Founders
Lionel Walker
President & CEO
Lionel Walker is a Moreno Valley Native who has spent the last 20 years dedicating much of his free time towards mentoring. His compassion for people led him to serve in various leadership roles throughout his life. Moreover, as an adolescent he served as a teacher and youth leader at his local church. Lionel went on to attend California State University Long Beach after receiving an Associate of Science and an Associate of Arts degree from Riverside Community College. During his time at Cal State Long Beach, he led the CSULB Gospel Choir as its president and director before receiving his degrees in Business Management and Operations Management. Lionel Walker is a loving husband and the father of two beautiful children. He currently works as a mentor, small business owner, real estate investor, board member and Education Chair of the 100 Black Men of the Inland Empire. Lionel is the co-founder and president of Captivating the Culture, an organization that is a dream fulfilled and very dear to his heart.
Akosua Atuahene
Vice President & Director of Programs
Akosua Atuahene was brought up in Corona, California and soon found that she was caught between two cultural realities. She has grown to understand how being a first-generation Ghanaian American gives her a unique and meaningful perspective on the complexities of the disconnect between many communities of color. Ms. Atuahene vision is to instill a foundation of cultural heritage back into the community in order to restore it. During her many years of youth mentoring she has developed a profound love for encouraging young minds, as well as finding effective ways to connect and understand each child individually, in order to give the needed push towards progress. As she worksin the K-12 public school system, it allows her to continue her skill set and passion in youth development. Volunteering in the community has always been present in Akosua's life, however for the past five years she has spent time working with many organizations within the Inland Empire in efforts to contribute to the unification of the community at large. Her reason for co-founding Captivating the Culture is to give young people a foundation that will evolve into a thriving life, creating change and love in every community.
Walter Bernard
Vice President & Director of Public Relations/ Media
Walter Bernard is a Moreno Valley Native and is Current CEO of Way 2LIV which is a small business that trains aspiring musician create and monetize their own stage. Although he serves as CEO of Way 2LIV, he developed his love for the entrepreneur while serving as senior Pastor of Life Changers Christian Fellowship. While serving there Walter witnessed first-hand the struggles that minority youth have establishing themselves in the work force, which was his call to action. Walter began mentoring young minority men and women to create their own job for financial freedom to secure income for their family that would not be terminated because of any systematic occurrences. This passion has led Walter to be instrumental in the formation of companies owned by his mentees some of which gross over 500k per year, and he has also provided council for countless entrepreneurs over the past 15 years. Walter brings this passion and drive for excellence to Captivating the Culture in hopes to build and better future for young men and women of color.