Our offers:
- Embodied executive coaching
- Somatic leadership development
- Equity- and belonging-centered consulting and training
- Trauma-informed, accountability-centered practice
We understand organizations as living systems shaped by nervous systems, histories, power dynamics, and relationships—not just policies or intentions.
Our work integrates:
- Somatic awareness and regulation
- Racial equity and justice analysis
- Trauma-informed facilitation
- Relational and conflict-capable leadership practices
Who we serve.
This work is for leaders and organizations who:
- Are willing to slow down in order to lead more effectively
- Want accountability that builds a culture of belonging
- Understand that culture change requires internal capacity, not just external compliance
- Are ready to practice equity as a lived, relational commitment
Consulting
We support organizations in the development of adaptive strategies and the implementation of transformational culture change.
We discern areas in need of growth in cultural or operational shifts; Collect and analyze data from employees, clients and/or existing policy documents; Facilitate focus groups to assess the impact of policy and procedure shifts; Recommend and support the implementation of shifts in policy and procedure; Germinate transformative values that can guide inclusive future policy and procedure. Learn more... |
Coaching
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Training Topics.
Generative Conflict
Generative conflict moves us closer to purpose. For that reason, you might expect mission-driven institutions to embrace and celebrate conflict. Too often, however, our societal conditioning and histories prevent us from responding well to the opportunity to embrace conflict. We are so steeped in punitive systems culture that, rather than offer loving corrections, we disavow nuance and cancel one another. Creating cultures of belonging that are resilient in the face of individual missteps and disagreement requires us to accept generative conflict for the sake of our shared purpose. What becomes possible when we practice holding generative conflict skillfully is deeper relationships, and greater cohesion among teams working toward a common purpose.
Unlearning Racism
This interactive training will provide delve deeply into issues of race, racism, and whiteness. Through activities, dialogue, and lecture, participants will learn about the historical legacy of racism in the US, increase racial literacy, and investigate unconscious bias. Participants will learn about and practice strategies for interrupting racism on three levels: internally, interpersonally, and institutionally. By the end of the training, participants will have tools, resources, and practice in allyship. Learn more...
Bystander Intervention
Participants will observe their default system responses and learn to use those responses as assets when disrupting racist behavior in both the public and private spheres. Role play is an effective tool because the nervous system responds in the same ways it would when activated on the street or at a family gathering when harmful behavior is expressed. Practicing the use our body's natural responses when interrupting injustice provides valuable muscle memory, making it more likely that we will advocate for the rights of others when we witness racial injustice in real life. Learn more...
Unconscious Bias
Despite our best intentions, even the most pure-of-heart can make snap judgements that stereotype, generalize, and otherwise diminish the full humanity of another person. While conscious bias can be easier to identify, unconscious (aka implicit) bias is trickier to spot in ourselves and others; and that’s the thing, we all have biases. Unconscious biases are particularly important to work on because they can cause unintended harm to others. In this training, participants will learn to identify conscious and unconscious biases in self and others, learn skills for interrogating and combating bias, and non-violent communication skills to support healthy dialogue around this touchy topic.
This workshop investigates internal, unconscious favoritism and limiting beliefs through theatre games, dialogue and individual written exploration. Participants will explore blind spots where our biases lie and learn best practices for combating them. The goals of this workshop are to augment awareness, increase personal responsiveness, and explore best models for sustainable, responsive, culture-setting. Learn more...
This workshop investigates internal, unconscious favoritism and limiting beliefs through theatre games, dialogue and individual written exploration. Participants will explore blind spots where our biases lie and learn best practices for combating them. The goals of this workshop are to augment awareness, increase personal responsiveness, and explore best models for sustainable, responsive, culture-setting. Learn more...
Power & Privilege
This training investigates issues of power and privilege through theatre games, dialogue and individual written exploration. Participants investigate models of confronting interpersonal, institutional conflict and oppressive behaviors, contextualized within our nation’s historical framework. The goals of this workshop are to augment awareness, increase cultural and interpersonal responsiveness, and explore best practices for inclusion. Learn more...
Recent Partnerships.
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All the Tools You Need to Succeed.
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Equity Allies understands that the learning process can be as challenging as it is transformative. We aim to support our partners through the process, from any stage of learning and all levels of awareness. Using a pedagogy influenced by the Educator and Philosopher, Paulo Freire, our methodologies are client-centered and asset-based. We strive to support the learning process of our partners, while promoting community building and constructive communication.
