Empowering the Potential of a Community
by Inspiring Greatness in Others
Our Story
A Community Without Borders
The Village of Inspiration™ is an extraordinary international community of selfless, caring, genuine, and authentic individuals, united by a single, powerful conviction: that the world becomes a better place one act of kindness at a time.
Though the Village exists in the digital realm, its residents are just as dedicated to helping others as any physical community. They come from all walks of life and corners of the world, yet share a deep commitment to putting others before themselves.
Founded on the belief that every generation deserves educated, supported, and inspired leaders, the Village of Inspiration serves as a living testament to what is possible when like minded changemakers come together with purpose.
Our Foundation
Authentic Connection
Each resident is unapologetically themselves, celebrating diversity in all its forms and encouraging others to do the same. Everyone has something valuable to offer.
Selfless Service
The people of the Village always look for ways to make a positive impact. They lend a listening ear, words of encouragement, and practical assistance wherever it's needed.
Generational Impact
Even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound effect. The Village is proof that online communities can be just as meaningful and impactful as physical ones.
Inspiring Greatness
The next generation of leaders deserves every advantage. This community ensures they receive the education, support, and inspiration to rise to their fullest potential.
Why It Matters
Every Child Needs a Village
Research has long affirmed what wisdom has always known: children, students, and parents who have a strong "village" around them thrive at every level, academically, emotionally, and socially. The Village of Inspiration makes that village global.
Educating the Next Generation
Like minded educators, coaches, and professionals pool their expertise to ensure students have access to the tools, knowledge, and mentorship they need to excel.
Supporting Families & Parents
Parents are not alone in raising tomorrow's leaders. This community offers a continuous stream of guidance, encouragement, and shared wisdom from professionals who care.
Inspiring Individual Greatness
Every child carries unique potential. The Village creates spaces where that potential is recognized, nurtured, and celebrated, not just once, but consistently.
Global, Borderless Reach
With residents in the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Australia, diverse perspectives multiply the impact of every interaction and resource shared.
Purposeful Connection
When like minded individuals align around powerful causes, the ripple effect is profound. This isn't networking, it's a movement for the future of human potential.
Kindness as a Strategy
The Village operates on a fundamental truth: acts of kindness compound over time. A single word of encouragement can redirect an entire life's trajectory.
The Residents
Meet the Village
The Village of Inspiration is a private, invitation only collective of youth development leaders across four countries who publish, convene, and build together so that every child has a village. Its residents gather in two circles, one working body and one wider family, bound by the same mission and the same five values.
The Working Body
The Founding Circle
The Founding Circle is the working body of the Village. These are the residents who show up consistently. They are in the room for Summit planning, they vote on new nominations, and they carry the Village of Inspiration name in public. Each one holds a distinct lane of expertise, and together they turn individual gifts into shared public impact.
Antwaun "Coach T®" Thompson
🇺🇸 United States
Founder, JLT Fieldhouse, Inc. · Founder, Coach T's Corner®, LLC · Director of Basketball, Rockwell Christian School · Podcast Host
Founder and Executive Director of JLT Fieldhouse, Inc., a nonprofit named in honor of his late father, and founder of Coach T's Corner®, LLC, Antwaun has spent nearly 40 years coaching and mentoring young men and women. As Director of Basketball at Rockwell Christian School, he uses the game to build character, accountability and leadership. His S.E.A. of Success® framework, Simplicity, Effort and Attitude, is the foundation of every program he creates. He hosts Developing Tomorrow's Leaders and TeenSpeak, Empowering Today's Youth, and is the founder of the Village of Inspiration.
Website →
Anne Sullivan
🇺🇸 United States
Executive Leader & Educational Consultant · Leadership, Strategy & Team Development
An executive leader and educational consultant, Anne brings deep dedication to developing people and fostering the environments where the next generation of leaders can grow. Her work centers on leadership strategy, team development, and the belief that every individual deserves the support to reach their fullest potential.
Website →
Liz Banks
🇺🇸 United States
Teen & Athlete Coaching · JOY Leadership · Gallup Certified Strengths Coach · Keynote Speaker
Founder of JOY Leadership & Development, Liz is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, retired educator, coach, and principal who has dedicated her life to unlocking potential in teens, athletes, and organizations. A keynote speaker and sports culture workshop facilitator, Liz joined the Village of Inspiration following a standout interview on Developing Tomorrow's Leaders with Coach T, bringing her rare gift for igniting joy, purpose, and performance in young people to this extraordinary community.
Website →
Anna Shcherbak Scoby
🇺🇸 United States
Professional Learning Specialist · Communication · Leadership Development & Learning Impact
A passionate professional learning specialist, Anna brings strategic vision and genuine care to everything she does. Her work in communication and leadership development reflects a deep commitment to building communities where people are inspired to achieve their best, and to believe in what's possible for themselves.
