About me
Theresa Az'Lee Romance is the Founder and CEO of BRAVE (Building Resilience Awareness & Variations of Excellence) and Founder of The RISE to Liberation, two organizations dedicated to advancing healing, liberation, leadership, and opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) youth, families, and communities. For more than 15 years, Theresa has led transformative youth development, community engagement, racial equity, leadership development, and social justice initiatives throughout Washington State.
Her work focuses on creating spaces where young people and adults can explore identity, build meaningful relationships, strengthen cultural awareness, and develop the skills needed to lead change in their communities. Theresa has designed and facilitated programs, trainings, and community-centered experiences that bridge personal growth with collective action, empowering participants to recognize their strengths and advocate for a more just and equitable future.
Theresa's philosophy is rooted in the belief that learning is a shared journey rather than a one-way transfer of knowledge. She values collective wisdom, intergenerational learning, and community as powerful tools for growth, healing, and transformation. Through her work, she creates opportunities for participants to learn with and from one another, honor lived experiences, and cultivate the resilience, connection, and sense of belonging necessary for individual and collective liberation.
