Core Values

I consider myself a narrative disruptor since I make a conscious effort to recognize the negative internal and external messages I have learned to believe are true. These are messages that dictate the ways I have betrayed my truest self by shrinking to fit into a societal box that does not allow me to be whole. When we can rid ourselves of messages of shame, conformity, and perfection that deny us our dignity and humanity, we give others permission to do the same. This is liberation, as our ancestor, Dr. Maya Angelou, stated:

“You only are free when you realize you belong no place—you belong every place—no place at all.”

Practicing authenticity allows me to disrupt the narrative in my head that my place is decided by others. Authenticity is a reclamation that our place has always been, simply because we exist and not because of external forces that other us. In fact, practicing authenticity helps me recognize that my authentic self is exactly what this world needs to write a new story of belonging.

My desire for you to show up as your full, authentic self drives me to ensure your working environments are safe spaces that allow your team to build honest, trustworthy relationships that facilitate progress through truth, open communication, and the ability to deliver and receive feedback—all in the name of maintaining alignment with your personal and organizational core values. Thus, authenticity is the bedrock of this work.

“There is comfort in being welcomed, but there is dignity in knowing that your arrival just shifted a group toward deeper wholeness.” —Cole Arthur Riley, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us

So much of this journey is rooted in belonging. When we have a strong sense of belonging within an organization, we have the ability to co-construct a work environment that nourishes our needs and those whom we serve by operationalizing core values that reflect a dignity-affirming culture with shared ownership. Such dignity-affirming spaces rely on openness, listening, empathy, and patience (Cobb & Krownapple, 2019) that build meaningful connections. Brené Brown (2021) defines connection as:

“[T]he energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

Being a radical connector is key to connection, not just because it is inextricably linked to being human, but because moving from transactional to transformative relationships (Ginwright, 2022) helps us get clear on our why.

“Curiosity is recognizing a gap in our knowledge about something that interests us, and becoming emotionally and cognitively invested in closing that gap through exploration and learning. Curiosity often starts with interest and can range from mild curiosity to passionate investigation.” —Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

Even though my doctorate is in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, I honor my roots in School Psychology; therefore, the perfect marriage of both of these fields manifests in me being a “perpetual toddler.” No, this does not mean I throw a fit when I do not get my way. It means that I get really curious and ask, “Why, why, why” when I am trying to get to the root of the problem. It is through root-cause analysis that we rely on quantitative and qualitative data to recognize and respond to underlying causes of a problem (i.e., policies, practices, beliefs) so that the most effective solutions can be identified and implemented. This, to me, is at the heart of being a meaning maker.