About Us
Our mission is to empower women and children impacted by violence, trauma, and adversity to heal, rebuild, and achieve lasting self-sufficiency through compassionate support, safe housing, career development, economic empowerment, and community partnerships.
Courageous Women Association was founded in 2008 by survivor and advocate Toshonna Ross with a simple yet powerful vision: to ensure that no woman or child has to rebuild their life alone.
After overcoming significant personal adversity, Toshonna recognized the need for more than crisis intervention. Women needed long-term support that addressed healing, economic stability, safe housing, and opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity. What began as a small gathering of women seeking encouragement quickly revealed a much greater need for a holistic approach to recovery and empowerment.
From those early conversations, Courageous Women Association was born. Since its founding, the organization has grown into a trusted nonprofit serving women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, homelessness, former incarceration, and other life-altering adversities through trauma-informed programs, transitional housing, career development, financial empowerment, advocacy, and community support.
Today, Courageous Women Association continues to fulfill its founding purpose—to encourage hope, restore dignity, and empower every woman to move beyond survival toward lasting independence and a brighter future.
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Cash & In Kind Donations
Courageous Women Association relies on funding and donations to help provide free and low cost services to women and children most impacted by poverty, violence, drugs, human trafficking, and homelessness. Let your contributions go towards what will make the greatest impact on lives!
Our Legacy of Impact
Since opening our doors in 2008, Courageous Women Association has grown from a small grassroots effort into a trusted nonprofit serving thousands of women, children, and families throughout Northern California.
Over the years, we have expanded from hosting a single community gathering to developing comprehensive programs that address the complex challenges survivors face. Our work now includes career development and economic empowerment, transitional housing through The Courage House, financial education, advocacy, educational workshops, and community partnerships that create lasting pathways toward self-sufficiency.
Every milestone represents more than organizational growth—it represents lives restored, families strengthened, and communities transformed. While our programs continue to evolve, our purpose remains unchanged: to encourage, inspire, and empower women and children to build lives filled with safety, hope, and opportunity.
Our Board Members
Toshonna Ross
Founder & Executive Director
Mary Carl
Board Member
