Introducing Courage and Culture, LLC!

I am thrilled to introduce Courage and Culture, LLC! My name is Denise Castillo Chavez (she/they) and I am a first-generation Chicana born and raised in the Bay Area, currently living in Oakland, CA. I am a queer, spiritual, and passionate advocate who weaves together years of professional experience, community organizing, and Chicanx cultural knowledge. I founded Courage and Culture to provide a space for us to reflect, discern, and step into our collective power to meet the moment we are in with more courage and hope.

The values of Courage and Culture are: Consciousness, Solidarity, and Liberation. I chose Consciousness as a value because I believe that this moment in history requires us all to go deep within ourselves and explore the parts of our identities that we want to bring forward, and which parts need to be let go. I have been doing this all my life as someone who is naturally introspective; and more recently, the question that has been living in my heart is “How do I want to show up for my people in this moment?” There is an avoidant part of myself that would rather dig a hole in the earth and hide away from everything. And instead, I am choosing to keep my eyes open – to study history, to witness unfolding events, and to be with the emotions that come up with it all. Being aware, conscious, and present with everything happening in this moment is a choice that I will continue to make, and I am here to support my community to do the same. 

Solidarity and Liberation are my North Star in all that I do. We collectively have been living in systems that were designed to oppress us. As various liberation movements have moved the needle towards our freedom, the oppressors continue to grasp for power because they know that the power lies with us – the people. I am here because my Ancestors survived the unimaginable. It is because of our sense of community and interdependence that my Ancestors and my family have survived and continue to persist despite ongoing sociopolitical attacks. I am continuing the legacy of my Ancestors to not only survive but thrive and to do my part to move us towards liberation.   

If this resonates with you and you want to work with me, here is an overview of my services:

Individualized coaching 

I offer two programs: Coming Home to Self and Intuitive Leadership Coaching. Both programs are held 1:1 in a virtual and hybrid environment. 

Cultural strategy consulting 

As a culture leader, I am passionate about making deliberate choices to create a sense of community. Check out the Consulting page to learn more about what this can look like. 

Workshop facilitation 

I am a seasoned facilitator for group learning. These workshops are great for workplace professional development, college and university students, and conferences. 

Let’s work together! Fill out the Interest form and I will follow up within 1-3 business days.