Pillars

“Build” isn’t just about creating structures—it’s about cultivating the connections and relationships that form the bedrock of lasting change. As a community organizer at heart, I understand that true impact comes from patiently weaving together networks of people, nurturing leadership in others, and fostering coalitions that amplify our collective strength. I also build structures for groups of us to be able to fluidly work together and achieve big wins.

Building means knowing when to step forward and, just as importantly, when to step back. It means recognizing that the strongest leaders aren’t those who hoard power, but those who actively create space for others to grow and lead. Through mentorship and sharing knowledge, I help others discover and develop their own capacity for leadership.

I approach each initiative with the understanding that meaningful change is built one relationship, one conversation, and one small step at a time. I remain committed to the patient, persistent work of building something greater than any individual could achieve alone.

In my work, I’ve learned that transformative change often emerges from moments of tension. I actively lean into discomfort because I recognize it as an opportunity to break through constraints. When we feel unsettled, it often means we have to unlearn what is deep inside us. The status quo might feel comfortable, but it can also mean we are settling for a system steeped in inequity.

Yet this approach isn’t about seeking disruption for its own sake. I bring deep empathy to processes that involve discomfort, remaining attuned to how others experience and navigate change. By acknowledging and working through discomfort collectively, we can materialize new realities.

“Rigor” means wielding tools with intention, expertise, and awareness. My approach combines mastery of diverse methodologies—from statistical modeling to facilitation techniques, from data visualization to narrative frameworks—with a critical understanding of how these tools have been historically deployed.

I recognize that certain tools carry more institutional legitimacy not because of their inherent superiority, but because of who has traditionally wielded them and for what purposes. Statistics, for instance, bears the weight of its origins in eugenics and systems of oppression. Yet rather than reject these tools entirely, I work to reclaim and repurpose them in service of equity and transformation.

My commitment to rigor demands continuous learning and humility. It means staying sharp with the tools I already possess while remaining open to adopting new ones. Like a craftsperson who both respects and questions their tools, I believe in understanding the fundamental principles of each methodology while remaining critical about its applications and limitations. True rigor isn’t just about technical precision—it’s about thoughtfully selecting and applying the right tools for each unique challenge, always with an eye toward their broader implications and impacts.

“Space” is about creating containers where possibilities can flourish. I cultivate environments that invite experimentation, amplify diverse voices, and nurture collective creation. This means designing processes that embrace messiness and non-linear paths, recognizing that transformation rarely follows a straight line.

Central to my understanding of space is the recognition that rest and healing are not luxuries—they are essential elements of transformative work. This is particularly true for those whose communities have carried generational burdens of change-making and resistance. By intentionally creating space for pause and restoration, we honor both the work and those doing it.

True co-creation requires room to breathe, to experiment, to fail, and to grow. I design spaces that support these necessary elements of collective work, understanding that the most powerful solutions often emerge from giving ideas and relationships the time and space they need to develop organically.

“Root” embodies Angela Davis’s powerful reminder that to be radical means to grasp things at the root. My work is driven by a commitment to uncover and shift the deeper structural foundations that shape our reality. Rather than addressing surface-level symptoms, I dig deeper to expose, understand, and ultimately transform root causes and systemic barriers.

This principle extends beyond analysis into personal practice. I constantly reflect on my own roots—the complex web of privileges, experiences, struggles, and identities that shape my perspective and position in the world. I remember that self-awareness isn’t just personal work; it’s essential to understanding how we can collectively address deeply rooted systemic issues.

By anchoring the work in an understanding of root causes and a steadfast consciousness of our own roots, we can build more effective and authentic pathways to a more just future.