Building a more equitable world
Equity & Intentionality through Nonviolent Communication education.
Professional development through the lens of Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Liberation
About
Kadijah Means is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategist serving on the Nonviolent Communication Board for Nonviolent Communication Santa Cruz. She integrates the principles of nonviolent communication and harm reduction into anti-oppression education. Kadijah has guided organizations in the private and public sectors into deep introspection around topics of identity and how they shape our daily interactions and organizational outcomes. With careful attention to the universal needs that drive our undesired behaviors, Kadijah facilitates challenging conversations about gender, sexuality, race, class, and ability without relying on guilt, coercion, or even praise.
Before launching her independent consultancy, she spent many years as a Grassroots Community Organizer in the Bay Area. Majoring in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), she immersed herself in the theoretical intricacies of race and gender. Her dedication to improving the material well-being of marginalized people globally, her experiences in activism & organizing, and her commitment to political education motivated her transition into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work.
Through her work, she invites us, "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing," into a space the poet Rumi imagined could transform conflict into connection. Kadijah adopts a holistic approach to professional development by fusing empathetic introspection and critical theory.
They are featured on various podcasts, most notably NPR's This American Life, where she discussed racial identity development in children. For more information on fostering community, nonviolent communication, and anti-racism philosophy, read her chapter, "How To Address Racism In Schools," in Teaching Resistance: Radicals, Revolutionaries, and Cultural Subversives in the Classroom (2019) or watch her introduction to NVC series on Tik Tok.
Distance Learning Compatible
Top tier education from your at-home desk. Specializing in accessible education.
My offerings are designed specifically for your organization’s needs.
Strategic Planning, Employee Resource Groups, Workshops:
Nonviolent Communication
Make observations sans value judgments, take inventory of unmet needs, differentiate between feelings and non-feelings, and craft requests to transform conflict into connection.
Power, Privilege, & Positionality
Understand how systems of oppression influence our interpersonal interactions and worldview. Identify strategies to neutralize disadvantages for marginalized groups.
Recruiting & Retention
Explore the long-term advantages of equity-based recruitment and how to foster strong feedback culture to boost retention.
Restorative Practice in the Workplace
Practice conflict mediation strategies that center harm reduction. Actualizing process-over-outcome to promote emotional and physical safety in the workplace.
Accountability & Accompliceship
Align your intentions with your actions and chart an organization-wide accountability plan.
Self-Empathy
Heal from the daily manifestations of systemic oppression, connect with your unmet needs, and practice compassionate listening.
Data-Informed Storytelling
“Does this really work? How do we know? Why does this matter?”
How can we inspire culture change?
Say What You Mean! Refresh your team’s communication with a Nonviolent Communication course.
Need someone to look over that tweet? Kadijah can guide your team to align intent and impact in your next client-facing communication.
KMSC uses data-informed methods to drive equity initiatives. Schedule a consultation to learn about our Equity Audits.
Do you have an inquiry that lands outside of the DEI spectrum? No worries!
I can create a custom solution that solves your organization’s specific needs.
Let’s work together.