Website →
Aliesha Embleton
🇦🇺 Australia
Founder, Sapling Minds · Resilience · Authenticity · Child Development & Entrepreneurship
Founder of Sapling Minds and award winning author of From Seed to Sapling, Aliesha is a child development specialist and keynote speaker dedicated to empowering children, families, schools, and workplaces. Based in Canberra, her holistic approach fosters resilience, authenticity, and emotional wellbeing in children aged 7 to 12.
Website →
Jessica Speer
🇺🇸 United States
Author & Speaker · Emotional Intelligence · Communication · Adolescent Development
Award winning author of BFF or NRF, Middle School, Safety Goggles Advised, and The Phone Book, Jessica holds a Master's in Social Sciences and has dedicated her career to helping kids navigate their social and emotional worlds. Her books blend research, stories, and activities that genuinely connect with young readers.
Website →
Emer O'Donnell
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Founder, TeenReconnect · Life Skills · Behavioral Change · Youth Coaching
Founder of TeenReconnect and creator of the Q Pathfinder App, Emer is on a mission to transform how young people are supported in today's world. As an author, coach, and trainer, she bridges psychology, transformational coaching, and technology to help teens understand who they are and thrive in modern life.
Website →
SJ Barakony
🇺🇸 United States
Entrepreneurial Polymath · Non Traditional Learning · Mindset & Personal Agency
Known as a "Super Connector" and entrepreneurial polymath, SJ champions non traditional learning, personal agency, and independent mindset. His deep commitment to youth advocacy means that every connection he sparks is intentional, creating networks of support that empower young people and the adults who guide them.
LinkedIn Profile →
Miriam Mandel, MD
🇺🇸 United States
Pediatrician & Adolescent Health Coach · Youth Wellness · Family Guidance & School Consultation
A pediatrician with over 20 years of practice and founder of ExhaleWithMe, Dr. Miriam Mandel blends medical expertise with holistic coaching to support teens and families. As a school consultant and professional development specialist for K to 12, she empowers gifted learners and teens to discover the answers they seek within themselves.
Website →
Keith Senzer
🇺🇸 United States
Teen Leadership Coaching · Empowerment · TeenSpeak Cohost
Founder of Design and Align Legacy Group and cohost of the TeenSpeak podcast, Keith is a youth transformational leader with a heart for helping teens find their true north. He helps teens develop self confidence, leadership, and the tools to create a more loving, responsible, and committed adult life.
LinkedIn Profile →
Anne deLain W. Clark, MBA
🇵🇹 Portugal
High Stress Communication · Trust Based Relationships · MBA Leadership
With an MBA and a deep focus on high stress communication and trust based relationships, Anne brings both business acumen and heartfelt expertise to the Village of Inspiration. Her commitment to empowering communities reflects her belief that authentic communication and trust are the true foundations of lasting leadership.
LinkedIn Profile →Always Part of the Story
Friends of the Village
Friends of the Village believe in the mission and remain part of our story. They stay connected to the work, receive the quarterly recap, and are always welcome at public panels and the Summit. The door to the Founding Circle stays open whenever their season changes.
Beth Benedix
Educator, Author and Founder
Kathleen Brigham
Founder, Brigham Learning
Hal Eisenberg
CEO, Eisenberg Leadership Academy
Bryce Hamilton, LSCSW
Clinical Director and Therapist
Laura Harstad
Speaker, Educator, Musician and CEO Facilitator, Greater Mankato CEO
Dr. Shelby Kretz
Founder and CEO, Little Justice Leaders
Nicole Waicunas
Cofounder, School of Innovative Learning
Our Collective Impact
The Power of Together
Every child deserves a village that sees their potential before their performance.
Mission over self · Authenticity over appearance · Collaboration over competition · Impact over intention · Community over convenience
The Work
What the Village Builds
The value of the Village is measured by what leaves the room, not by who is in it. The Founding Circle channels its collective expertise into public work that reaches families, educators, and coaches around the world.
Global Summit Series
The signature gathering of the Village. Public panels where residents share what they know with parents, educators, and coaches. The first public panel is planned for early 2027.
Podcast Episode Specials
Village conversations on Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders and TeenSpeak, bringing the expertise of the Founding Circle to listeners everywhere.
Spotlight Series
A monthly feature honoring one resident’s why, their work, and the values they live out, so the Village is known by the people in it.
The Podcast
Developing Tomorrow's Leaders
Hosted by Antwaun "Coach T" Thompson, Developing Tomorrow's Leaders with Coach T is where powerful conversations meet transformational purpose. Each episode brings together educators, coaches, mentors, and advocates, many of them Village of Inspiration members, to explore what it truly takes to raise, educate, and inspire the next generation of leaders.
It was right here, on this very podcast, that Founding Circle member Liz Banks had the standout interview that led to her invitation into this extraordinary community. That's the power of authentic conversation.
Listen on SpotifyBy Nomination Only
How the Village Grows
The Village of Inspiration is invitation only. There is no application and there are no dues. A new resident is nominated by a member who knows their work and their character, reviewed by the Founder, voted on by the Founding Circle, and then invited personally.
If this mission speaks to you, follow the Village and walk alongside the work.
Follow the Village on LinkedIn