The increasing gender, ethnic, and neurodiversity in our schools, workplaces, and organizations makes achieving inclusion essential for advancing our missions. Many team members want to be inclusive, fair, and affirming to all, but they aren't sure how.

This led me to earn my Master’s in Human Development and Education from George Washington University, where I developed a needs-affirming approach to inclusion. My unique approach addresses the question: What if, in addition to avoiding harm and bias, inclusion generated safety, dignity, and agency within schools, workplaces, and other spaces?

For over a decade, my needs-affirming approach to inclusion has helped nationally recognized leaders to close equity gaps, resolve conflict, improve communication, and rebuild trust.

Workshops + Speaking Topics

  • Creating Affirming Communities

    In this workshop or keynote, we will explore the importance of providing an affirming space in our communities for healthy dialogue and collaboration. Our Core Needs for Community Empowerment Framework will be highlighted as a tool for creating conditions that enable diverse perspectives to coexist harmoniously while modeling empathy and encouraging deep reflection.

  • Embracing Outcomes-Based Bias Reduction

    Bias is a pervasive issue in our communities that can impact stakeholder success in countless ways. It can manifest in various forms, including implicit and explicit biases, leading to discrimination, marginalization, and other adverse outcomes. This session will explore practical strategies for identifying and responding to bias using an outcomes-based approach.

  • Building Consensus and Committing to Equity

    Participants will explore the Commitment Continuum and its importance in affirming the core needs of Trust, Self-esteem, Agency, Belonging, Mastery, and Purpose. The Commitment Continuum is a framework demonstrating the continuous and dynamic non-hierarchical process of meeting core needs within the community. Each person can and should work to build their knowledge and understanding, test out different methods or approaches, and adapt to better meet the needs of those they are in the community with.

  • Challenging Harm

    The traditional Bystander-Ally Framework has been used to address harm and injustice issues for some time. However, it has been observed that this framework needs to be expanded to fully recognize the needs and experiences of those impacted by injustice. The Challenger Model is a new and innovative approach that addresses this limitation. This model acknowledges the role of conditioning and culture in shaping our understanding and response to witnessed harm.

  • Affirming Gender, Names, and Pronouns

    At times, it can be challenging to navigate the diverse range of gender identities and expressions in our society. Many of us may feel unsure about using neo-pronouns or need help using they/them pronouns. Some of us may feel anxious about respectfully asking someone about their gender identifiers (names, pronouns, gender expression). This session is designed to address those concerns and equip you with the knowledge and skills to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.

  • Fostering Neurodiversity in the Workplace

    Are you interested in creating a more welcoming and inclusive workplace for neurodivergent team members? I offer this engaging and interactive workshop where I help you explore contemporary research and best practices for fostering a truly neuro-inclusive workplace. You will discover effective ways to communicate about accommodations, which words are more affirming, and which ideas or beliefs may inadvertently create barriers for neurodivergent teams to thrive.

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