Contact Us Email: Info@swlinc.org
About Us
President: Januari Coates
Januari Coates is the Founder and President of Stepping With Leaders Inc., a 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(2) nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities through education, outreach, and opportunity. She is also a licensed real estate broker in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as the owner and lead instructor of Stepping With Leaders Real Estate School, which offers state-approved licensing and continuing education courses.
Through Stepping With Leaders Inc., Januari has spearheaded initiatives including food pantries, youth leadership summits, financial literacy workshops, and re-entry programs. Her work connects families with resources, creates pathways to homeownership, and builds stronger neighborhoods across the region.
With a unique combination of business expertise and community vision, Januari has raised thousands of dollars for local programs, expanded partnerships with schools and businesses, and trained the next generation of real estate professionals. She believes that lasting change begins one step at a time—and she’s dedicated to walking that path alongside the communities she serves.
Vice President: Dana Hicks-Hungerford
Dana Hicks-Hungerford is an American playwright, actress, entrepreneur, producer, philanthropist, and a woman that lives to promote positivity. Dana is also the co-founder of Hungerford Distribution “DBA” Hungerford Films and Hungerford Management Group with her husband Brian Hungerford. Since 2022, Hungerford Distribution has been partnering up with Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC. They have donated hundreds of toys and books to children during the Christmas Season. Hungerford Distribution also partners up with the Town of Dumfries in Virginia and together they have fed close to 200 families in need during the Thanksgiving Season. On May 18, 2025 Hungerford Distribution was presented with an award for “Service and Dedication” from The Town of Dumfries, Va.
Dana is also the creator of the “Official Bag Ladies” handbag line. Her brand “YOU MAKE THE BAG” is hand painted on a variety of stylish handbags. The brand was created to remind people everywhere that “YOU MAKE THE BAG” and the bag does not make you.
Chief Financial Officer: Brian Hungerford
Brian Hungerford is a philanthropist and the driving force behind the scenes of Hungerford Distribution “DBA” Hungerford Films, Hungerford Management Group, and the YOU MAKE THE BAG brand. He prides himself on setting a standard of excellence and giving back to families in need. Mr. Hungerford has twenty years of running his own real estate business and 15 years of running his own "IT" business. The knowledge that he has attained over the years has made it easy for him to implement his expertise into making multiple business thrive over the years.
Secretary: Calvin Flowers
Mr. Calvin Flowers is a dynamic business executive with a wide range of professional experience in developing, launching, executing, and managing new business initiatives for company clients. Calvin utilizes his strong business acumen to build and sustain new client relationships, develop new business ideas, and upgrade existing ones to stay ahead of the ever evolving corporate curve. Calvin is skilled at rapport building, strategic planning, project management, new business design and construction, and has a proven niche for staying within budget parameters. Mr. Flowers is currently the Chief Operating Officer of DreamWorks, Inc. who has held this important position of executive leadership for more than five years. Calvin oversees the overall corporate strategy, corporate partnerships, and portfolio expansion. Mr. Flowers is known as a team player who is able to elicit high level performances from employees and obtain maximum efficiency.