The Values of the institute define our approach
POWER SHIFTThe Institute’s approach embodies inclusion, recognizing where the power lies (systemically, hierarchically, from privilege) and intentionally supporting a power shift that centers the voice, agency, and impact of participants. transparencyContinually reading and hearing the room, flexibility is embraced to ensure that participants feel uplifted, heard, and valued. Facilitation is transparent with a commitment to meeting participants where they are. |
PresenceActivities and styles throughout facilitation make space for participants to connect with themselves and each other and recognize and celebrate the whole person. warmthParticipants, their knowledge, and their experiences are the heart of all sessions with facilitation techniques that highlight empathy and compassion while setting ambitious and aspirational goals. |
process as pedagogy
The Institute’s process is based on pedagogical success. The “why and how we learn” of the session is the priority before the “what we learn." Each session models participant-centered and experiential processes contributing to a
positive and collaborative environment.
As a result, participants leave the session(s) feeling accomplished, inspired, and celebratory, ready to dive into the work. Some sessions use live actors and scenarios to navigate and process real feelings in order to enact change.
The Institute gives voice to a leadership model that centers and practices a collaborative framework to pave the way for a thriving climate and culture committed to antiracist work.
positive and collaborative environment.
As a result, participants leave the session(s) feeling accomplished, inspired, and celebratory, ready to dive into the work. Some sessions use live actors and scenarios to navigate and process real feelings in order to enact change.
The Institute gives voice to a leadership model that centers and practices a collaborative framework to pave the way for a thriving climate and culture committed to antiracist work.
The institute team
Dana parsonsDana is the founder and Principal Creative for The Leadership Institute for Compassionate Changemaking. Based in Maryland, Dana (M.A. and Advanced Professional Certificate) has been an educator, facilitator, administrator, and leader for 19 years in multiple fields and sectors including education, public service, nonprofits, private, corporate and government agencies. She has worked with over 1,500 organizations, agencies, and districts on local, national, and global levels to elevate their practices, engagement, programming and impact to make the world a better place to live, love, and be.
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Genna styles-lyasDr. Genna Styles-Lyas is the AEP6 Director for Community Engagement & Equity at Americans for the Arts. For over twelve years, Genna worked as a Teaching Artist for arts organizations locally and nationally. Genna has most recently served as the Education & Engagement Program Manager at Everyman Theatre. Genna also served as the Director of Education and Outreach at SPdp (Staycee Pearl dance project) in Pittsburgh, PA, where she helped developed artistic standards for the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards.
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austin ubannwaAustin is currently the Communications Manager at the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund. He has spent the past 5 years working with multiple organizations (government agencies, nonprofits, and corporate entities) as an artist, arts administrator, and project manager. As a Black man his primary focus is creating collaborative, safe, and equitable spaces. By strategically placing himself in administrative and leadership positions, he strives to further systemic change for the benefit of underrepresented groups. Austin believes you can be whoever and whatever you want and should pursue life without regard to limitations. Limitations are simply an indication that there is a need for adjustment.
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shawn ewbankShawn channels his experience in architecture, project oversight, leadership, art, and noetic studies to approach complex projects and problem spaces with human-centered design-thinking principles, systemic analysis and critical inquiry. He seeks insight through synthesis of isolated knowledge centers and embraces the creative human spirit to help find navigable paths toward transformations, small and large. Shawn affirms the potential for a peaceful world and works to uplift Life’s sanctity as the primary organizing principle for human and organizational models of development and governance. |
ree josephRee is a solutions-driven Communications Specialist, Content Creator and Social Media Manager with a Bachelor's Degree in Black Studies and an upcoming Masters in African & African Diasporic Studies with a self-taught background in social media, marketing, branding, digital design, writing, content creation, and video editing. Ree's passion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and belonging shines through in all her work. She's bold, edgy, shocking, confident, and a trendsetter who centralizes marginalized voices and puts diverse groups front and center. |
leenadria ubannwaLeenadria is a multi-talented professional with a passion for empowering women and telling stories that celebrate the strength of black women and children. She is a children's book author, creator of The Deservitude Journal and Coloring Book series, IT Finance professional, and the Founder of Other Side of the Wall, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports families impacted by pediatric brain tumor diagnoses.
Since 2014, Leenadria has collaborated with art therapists, doctors, and social workers at Children's Hospital in Washington, DC to identify the unique needs of families and provide direct support to children and their loved ones. Recently, she published a children's book inspired by her experience as a mother of a child with chronic illness, which centers on a child with disabilities. Leenadria's passion for creative expression and advocacy fuels her work, and she is committed to expanding her reach and impact in all aspects of her career. She resides in the DMV and is excited to continue empowering women and amplifying diverse voices through her work. |
collier randallCollier is a multidisciplinary artist with a BFA in Contemporary Theater from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Collier thrives in project management with a focus on work ethic, organizational skills, and attention to detail. He has used these skills to design sets for theatre companies and teach summer camps for the next generation of actors. In addition to his love for acting, Collier has also spent over a decade honing his craft as a songwriter while writing and starring in his own musicals. This led him to discover his passion for music production as well as directing and editing music videos. He hopes to inspire those around him to embrace what makes them unique and encourage others to do the same. |
kara bollingKara Bolling, LCSW-C, is a psychotherapist and Steward of Two Suns Healing, LLC, a group psychotherapy practice in Ellicott City, Maryland. She specializes in somatic psychotherapy with adults, parents, and teens. She has facilitated workshops on sex education for teens and personal growth for women throughout her career.
