practice.
Danaé currently serves as BZora’s volunteer Executive Director. CultureValue, LLC contracts with BZora to provide facilitation services under a board-approved agreement, allowing BZora’s programs to be delivered by an experienced practitioner while keeping program ownership and mission squarely with the nonprofit. As BZora grows, the long-term plan is to hire a paid Executive Director and transition Danaé into a Founder Emerita role on the board.
BZora
Main: (828) 407.0464
PO Box 620307
Oviedo, FL 32762-0307
Header image credit: Photo by Miles Peacock on Unsplash
