Our Story
Homeroom Collective began as the love child of Nicole LeBlanc and Khira Goins-Paxon. As they navigated ‘adulting’ in NYC, they bonded over a shared nostalgia for academia and the way it encouraged constant learning, growth, and peer connection.
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After years of listening, learning and adapting Homeroom has become a pillar of community and a celebration of the glow up: a safe space for the exchange of ideas and resources, fostering collaboration, empowerment, and inclusivity. Their focus is centered around wellbeing, work & purpose, and human connection. Helping communities connect, act and thrive.
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No matter what life throws at us, the heart of our mission remains the same: advancing the ideas of marginalized folks, amplifying their narratives and having some fun along the way.
Art by Kyle Victory
Nicole LeBlanc, Co-Founder
Nicole is a San Francisco-born, New York and Los Angeles-based creative whose skills range from branding, creative strategy, content creation, event production and community building. She is currently the head of Brand Development for Tomi Adeyemi Books Inc. while also working closely with various clients to help create and propel cohesive brand strategies. She co-founded Homeroom Collective in 2019 as a platform for building authentic connections and cultivating empowerment for creatives from marginalized identities.
Khira Goins-Paxon, Co-Founder
Khira is a photo and event producer, currently positioned as the Creative Producer at Thinx. Khira moved from Nashville to Brooklyn in 2016, with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising and Business Administration. Khira's hopes are to bring opportunities and give voice to Black Trans Women and queer individuals in creative, social and political industries.
Theresa Meriam, Creative Assistant
Theresa is a freelance stylist assistant and model, signed to State Management. Having studied Fashion Merchandising at the University of Delaware, she is very self-motivated to be a multifaceted creative and never stop evolving. In her free time, she loves shopping and watching anime. She is so excited for what’s in store for the Homeroom Collective and can’t wait to connect with the community.
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Jane Holovatska, Graphic Designer
Jane is a graphic design student in Kyiv, Ukraine. She is looking forward to graduating this year, as she continues to master her creative expression. She has been painting since she was 13 years old; art is her passion and you will never find her without a sketchbook close by.
Tiffany Cercenia, Graphic Designer
Tiffany is a freelance graphic designer based in Barcelona. Although her scope of work includes many digital assets like websites, social media graphics, cover art, and digital illustrations, her favorite kind of work is the kind you can touch. Like posters, books, zines, and merch! She’s currently getting her Masters in Editorial Design. When she’s not designing you can find her thrifting, cooking for her friends, watching live music, or skating around :-)
Linda Zhou, Brand Designer
Linda is a freelance visual designer based in Los Angeles, CA. After graduating from Temple University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music, she taught music to underserved communities throughout the Northeast US. She now uses her love for conceptual thinking to bring the essences of independent artists and small businesses to life through brand design.
Catherine Spino, Editor
Catherine Spino is a writer, performance artist, director and creative problem solver based in Brooklyn, NY. She graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts and a published thesis on gender norms present in freak shows. Her work has been featured in PROOF the Zine, ONE Magazine, Helen the Brand, Fem Foundry, and DIM Things. Simple pleasures include a good cup of coffee, handwriting letters, vintage paperbacks, good and sturdy chairs, and solid playlists. She is over the moon about writing for HR and you can find more of her work at www.vividbluestain.com.
Want to join our growing team of creatives? Let's talk!