Pronouns
she/her
What do you do as a consultant/coach?
- Support grassroots organization and mixed model institutions to effectively engage in community/cultural organizing by supporting them to build strong memberships, develop leadership and create campaigns that support groups to win concrete changes in their communities.
- Provide leadership coaching and support, including developing effective supervision and management systems.
- Lead strategic planning processes with member based organizations to fully engage their constituents in visioning and planning the work of the organization, including supporting groups to identify key areas of work and developing implementation and work plans.
- Board development amongst mixed boards, navigating power dynamics and decision making structures, board training and recruitment.
- Support leadership transitions, including coaching for outgoing and new directors, managing conflict and organizational culture changes in transitions, setting strategic direction, supervision, program design and visioning.
- Support for staff development and team planning, and creating space for direct communication and feedback amongst teams.
- Develop curriculum and lead training/workshops for staff and members of organizations.
- Support racial justice processes, including designing racial justice and equity assessments, creating space for courageous conversations, and leading workshops on racial justice and equity.
What is your approach?
As a seasoned facilitator, coach and consultant my approach is intuitive and compassionate. I work to weave community in order to support organizational goals. I use various methods to engage participants ́ mind , heart, and soul; listening for patterns in conversations, emotions, what is said and not said, and for emerging and contradicting ideas. I work to create a space for people to build intimacy and trust, that encourages candid conversation and shared lived experiences that ultimately yield knowledge and solutions for transforming oppression. And creating solutions for how to structure organizations in service of their vision and mission.
I have a deep commitment to the leadership of people most impacted by oppressive systems and contributing ways to amplify their voice, grow their leadership, elevate their ideas and that their narratives are shaping movement work. Therefore my style of facilitation includes lots of activities, art, movement, small groups, music, rituals, and tools that allow people to powerfully share their voice and knowledge, shaking the narratives of oppression that often keep us from imagining a different world.
My work includes generative conflict resolution among teams and organizations including staff, management, board and community members. My methodology of coaching and training includes healing from trauma and oppression through a somatic approach, weaving in an analysis of race, class and gender.
How has your experience/background contributed to your work?
My justice work began with a powerful group of women in the South Bronx, who were fed up with the poor education their children were receiving and decided to organize and fight for justice in education. These women taught me about the power of organizing and collective action, to raise my voice and of the importance of community healing in our movement and social justice work.
I have 25 years of experience in the field of social justice, as a founding and executive director, organizing trainer, professor, coach and a longtime community organizer of several justice organizations in the United States and Ecuador.
Sample clients
Highlander Research and Education Center, Just Future Law, Tacombi Foundation, Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, La Colmena, Jobs with Justice, California Youth Connection, Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at Berkeley University