Pronouns
she/her
What do you do as a consultant/coach?
Dara is a white, queer Jewish consultant, somatic coach and trainer with 25 years working with organizations and in movements for social, racial, economic and gender justice. Dara coaches movement leaders and teams to bring their values into daily practice and action. Dara partners with trainers of color to lead organizational change and leadership development initiatives centering racial justice, equity and liberation. When working with white organizers and leaders on dismantling white supremacy in ourselves, organizations and movements, she partners with white trainers to lead caucuses and trainings.
What is your approach?
Dara holds coaching and consulting as a collaborative relationship that supports people to create, execute, and achieve their personal and professional goals.
Through an ongoing partnership, designed to not only introduce partners to new strategies and skills but to support them to implement new efforts in their personal and professional lives.
How has your experience/background contributed to your work?
Previously, she was the founding Director of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and the Executive Director of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) in New York City. She currently organizes with Jewish Voice for Peace Hudson Valley and Mutual Aid Beacon.
Relevant certifications or trainings
Dara has been studying Somatics with generative somatics and the Strozzi Institute since 2011. She became a Somatic Coach in 2013 and taught at the Strozzi Institute from 2017-2023. She leads polticized somatics trainings for racial justice organizers through Embodying Racial Justice.
Dara became a coach through Coaching for Transformation at Leadership that Works in 2013. She is certified as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation.
Dara has had a meditation practice for the past 20 years. She will complete the Dedicated Practicioner Program at Spirit Rock in May 2024 and will be beginning the Community Dharma Leaders Program at Spirit Rock in January 2025.
Sample clients
GLSEN, National Education Association, Chan Zuckerberg Initative and the Packard Foundation