Who am I? Good question. I am a collaborator and thought leader in the community development field. For the past twenty-five years, I have been at the cutting edge leading policy formation and change management for the creation of beloved communities from the intersection of race and homelessness in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Santa Monica, CA.
I think of myself as a beloved community mid-wife leveraging my experience in the U.S. nonprofit and government sector. My community development praxis focuses on the areas of homelessness policy, workforce development, community building, cultural conflict mitigation, and racial healing and reconciliation. At this point in my career I would like to take the bold LEAP to focusing on writing and mentorship to emerging women of color leaders in the vast community development field.
I am a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of Pittsburgh where I earned a Master Degree in Public and International Affairs with a concentration in Economic and Social Development. A lover of learning and deepening my praxis, I earned a second Master Degree in Depth-Psychology with a specialization in Community, Liberation, Eco-Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and am currently pursuing my doctorate degree in the same field.
Writing is my hidden calling which I hope to step more into. Here are her recent publications: Unearthing the Feminine ; Osun’s Calabash: Dancing Across Cuba into the Memory of he Embodied African Soul and Finding Home; Stepping into the Forest: Incorporating the Lost Girl Back into Self in Seeing in the Dark: Wisdom Works by Black Women in Depth Psychology Ed. Sharon D. Johnson, PhD
Spiritually, I believe the world is a living soul and apply this worldview to all that I do. I am a practitioner of Ifá and newly initiated Iyalorisha of Osun and Obatala from the lineage of the Late Araba Chief Adesanya Awoyade of Ile Ogunti in Ode Remo, Nigeria. I believe my life’s mission is to help leaders understand and access the wealth that dwells within so they can then go back and lead their communities with undetermined home, courage, and loyalty to the continuation of humanity through a loving relationship with Earth who supports us.
The Los Angeles region is my hometown having lived in the cities of Inglewood and Pasadena. After being away for nearly 20 years living in New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, I have now resettled in Los Angeles proper.
And finally, Generation Z’ers are teaching me the importance of JOY as a modality of self-care and resistance. Therefore I seek joy on a daily basis through a good cup of coffee, dinner conversation with friends, political talk with my dad, living room dancing to Afro-Cuban jazz and Mississippi Blues, long-walks in nature, and time with my nephews (boy do they keep me young and humble).
Alisa's thoughts on Beloved Communities 