Team Bios
Dr. Sundiata Soon-Jahta (he/him)
Dr. Sundiata is a specialist in Anti-Oppression, Conflict Resolution, Systems Thinking, D.E.I.B, Coaching & Collaborative Culture Facilitation.
With a doctorate degree in organizational leadership and over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, educator, social change agent, and organizational leader in the clothing, telecom, energy, education, real estate, non-profit, and tech startup industries, his consultation and facilitation work are informed by both theory and practice.
Tomis Parker (he/him)
Tomis is a social change entrepreneur, facilitator, intentional culture consultant, and agile coach. Tomis co-founded the Agile Learning Centers educational framework and network, serves as Operations Director at ALC Mosaic in Charlotte, NC, co-authored the Agile in Education Compass, and has organized and led Agile Learning Facilitator training programs since 2014. Tomis is the father to a four-year-old (as of April 2022) and husband/partner since 2015.
Maryella Marie (she/they)
Maryella Marie is a renaissance wom8n and social impact multimedia producer who has spent over a decade working with diverse technologists, independent artists, and divergent innovators across the globe to deepen their emotional intelligence. Maryella is an expat living in Patagonia, Argentina where she holds safe virtual space as a facilitator, moderator, and host for Grow Dialogue trainings, podcasts, and webinars and as the creative director and social impact producer for The Positive Force Team.
Francesca Walker (she/her)
Francesca is a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) instructional designer, facilitator, and executive coach with non-profit, education, and corporate professional experiences on a mission to normalize inclusive therapeutic people leadership and anti-oppressive workplaces. Her 10+ years of experience is complimented by her B.A. in English and American Literature, M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration with a specialization in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies, and M.A. in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness.
Abby Oulton (she/her)
Abby is an educator, nonprofit director, and independent researcher based in New York City. She brings over 10 years experience supporting young people as they pursue their individual goals and figure out what it means for them to collaborate with others as a member of a learning community. As a facilitator and organization steward for both the Agile Learning Center of New York City and for the Agile Learning Centers Network, she designs trainings, supports transitions, serves as a mediator, and practices coherence-building through narrative projects. Her work is informed in part by her ongoing studies of knowledge geographies and theories of change, which currently focus on the roles of youth and technology in social systems.
Alisha Turner (she/her)
Alisha brings her creativity, drive, and entrepreneurial skills to the team. She has 10 years of Marketing, Team Building, Sales, and Customer Service experience. She has grown her social media presence across multiple platforms, provided online education for entrepreneurs, and cultivated long-lasting connections along the way. With a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design and Minor in Psychology, Alisha brings her passion for building authentic relationships and creating empowering content to her role.
Ray Bleicken (they/them)
Ray enjoys administrative, organizational, and creative tasks. Using skills acquired while working in school settings, Ray assists with operations and designs curriculum materials at Grow Dialogue. Ray has completed a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, and is passionate about self-directed education. Ray is a former kindergarten teacher and home daycare provider who currently unschools their two children in the Washington D.C. area.
Shani Goodson (she/her)
Shani is an educator and relationship scientist. She has over 16 years of experience in education, including 6 years of teaching internationally in Abu Dhabi and Wuxi, China. Shani is also the creator of Sustainable Relationships, a blog that focuses on cultivating and strengthening healthy relationships in order to create a more sustainable world.