Rooted in Justice,
Built on Sisterhood

How it started

The Bonobo Sisterhood Alliance began with a simple, radical idea: we can protect one another—and in doing so, change everything. Founded by legal scholar and activist Diane Rosenfeld, the Alliance draws from the social behavior of bonobos, our closest primate relatives, who have eliminated sexual violence through female solidarity. Our work is rooted in feminist legal theory, collective self-defense, and real-world organizing. We’re building a world where no one faces harm alone.

A woman (Diane L. Rosenfeld) with curly blonde hair smiling outdoors, wearing a black turtleneck, with green trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

Diane L. Rosenfeld
CEO and President, Founder of The Bonobo Sisterhood

About Diane

Diane L. Rosenfeld is a legal scholar, fierce advocate, and the founder of the Bonobo Sisterhood Alliance. Diane is the founding Director of the Gender Violence program at Harvard Law School where she is a lecturer on law. Her groundbreaking book, The Bonobo Sisterhood: Revolution Through Female Alliance, offers both a vision and a strategy for disrupting patriarchal violence. Drawing inspiration from bonobo primates—who organize to protect one another and maintain peace—Diane lays out a bold, actionable model for collective self-defense.

Ellen Krause-Grosman

Ellen Krause-Grosman brings a wealth of experience in advocacy, leadership, and organizing to help grow the Bonobo Sisterhood. She has deep ties to the empowerment self-defense community. As the first Executive Director of ESD Global Inc. she led the development of an international ESD teacher training program which provided violence prevention education to 6,500+ people in 50 countries. 

Ellen Krause-Grosman
Executive Director, The Bonobo Sisterhood

Board of Directors

  • Close-up portrait of a woman with long dark hair, wearing a black blazer, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

    Cari S. Simon

    Secretary
    Cari is a leading gender equity attorney with more than two decades of experience advocating for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in schools and universities. She has played a key role in shaping national policy, including expanding federal Title IX protections, and represents clients in high-impact cases across the country. Cari brings her expertise in legal advocacy, institutional accountability, and women’s empowerment to the Bonobo Sisterhood Alliance Board.

  • A smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a navy blazer over a white shirt.

    Brianna Banks

    Treasurer
    Brianna Nicole Banks is an attorney specializing in complex litigation and investigations at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she brings experience across high-impact legal matters and a commitment to equity and justice in her work. Brianna contributes her legal expertise, strategic thinking, and dedication to women’s empowerment to the Bonobo Sisterhood Alliance Board.

  • A woman with dark blonde hair in a messy updo, wearing a pink shirt, standing against a beige wall.

    Cindy Kahn

    Board Member
    Cindy Kahn is an experienced nonprofit executive with a strong track record in philanthropy, program development, and social-justice initiatives. She brings strategic leadership, a commitment to inclusive community impact, and deep expertise in building effective organizational frameworks. Cindy now serves on the Board of the Bonobo Sisterhood Alliance, where her dedication to equity, collaboration, and empowerment will support the organization’s mission to foster sisterhood and resilience.

  • Stephanie Cyr

    Board Member
    Stephanie Cyr, JD, NBC-HWC is an attorney, educator, and nationally certified health and wellness coach with over 25 years of experience in personal safety and empowerment. She founded PowerUp Moves, created the first university minor in Empowerment Self-Defense at SFSU, and has trained thousands in confidence-building, trauma-informed safety skills. Stephanie brings her expertise and passion for empowerment to the Bonobo Sisterhood Alliance Board.

  • Ann Clougherty

    Board Member
    Anne Clougherty serves as Executive Director of Restore Dignity, a nonprofit dedicated to providing direct financial assistance—such as tuition support, meal plans, or relocation help—to student survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

    With a strong commitment to survivor-centered advocacy, Anne ensures that support is delivered swiftly and personally, enabling survivors to continue their education and rebuild their lives with dignity.

  • “Rosenfeld’s tour-de-force takes the power of female alliances to a higher level. The gift of this book is that it gives us hope.”

    Valerie Jarrett, New York Times bestselling author of Finding My Voice, and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama

  • “Diane's book describes The Bonobo Sisterhood. It is a sisterhood to whom I owe my justice, success, and healing today.”

    Amanda Nguyen
    Founder of Rise, 2022 TIME Woman of the Year

  • The Bonobo Sisterhood shows us that the way to disrupt patriarchy is by demonstrating that safety, security, and strength can exist among women.”

    Fatima Goss Graves
    President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center,
    Co-Founder of TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund