Local Wisdom Council
The i am WE Global Village Local Wisdom Council is made up of a dedicated community of Madison-area people supporting healing spaces and justice work.
Dr. Donna Hart Tervalon
Dr. Donna Hart-Tervalon has more than forty-five years of combined experience in the field of education/special education that includes cross categorical teaching, early childhood and special education consulting, grant writing, developing, implementing and evaluating projects for public and private preschools and Head Start programs and coordinating birth to three home based early intervention programs and services.
She has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses and provided professional development and technical assistance to educators on issues of equity, diversity, cultural awareness, culturally responsive practices and multiculturalism. She is also a published author and the recipient of several awards and honors for her work in addressing issues of racial disproportionality and advancing racial equity for all students and families. She was a consultant on the special education team with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction from 2001 until she retired in 2018. She also served as Assistant Director of Special Education. during her tenure. Her work focused primarily on providing statewide assistance and support to projects and initiatives focusing on racial equity and addressing issues of disproportionality. In retirement
Donna continues to engage in activities and projects that support youth of color and promote racial equity and social justice. She now has more time to devote to other passions such as knitting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Shevanthi Weerasinghe Hettiarachchi
Shevanthi is a Sri Lankan living in the US. A wife, a stay at home artist mom of a 7 year old.
She started painting at the age of 8 years and has exhibited her work in Sri Lanka and the US. The first part of her career in Sri Lanka was in Creative and Marketing at Advertising agencies. After her migration to the US in 2002, she started to re-establish herself in the Artist world. Shevanthi's art was recently on display at MMoCA's gallery night in Madison, WI. You can view her art her Etsy site.
In 2012, Shevanthi created and developed an Arts program called “Got Art” for the children of St Marc’s Parish, Jeanette, Haiti. The program was created for St. Andrews Church and it’s diocese. Thereafter, she traveled with 12 others to share the program in Haiti. The people of Haiti have a special place in her heart.
Shevanthi devotes her time to being a mom, painter, gardener and doing Outreach Community and Racial Justice work with her church.
Katrina Krych
Katrina Krych has spent the past 25 years working on social justice issues through non-profit organizations and the educational system. She has a MSW from UW-Milwaukee and a MEL (Educational Leadership) from Cardinal Stritch. She has worked for the Rape Crisis Center and several school districts, impacting change and helping to lift the voices of marginalized groups in various roles from Social Worker to Principal. Katrina is deeply committed to co-creating spaces where each individual feels worthy, loved, valued and a deep sense of belonging.
Katrina’s personal mission is to show up as authentically as possible in all aspects of her life, both personal and professional. She believes that by sharing our true selves and being present and holding space for others as they share their stories and humanity, we can begin to heal our collective hearts. Katrina has a deep love for yoga and mindfulness, and loves sharing this with others, especially children. Katrina feels the most present and alive when she is hiking alone out in nature, but also loves live music and camping with her family.
Alicia Razvi
Alicia Razvi is a mother of 3, and recent transplant to Middleton. She has roots in education, and agriculture. She’s a published writer, a public speaker and believes that growing food can be an act of resistance. Alicia loves to listen, to hike and to bake pies with people she loves.