Kara self-published a book for pregnant therapists in 2020. The Therapist's Guide to Being Pregnant is a playful exploration of the impact of being pregnant on pregnant people and their therapy businesses, with practical planning tips. Kara and her book have been featured on several podcasts, including Therapy Chat. In 2022, Kara co-founded Therapists In Action (TIA), a nonprofit virtual community for mental health professionals that is a growing space for meaningful social justice action and mutual support. She facilitates the TIA somatic support group. |
DANA CARR
Dana Carr is a seasoned educator, coach, mentor, and administrator with 20+ years of experience in education and nonprofit management. Before founding The Creative Impact Group, Dana served as the Executive Director of LTYC, an arts education nonprofit serving the DMV. Dana is an educator at her core, and has a knack for strategic thinking/planning, and helping individuals and organizations realize their full potential. Dana holds degrees from NYU and The University of Maryland, and an Organizational Leadership Certification from Towson University. Dana is driven to amplify the lives of young people by improving access to creative opportunities. |
ERIKA R. BURNETTErika (she/her) is a midwest transplant, has been a long time Nashville, TN resident, entrepreneur, educator, and advocate. Her personal commitment to inspire professionals, deepen impact, and challenge the status quo of service delivery is embodied in her role as master trainer, consultant, and facilitator across a variety of topics including strategic planning, board development, civic engagement, leadership exploration, and understanding/working across lines of difference. In 2018, she, alongside Co-Conspirator Nicole Kemp, launched Women of Color Collaborative, advocating, empowering, and securing resources for women and girls to work, play and build their way towards healthier, more affirming spaces while centering their identities. |
Greta chapin mcgillMy art is an expression of color, fantasy, and passion. I grew up surrounded by the music that defined the African American experience of my time, from the soulful sounds of Motown to the genius of Miles Davis. My parents had a vast and eclectic music collection that exposed me to different genres. One of my fondest memories is attending a classical music concert with my father at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. He encouraged me to close my eyes and truly feel the music.
My discovery of color came when my parents enrolled me in Saturday morning art classes. This experience transformed my life. Pastels, watercolors, oil paints, and brushes became my closest companions, offering a new world of possibilities to a once-shy girl. The scent of pigment was intoxicating, allowing me to escape into a realm colored by my imagination. Alongside etiquette training and white gloves, my parents instilled in me the values of creativity, curiosity, and awareness of both artistic and political matters. |
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Testimonials
from
directors - state and national leaders - principals - boards - participants - teachers
“Dana's knowledge of content, balanced with a unique enthusiasm for interpersonal interactions, makes her the perfect professional development facilitator. It is not an overstatement to say that working with Dana forever changed our organization and community.”
"The sessions have been masterfully facilitated."
"I have never experienced the level of inclusion, transparency, process literacy, and support that you are fostering as a team."
"I noted that your facilitation was strengths based and not prescriptive. In other words, you walk the talk as a trainer."
"I love this process. We typically just had goals - and a task list essentially and this feels so much like the goals are so firmly rooted in the people and the vital components of the organization."
"I wanted to circle back and tell you that your gesture in acknowledging my disappointment and understanding my query seeking assistance to help me protect my professional value, meant a lot to me. I felt seen and understood.”
“Dana is an expert professional development facilitator. She has a knack for intently listening to the needs of groups of people and then tailoring her content to specifically address those needs. Her presentation style is consistently interactive and engaging. She always aims for participants to walk away with knowledge that can be practically applied to their role. She is one of the best facilitators I have had the pleasure of collaborating with.”
“I felt so much anxiety coming into this and now it just melted away!”
"You're one of those people that makes an impact in every moment."
“Thank you so much for the work you do, Dana. You're very skillful at bringing out these ideas!”
"I was really impressed with your ability to keep us on task and moving through the entire agenda, while providing a good roadmap for tackling the larger strategic planning project."
"Dana’s enthusiasm and encouragement is at the center of all her facilitating work and has a clear, positive impact on participants."
"I thought that the presentation was professional and still engaging. Dana was a knowledgeable and thoughtful moderator who let everyone say their piece and still kept us moving forward."
