About Collectively Brave
A Shared Passion. A Collective Purpose.
Collectively Brave brings together people who believe that mental wellness should be accessible, culturally responsive, and rooted in community. Together, we’re turning that shared commitment into meaningful opportunities for connection, care, and growth.
WHO WE ARE
Creating Space for Every Part of Who We Are.
Collectively Brave is a Maine-based organization dedicated to making mental wellness more accessible, culturally responsive, and rooted in community for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
We believe that everyone deserves the freedom to express themselves, understand their emotions, and seek support without judgment. Through meaningful conversations, shared learning, and holistic wellness practices, we create opportunities for individuals to connect with themselves and one another.
Our work recognizes that caring for our mental health isn’t just about responding to challenges. It’s also about building the knowledge, relationships, and support systems that help us thrive in everyday life.
WHAT GUIDES US
Our Mission, Vision & Goals
Our Mission
Our mission is to create a safe and sacred space where all people of color can find belonging, learn about holistic mental health and wellness practices, and engage in acts of radical self-care.
Our Vision
We envision a community that has the courage to understand its inner world while remaining curious about how we live, connect, and grow alongside one another.
Our Goals
We aim to create spaces that center mental wellness in our everyday lives through meaningful conversations, education, and shared learning.
By building on the strengths and connections that already exist within our communities, we hope to encourage new ways of caring for ourselves and one another while supporting long-term well-being.
MEET OUR TEAM
The People Behind The Purpose
What brings us together is more than a shared mission. It’s a belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported. Through our different experiences and perspectives, we’re turning that belief into action and helping create lasting change in our communities.
Carla Irakoze Michaud
Founder and Executive Director
“Collectively Brave matters to me because it’s prevention work: we reach people before struggle becomes crisis, by making care feel accessible, culturally responsive, and safe to reach for. I see every day how much healing depends on early, trusted connection, and CB builds that connection at the community level. Being part of this work means creating spaces for people to get support while it can still change the course of their lives, not only after the damage is done.”
Melissa Hue
Board President
“Mental health and wellness has never been accessible to BIPOC communities. For centuries people of color were punished for expressing human emotions. No system has ever been created to allow people of color to express themselves in full, so navigating emotions simply as they come and being allowed the space to do so is a fairly new concept. Collectively brave acknowledges this and celebrates the bravery it takes to live in one’s truth, to feel one’s whole self and provide the space, knowledge and tools and rediscover what it feels like to be not just be BIPOC but simply be a complex human. This is why this work is crucial and why I’m proud to be chair!”
Rolande Ayinkamiye
Board Member, Treasure
“The work I do at Collectively Brave is so important to me because it allows me to support the healing and well-being of people of color in a way that feels genuine and meaningful. It’s a space where I can contribute to community, growth, and care.”
Kelly Irankunda
Board Member, Secretary
“My many years of community organizing have highlighted the importance of just being well. Prioritizing wellness is a necessary prerequisite for sustainable and impactful engagement with the world around us. We can’t build anything if we are not well. The work being done at CB, creates this space for Persons of Color in Maine and this is sustainable work.”
Be Part of the Collective.
Meaningful change begins when we show up for ourselves and one another. Whether you’re looking to connect, explore new ways to care for your well-being, or support our mission, there’s a place for you in the work we’re building together.