About Me
LaVonne Pepe, MSW (She/Her/Hers)
Owner and Founder
Organizational Effectiveness and DEI Leader
Inclusive Workplaces | Inclusive Leadership
Hi there, I’m LaVonne and I am so grateful that you’re here!
In 2020, amidst a global pandemic and racial unrest, I embarked on a journey of self-reflection. What I saw were well-intentioned commitments to racial equity resulting in minimal progress, excellently designed programs – that didn’t reach the communities with the most marginalized people, and a workforce filled with burnt-out Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ people who rarely had a permanent seat in the illustrious ~Room Where It Happens.~ This realization made me reconsider my values and how I choose to expend my labor. After a decade of impactful work with mission-driven organizations, in 2023 I took a leap and established ELLEvate LLC.
Inclusive Workplace and Leadership Solutions.
​I am Black. I am queer. I have disabilities.
I am the jackpot of intersectional marginalized identities. Finding joy and purpose in collaborating with individuals and organizations to move beyond performative allyship is the result of tirelessly witnessing my communities being left behind. My focus is on strengthening systems, fostering inclusive cultures that uplift every member of an organization, and ensuring policies, processes, and services benefit communities equitably.
Professional growth is hard! And even more so for folks with underrepresented identities. In my one-on-one work, I leverage my background as a former trauma therapist and clinician to support women+ to get to the next level at every stage of their professional journeys.​
Why women+? I center the experiences of women in my work, and those are the lived experiences I am bringing to the table, but if you’re considering working with me - you are probably already very aware that life exists on a spectrum, truly anyone whose identities have been underrepresented in professional spaces may find I bring a refreshing approach. I’m not here to dictate anyone’s identity. If you think I could be your coach - great!
I fundamentally believe that quality social workers have the skills to change the world. I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Pennsylvania. Since then, I have done clinical and macro-level work in community-based organizations and within higher education systems. I have worked across industries with clients in higher education, government agencies, corporations, nonprofits, and the United States military. ​I proudly embrace the labels of a stereotypical and neurodivergent millennial. My mission? To leave a legacy that makes my daughter proud to call me mom, and to check off as many boxes as possible that make the world better, all in pursuit of a brighter future for the next generation of Brown girls like her.​
~Click Boom~
I invite you to join me.
Values
At ELLEvate we are driven by the collective passion of our team and partners, united in our commitment to reshaping the professional landscape. As architects of equitable workplaces, we acknowledge the strengths inherent in every individual. The experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Women+, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities are particularly central to everything we do.
Equity in Action
We reject performative allyship. Our work to advance equity promotes substantive, enduring change for marginalized groups. In uplifting impacted voices, redirecting resources, dismantling barriers and actively applying inclusive leadership principles, we work to shift policies, practices, mindsets and cultures so that they empower historically excluded communities to thrive.
Inclusively Cultivating Authenticity & Justice
We move beyond superficial inclusion into accountability and action. Understanding complex challenges facing marginalized groups, we actively collaborate and advocate to dismantle barriers to opportunity and belonging. We show up as our most authentic selves to foster open, thoughtful, sometimes uncomfortable conversations that enhance wisdom, growth and innovation. With psychological safety, courage and openness to feedback, we enable diverse perspectives, experiences and identities to be genuinely valued and represented in decision-making. We measure our progress and commitment through ongoing positive change in lived experiences and measurably more equitable systems and outcomes.
Leading with Humility
and Humanity
We ground our leadership in humility - acknowledging that there's always more to learn and achieve together. With graciousness, not judgment, we respect the inherent complexity in reaching equitable solutions. We lead with our hearts as much as our minds, building human connections where people feel seen, heard and valued. Progress depends on amplifying voices excluded from decisions impacting their dignity and potential. We measure our success by the empowerment of those often pushed to the margins.
Legacy of Empowerment
Our enduring mission is to dismantle the barriers that have robbed generations of Black and brown girls of their childhoods, promise, and power. We act with urgency to accelerate justice - addressing in our lifetimes the inequities denying dignity across lifetimes. Every policy shaped, every mind changed, and every voice amplified builds a resilient legacy. With humility as our guide, we carry forward the vision of an equitable world where children who have inherited our skin and spirit also inherit every opportunity to unleash their brilliance. Our legacy will be the laughter of little Black and brown girls dreaming unfettered by the limits imposed upon their mothers.
Humor
We understand the gravity of equity work while recognizing that humor, levity, and joy are still essential. Laughter fuels our spirit and strengthens the connections supporting us through adversity. By not taking ourselves too seriously, we invite fresher perspectives. We welcome humor revealing unexpected insights that guide us forward. We know the long road ahead requires perseverance. With bridges built by understanding cultivated through humor, we strive to create contexts where people of all identities feel respected and accepted. We continue listening, learning, and acting with conviction because purpose anchors us, community sustains us, and humor guides our way.