“Dana Parsons is a deft, forward thinking and creative facilitator. Our newly formed leadership team has the challenging job of reinvigorating a lapsing organization. Dana helped us solidify our foundational statements and prepare for a strategic planning process, navigating multiple generations, personal backgrounds, and opinions. Throughout our workshop, she displayed warmth, patience, and insight, and we all left the experience feeling confident, unified, and hopeful. We feel very fortunate to have had her guide us through issues of organizational identity into a collaborative and constructive ongoing process.”
"Dana was great. Kept the conversation high level and moving, but left enough room for everyone to participate. Really enjoyed the experience."
"I appreciated both the subject matter as well as the presenter's demeanor. She was both professional and engaging - including gently calling out [issues]. I really appreciated the class with which she did it - not reproachful, shaming, or negative, but definitely making it known that his attitude was noticed. That was a wonderful learning moment for me that I will attempt to add to my manager toolbox for the future. Thank you."
“Dana consistently creates a warm and supportive environment in all meetings, conversations, workshops, and sessions that she leads. It is truly a talent to guide a conversation in the way that Dana does - she always leads with positivity and kindness. She helps break down ideas and answer questions when participants may need help understanding. When leading strategic planning sessions, I have seen her masterfully guide the participants to consider all sides of a question. She never injects her own opinion or makes them go towards what she would like to do - but she simply poses questions to help guide the way. She is excellent at ‘holding the space’ for participants - she’s not afraid of silence, and she allows time for thinking and processing. Dana is extremely organized and a strong planner. She has a strong commitment to anti-racism, equity and justice. She is energetic and passionate about the arts and fighting for equity. I have personally learned so much from watching her handle herself as a facilitator in various settings."
"I feel that you did an AWESOME job with engagement, insight, questions and facilitating discussion over zoom."
Additional testimonials, data, and feedback results are available upon request.
"The sessions have been masterfully facilitated."
"I have never experienced the level of inclusion, transparency, process literacy, and support that you are fostering as a team."
"I noted that your facilitation was strengths based and not prescriptive. In other words, you walk the talk as a trainer."
"I love this process. We typically just had goals - and a task list essentially and this feels so much like the goals are so firmly rooted in the people and the vital components of the organization."
"I wanted to circle back and tell you that your gesture in acknowledging my disappointment and understanding my query seeking assistance to help me protect my professional value, meant a lot to me. I felt seen and understood.”
“Dana is an expert professional development facilitator. She has a knack for intently listening to the needs of groups of people and then tailoring her content to specifically address those needs. Her presentation style is consistently interactive and engaging. She always aims for participants to walk away with knowledge that can be practically applied to their role. She is one of the best facilitators I have had the pleasure of collaborating with.”
“I felt so much anxiety coming into this and now it just melted away!”
"You're one of those people that makes an impact in every moment."
“Thank you so much for the work you do, Dana. You're very skillful at bringing out these ideas!”
"I was really impressed with your ability to keep us on task and moving through the entire agenda, while providing a good roadmap for tackling the larger strategic planning project."
"Dana’s enthusiasm and encouragement is at the center of all her facilitating work and has a clear, positive impact on participants."
"I thought that the presentation was professional and still engaging. Dana was a knowledgeable and thoughtful moderator who let everyone say their piece and still kept us moving forward."
“Dana Parsons is a deft, forward thinking and creative facilitator. Our newly formed leadership team has the challenging job of reinvigorating a lapsing organization. Dana helped us solidify our foundational statements and prepare for a strategic planning process, navigating multiple generations, personal backgrounds, and opinions. Throughout our workshop, she displayed warmth, patience, and insight, and we all left the experience feeling confident, unified, and hopeful. We feel very fortunate to have had her guide us through issues of organizational identity into a collaborative and constructive ongoing process.”
"Dana was great. Kept the conversation high level and moving, but left enough room for everyone to participate. Really enjoyed the experience."
"I appreciated both the subject matter as well as the presenter's demeanor. She was both professional and engaging - including gently calling out [issues]. I really appreciated the class with which she did it - not reproachful, shaming, or negative, but definitely making it known that his attitude was noticed. That was a wonderful learning moment for me that I will attempt to add to my manager toolbox for the future. Thank you."
“Dana consistently creates a warm and supportive environment in all meetings, conversations, workshops, and sessions that she leads. It is truly a talent to guide a conversation in the way that Dana does - she always leads with positivity and kindness. She helps break down ideas and answer questions when participants may need help understanding. When leading strategic planning sessions, I have seen her masterfully guide the participants to consider all sides of a question. She never injects her own opinion or makes them go towards what she would like to do - but she simply poses questions to help guide the way. She is excellent at ‘holding the space’ for participants - she’s not afraid of silence, and she allows time for thinking and processing. Dana is extremely organized and a strong planner. She has a strong commitment to anti-racism, equity and justice. She is energetic and passionate about the arts and fighting for equity. I have personally learned so much from watching her handle herself as a facilitator in various settings."
"I feel that you did an AWESOME job with engagement, insight, questions and facilitating discussion over zoom."
Additional testimonials, data, and feedback results are available upon request.