Our Approach

Two women sitting at a white table, writing in notebooks, with colorful markers placed on the table, in front of a blue wall painting depicting a person reaching for the moon and stars.

We believe every single person in an organization can contribute something unique and life-giving to the group.

Drawing of a rocket ship launching with stars in the background.
Illustration of a step-by-step guide on forming and growing a diverse, inclusive group. The first panel shows people shaking hands with a speech bubble advocating collective core groups supporting shared values. The second panel depicts team members discussing and defining growth focus, with a speech bubble explaining process. The third panel shows people in discussion with speech bubbles indicating ongoing conversations, emphasizing exploration of ideas within the group. The fourth panel illustrates people brainstorming themes around a table, with a speech bubble about aligning and bringing themes to life. The final panel features people collaborating on a large plan or chart, with a speech bubble about partnering and strategizing for future action.
Four adults standing together, shaking hands, and engaging in a conversation.

In order to amplify this, we suggest and advise people collectives to create a representative core group that is a cross-section of the organization to support the development of shared values based on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Three people are participating in a virtual meeting through video call screens. The person on the left is a man with short dark hair, gesturing with his hand. The middle person is a woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a light blue blazer, reaching out with her hand. The person on the right is a woman with long dark hair, wearing a blue and white striped top, also gesturing with her hand. The background features abstract blue and white designs.

Once this group is formed, it goes through
the process by which they (co)define a focus
for growth of the collective’s values.

Illustration of five people engaging in conversation, with speech bubbles above their heads.

They (co)find when they thrive in their work through interviews amongst themselves and then expand this exploration to direct engagement with the greater collective.

Four children sitting on the floor playing a card game together.

They then (co)align on themes they’ve
identified through these interviews and
(co)design how to bring these themes to life.

Group of three people discussing a project or schedule on a whiteboard with sticky notes, a large pencil, and a lightbulb symbol overhead.

Finally, partner organizations collaboratively synthesize the work they’ve done into an equity-based plan of action to move forward their new future. 

We take a similar approach to our policy development and organizational coaching offerings. Central to any engagement, we encourage our partners to think critically about who is the most impacted by big systemic changes in their collective and pay attention to how they shape policy and norms.

Our approach to coaching and consulting

A circular diagram with four segments labeled co-find, co-design, co-syn, and co-align surrounding a central circle labeled Positive Core.

Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an organizational development process that identifies and grows what makes a human system thrive. In strategic planning, we use this approach to guide organizations in exploring when they are at their best and what changes can be created to live their potential. That doesn’t mean the collective will always be happy with all decisions or that there will not be discomfort in the process of having a more inclusive culture. It means that organizations will be equipped to be with this discomfort to be able to live from shared values.

A person holding a yellow protest sign that reads 'Respect Existence or Expect Resistance' with a small plant illustration.

Community organizing and social + racial justice

Community organizing is based on bringing people affected by an issue to the decision-making table to affect social change in a way that builds collective power. Social justice is the fair distribution of resources across all people, regardless of their positionality within a social group (aka their social identities.) In a just society, each member and group is affirmed, respected, valued, and held accountable. Racial justice is the fair treatment of people of all races, through deliberate systems that support racial equity (equitable outcomes based on race.)

For our partner people collectives, we believe community organizing principles invite new ways of decision-making and culture co-creation.

Black and white image of a dog standing on grass

Taking a less vertical, more consensus-based approach to DEI norm implementation, ensures that each member of an organization is taking ownership of the collective’s values in practice. 

Social and racial justice principles are rooted in our practice. They manifest through explicit consideration of how our social identities interact with each other in partner collectives. 

We pay attention to how our co-creation may perpetuate systemic oppression, especially white supremacy culture, and invite us to consider how the change can advance social and racial justice. This includes paying close attention to the norms, behaviors, and beliefs that present themselves and at times shifting them to be rooted in justice, liberation, and love.

A stylized badge featuring a five-pointed star with a circular center, surrounded by decorative elements, resembling a sheriff's badge.

Psychosynthesis coaching

Rooted in transpersonal psychology, psychosynthesis invites us to manifest what is calling us in alignment with our spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental aspects holistically. We partner with individuals to ensure their personal and professional goals have a deep sense of purpose and meaning. When goals are aligned with one’s values they can create greater harmony and team cohesion for each member of the collective.