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Whether your organization is seeking base-level learning for all employees, Train the Trainer employee learning to ensure effective integration of equity practices, or long-term consulting around equitable and inclusive policy and procedure, Equity Allies will ensure that your time is meaningfully spent and that the learning has measurable, deep-reaching impact.
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Contact Us.
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Testimonials.
”Thank you for your excellent work on training our team. I have already received a great deal of positive feedback and can see a shift. This is exactly the kind of ground work we needed to allow us to see our work in the racial context in which it exists. I am grateful for your expertise. Undue is already better for having worked with you.”
- Allison Sesso, Executive Director of Undue Medical Debt
"A great, empathetic, honest, and diligent training focused on history to inform present solutions that consistently reminded us that discussion must be paired with action. "Equity Allies’ Unpacking Racism for White People impressively packs a lot of learning opportunities into a short amount of time; their session offers a nice overview of race and racism as well as specific tools and practice in combating biases and disrupting racist situations. Facilitator Marissa firmly challenges participants to do better as allies, understand that anti-racist work is their responsibility, and inspires them to commit to action while continuing their learning journey." - René
"This workshop felt challenging, humbling, inspiring, safe, truthful, and effective." - Nata
"This was just fantastic. I appreciate the straightforward fact-based approach mixed with the holding space, breathing, and vulnerability. Really gave us the chance to be authentic and face those difficult spaces." - Sarah
"I hugely appreciated (the facilitator's) excellent guidance during the session. She was clear with timing, expectations, setting the ground rules for bringing everything back to race, and the accountability vocab. Marissa is knowledgeable and confident in her role as an anti-racism activist. Good balance of supporting and challenging participants (with a) call to action sustained by love.. "- Nina F.
"I would recommend this course for all white persons - even if you feel you are a member of a marginalized group and feel you know something about prejudice." - Curt B.
"As a white immigrant that lives in NYC, equity allies training has been imperatively helpful for me. With its focus being centered specifically on the systemic racism within the USA, I found it gave me not only education with specificity but also tools that are much needed for my current chosen home. I'll definitely be signing up for the next course to work further on action tools that I can utilize within my life and community." - Liz
"This class was a great introduction to vocabulary, history, and current events. A safe space was created to allow for everyone's voices. I look forward to being a part of more content as it is available." -Dawn
Actually doing the theater exercises and connecting with that in a way that wasn't just talking about it, was really powerful. It was such a powerful thing to have that embodied experience." – Jackie
- Allison Sesso, Executive Director of Undue Medical Debt
"A great, empathetic, honest, and diligent training focused on history to inform present solutions that consistently reminded us that discussion must be paired with action. "Equity Allies’ Unpacking Racism for White People impressively packs a lot of learning opportunities into a short amount of time; their session offers a nice overview of race and racism as well as specific tools and practice in combating biases and disrupting racist situations. Facilitator Marissa firmly challenges participants to do better as allies, understand that anti-racist work is their responsibility, and inspires them to commit to action while continuing their learning journey." - René
"This workshop felt challenging, humbling, inspiring, safe, truthful, and effective." - Nata
"This was just fantastic. I appreciate the straightforward fact-based approach mixed with the holding space, breathing, and vulnerability. Really gave us the chance to be authentic and face those difficult spaces." - Sarah
"I hugely appreciated (the facilitator's) excellent guidance during the session. She was clear with timing, expectations, setting the ground rules for bringing everything back to race, and the accountability vocab. Marissa is knowledgeable and confident in her role as an anti-racism activist. Good balance of supporting and challenging participants (with a) call to action sustained by love.. "- Nina F.
"I would recommend this course for all white persons - even if you feel you are a member of a marginalized group and feel you know something about prejudice." - Curt B.
"As a white immigrant that lives in NYC, equity allies training has been imperatively helpful for me. With its focus being centered specifically on the systemic racism within the USA, I found it gave me not only education with specificity but also tools that are much needed for my current chosen home. I'll definitely be signing up for the next course to work further on action tools that I can utilize within my life and community." - Liz
"This class was a great introduction to vocabulary, history, and current events. A safe space was created to allow for everyone's voices. I look forward to being a part of more content as it is available." -Dawn
Actually doing the theater exercises and connecting with that in a way that wasn't just talking about it, was really powerful. It was such a powerful thing to have that embodied experience." – Jackie