Lara Durna

​Lara is the mother of two teenaged boys, both of whom have different forms of neurodivergence.  One child was diagnosed in early elementary school with a complex set of neurologic syndromes and the other was diagnosed in middle school on the autism spectrum. She was drawn to WABT because it offered genuine and warm acceptance to women and their families who live in a world few people fully understand.  Lara’s drive to find connections with other moms stems from her work with cancer survivorship and knowing the importance of shared experiences and camaraderie.  In her day job, she works as an adult medical oncologist and hematologist.  She has also held several administrative positions and has participated in multiple medical committees including being the prior chief of her department.  Her current administrative work includes chairing a regional breast cancer steering committee and acting as a principal investigator over cancer and blood disorder clinical treatment trials that focus in bone marrow, immune system and breast cancers.  She also participates in epidemiology and public health research related to quality of life and survivorship of breast and lung cancer patients.  Lara saw the strength of outreach and compassion in her work with a strong, vulnerable and often misunderstood group of people and hopes to help apply this kind of education, awareness and support for special needs families.​

MICAH RIGLER

Micah Rigler is a sales rep for a Kansas City-based Learning and Development Company that provides training to the U.S. Government.  She enjoys traveling all over the country to meet with her clients and provide guidance for best practices in the adult workforce education space.  She is passionate about not-for-profits and has found numerous ways to be involved in the fundraising efforts for foundations, PTAs and through various sport-related tournaments.  Micah and her husband Jeff live in Overland Park, Kansas.  They are the parents of two college-aged children and are becoming accustomed to the new “empty-nest” phase of life.  Micah enjoys participating in group exercise classes, book club and world travel. One of her favorite past-times is designing T-shirts for local schools and organizations.  

​Alli Baldocchi 

Alli Baldocchi is a 3rd generation Manhattan Beach local.  She is now raising her three boys with her husband (also a local) in the town she grew up loving.  Although things have changed since she was little, and her dreams of being a mom are not what she expected, her life is full of love and wonder.  Alli is a mom to a son who has Autism and SPD and another who was newly diagnosed on the spectrum at a later age, previously diagnosed with SLD.  Her youngest keeps the family on their toes.  Alli is very vocal, sharing about her life raising kids with special needs.  She is vulnerable, real and raw - she tells it all and she appreciates every moment.  She shares her stories through her blog Velcro-Shoes in hopes to help others.  She was featured in South Bay Magazine encouraging parents to embrace their lives and love their kids as they are. Read the article here.
Alli is an author, and a speaker and guides women to find their passion and happiness, helping them see they are not just a mom to a special needs child, they are so much more.  The importance of community and support being a mom of kids with special needs is invaluable.  We are Brave Together is such an amazing organization that she had to be a part of.  

Anthony Rivello

​Anthony Rivello brings We Are Brave Together a combination of Madison Avenue marketing experience with an interpersonal approach that shapes his current career as a Personal Mentor supporting children on the spectrum for autism.
As an advertising executive at New York's leading agencies for over a quarter century, Anthony's career has focused on a range of clients, from not-for-profit and grass roots services to health care and government.  ​His experience in strategic planning, program development, implementation and metrics tracking of direct marketing communications has been the driver for national and local campaigns ranging from patient education and engagement to loyalty and sales performance.  For the past five years, Anthony has taken his unique personal experiences and re-established himself as a provider of personalized mentoring to young people on the spectrum for autism. Through an approach of individualized attention, he channels his direct communications background to provide social and academic support that is designed to empower self-esteem and social competency in a supportive relationship that is non-clinical or pathologized.  Anthony lives in New York City with his teenage son and their 20-something year old tortoise, Bob. 

Lora AckermanN

​Lora Ackermann is a single mom who hails from the whole west coast having lived in Oregon, Washington, and now California (for the past 11 years). She has extensive experience participating on non-profit boards and with a multitude of organizations throughout the whole west coast, most recently including two years on the local PTA Board, two years (1st VP and President) of Cornerstone Elementary School Board in Rancho Palos Verdes, and she is currently on the board of Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates, a division of an international organization that supports children in need around the world and locally. Lora is a master educator who writes and implements specialized curricula as well as grants for education and engagement experiences. In addition, Lora brings over 18 years of leadership development training, a background in art, communication, team-dynamics, innovation and stress-management to our organization. Her WABT journey began when her daughter, now 15, was diagnosed at age seven with several ‘hidden’ special needs, including OCD, ADD, GAD, and recently Cyclothymia, and her son, now 13, was diagnosed with ADHD at age six. Lora has a passion for empowering people through connection, art, the written word, and interactive experiences and she is truly honored to be a part of this WABT community. 

Other Team Members:

​Attorney:  Christopher Patay
CPA:  Rick Lavezzari
Bookkeeper:  Erin VanDerVeen