FAQs
Please email me with any additional questions or queries.
WHY DO SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS SEEK YOU OUT?
To be clear, I have been training and conducting professional development for a while, even as far back as graduate school, where I was the interim extension liaison for Auburn University. But though my track record is long, it is only within the last ten years that I hit my stride. Experience matters and, with more experience, more organizations have trusted me to partner with them to help make their clients (whether parents, teachers, staff workers, or whomever) grow in their role.
If you caught me in 2010, I was a trained speaker and could present the work of others fairly well.
If you caught me in 2015, my own research was beginning to change the conversation on Black students and marginalized populations, and this intrigued some folks. When Melinda Anderson published a piece about one my studies in the Atlantic in 2016 (and both Yahoo News and Black Enterprise shared it out again), it raised my public profile and more folks wanted to learn more. Wonderful schools and agencies also began to give me the opportunity to learn from them. Most of my consulting began around that time. A few years later, the Washington Post found me, specifically, an article by Nick Anderson (May, 2021) and The Washington Post's Daily Podcast "Post Reports" (July, 2021).
So if you catch me now, post-2020, I am kind of busy. I am a consultant and trainer for schools and non-profits, primarily due to the experiences shared above, but also due to my extensive experience as a principal investigator for a 3-year longitudinal research study designed to address theoretical questions about culture, narrative, and identity for folks working with marginalized youth, especially educators and those in the helping profession.
This study -- which I am now developing into a book -- originated from consultations with a guidance counselor serving schools seeking trauma programming solutions. With a background as a former teacher in an urban high school, as a Black woman and public speaker with publications in the field of trauma-informed and anti-racist practices, and as an interdisciplinary researcher, I have a unique blend of talents, skills and experiences that I bring to bear in this work.
My concern has always been with the development of all youth so I have positioned myself to address the urgent needs of educational institutions. My research program, developed in collaboration with school administrators and teachers, emphasizes practical, implementable solutions tailored to schools with high numbers of students experiencing trauma and limited resources. (Although some of my favorite consultations have been working directly with students and in high performing, wealthier disricts, like what I did in Lenape, PA).
Additionally, my commitment to empowering adults to genuinely listen to and advocate for youth, demonstrated through years of consulting and training, showcases my dedication to creating inclusive and supportive environments for young people. With a strong academic background in Human Development and Family Studies, coupled with a deep understanding of identity development and socio-emotional functioning across diverse contexts, I bring a new-ish perspective to my training sessions.
I believe my ability to navigate complex issues with compassion and expertise makes me a valuable resource for organizations seeking to foster trauma-sensitive and inclusive environments. Or, as shared by the Principal at JYK Discovery Charter School in an email on 2/8/24, "I am so sure that everyone enjoyed your presentation. I am ONLY getting AMAZING feedback! No surprise there! You touch the lives of the teachers as well as the children as a result! You ARE powerful in your reach! THANK YOU for answering the call on your life!"
I think that is right. At least for now it is. This is my call, and I am doing my best to answer it.
​
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM YOUR CONSULTATIONS AND TRAINING THE MOST?
My training on trauma-sensitive and inclusive practices is designed to benefit a diverse range of individuals, organizations, and sectors.
Below are example of entities that have found value in this training. These are folks I may have worked with in my capacity as a professor or as an independent contractor. Sometimes both:
Educators, teachers, and teaching students: Gain insights into the intersection of personal narratives and professional conduct, fostering growth and autonomy in educational settings.
Undergraduate and graduate students: Understand the multifaceted nature of teaching and learn how societal perceptions intersect with personal narratives, contributing to more empathetic and understanding educational environments.
Parents and families: Apply trauma-informed care principles to enhance family dynamics, support healthier relationships with educators, and engage more effectively in their children's education.
Education researchers, policymakers, and advocates: Inform evidence-based policies and interventions that address systemic inequalities in education, criminal justice, healthcare, and social services.
Community organizations: Adopt trauma-informed and anti-racist practices to better understand and address the unique challenges faced by community members, promoting equity and social justice in various initiatives.
Employers in workplace environments: Foster inclusive, empathetic, and supportive cultures that recognize and address the potential impact of trauma on individuals, contributing to healthier work environments.
Law enforcement and criminal justice professionals: Incorporate trauma-informed approaches to improve interactions with Black individuals and promote more equitable outcomes in justice proceedings.
Mental health professionals: Integrate trauma-informed care into therapeutic practices, recognizing the impact of systemic racism on mental health and tailoring approaches to address individual trauma and sociopolitical contexts.
Social service agencies and advocacy groups: Incorporate trauma-informed and anti-racist principles into their work, advocating for systemic change and providing culturally sensitive services.
Media professionals and content creators: Apply anti-racist pedagogies to media and storytelling practices, challenging stereotypes and contributing to more accurate and empowering representations of marginalized communities.
General public: Learn trauma-informed and anti-racist principles to promote respectful and harmonious interactions in everyday life, fostering understanding and empathy across diverse communities.
Overall, my training is aimed at empowering individuals and organizations across various sectors to create positive change and foster inclusive environments for all.
CAN'T ANYONE DO THIS? HOW DO YOU CUSTOMIZE YOUR SERVICES FOR NICHE COMPANIES?
Well, not quite anyone. But I am a big believer that everyone has something we can learn from, so, perhaps. I think the best way to answer this is through testimonials (which I share on another tab). I will simply offer this: I have attended lots of training sessions through my life and I have yet to attend one quite like mine. And the reasons for this are complicated. But, overall, I pull at many different strands of my professional and personal experiences and identities to make these sessions impactful for my clients. And no two sessions look the same.
When I work with clients over a period of years, they don't seem to worry that my "material" will be redundant. This may be why I typically have not sought out these opportunities, preferring instead that people come to me. I want to make sure the organization's level of commitment matches mine. Because just like every time I step into my own classroom, I seek to deliver with passion, creativity and rigor, I customize my workshops at schools and workplaces to achieve the same results.
​