A HUMAN RESOURCE CENTER AND INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE ADVOCACY RESEARCH
Instilling within everyone courage to run toward freedom
OUR MISSION
To dismantle systemic oppression and usher in a new era of empathy by producing participatory-action research, human resource initiatives and reallocating wealth to Black and Brown DEI* consultants and researchers across American industries.
*diversity, equity and inclusion
WHAT'S NEW
WATCH THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW 52-WEEK DISMANTLING SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION PROGRAM: A NEW WORLD.
Contribute to our initiatives
Researcher Highlight
CHECK OUT OUR FOUNDER - NICOLE JOHNSON'S NEW TED TALK ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GRACE-LED STORYTELLING IN DEI WORK.
OUR VALUES
RESIST WHITE SUPREMACY
Always Challenge Tradition
RESEARCH AS LEARNING
Including Community
EFFICACY
Completing
Relevant Work
CULTURE CHANGE
An Era of Empathy
REALLOCATION OF WEALTH
The Four Pillars of Wealth
OUR HISTORY
Nearly 160 years ago, on June 1, 1863 Tubman coordinated the Combahee River Raid. Her covert interactions had given rise to vital information: torpedoes had been placed at specific locations along the riverbanks. The knowledge enabled three Union gunboats to safely navigate the waters, and in the process, transport soldiers who successfully destroyed several estates owned by prominent secessionists. As those soldiers were offloaded from the boats, enslaved people boarded. That night, more than 700 enslaved people were rescued and freed.
Our work is rooted in this spirit of historical justice advocacy; Tubman and countless others have instilled within us the courage to not only run toward our due freedom, but to also liberate our brothers and sisters along the way. We take our own first steps now - as researchers, practitioners, and leaders who collectively commit to resisting white supremacy, developing relevant work for our communities, and galvanizing empathy across cultures.
We are thrilled that you have decided to join us on this journey.
Thank you for joining us, honoring Harriet Tubman, her legacy and it's continued impact on our efforts to dismantle systemic oppression.
WHAT WE DO
Current Industries & Institutions
The institute’s collective work is a mechanism for behavioral change in American workplaces. Our Evergreen and Efficacy Fellows are at the center of this effort: their research and revision generates a Harriet Tubman Effect (HTE), or a transformation defined by dismantling systemically oppressive structures - and supplanting them with tangible pathways for empathy, empowerment, and justice.
The HTEI is thus housed within organizations that seek to undergo such a transformation. The business partnership is unique: each organization serves as fiscal support for HTEI personnel and programming, which is curated to dismantle the systemic oppression that that organization exhibits.
The HTEI is embedded in the following industries and institutions:
Theatre Industry
K-12 Education
Higher Education
Corporate America
Houses of Worship
OUR TEAM
Get to know our Team
Nicole Johnson (she/her)
Adventurer and Igniter
Founder of the HTEI, focus on corporate America and higher education, curriculum design and
diversity, equity, and inclusion Strategy.
Bee Harris (she/her)
Illustrator and Policy Advocate
Creating vibrant art that inspires herself and others to embrace a life of color and to see the full spectrum of existence.
Rawlin Rosario (he/him)
Educator and Mentor
K-12 and higher education, school equity strategy, and leadership development specialist. Shifting school policy and cultural competency.
Belén Moyano (she/her/ella)
Torch Bearer and Builder
Building on the visionary ideas of advocates and creating resources to help serve their communities.
Emma Barishman (she/her)
Amplifier and Researcher
Researching white supremacy in the musical theater industry and its effect on professional wellness.
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Sarah Powell (she/her)
Information Seeker/Communicator/Healer
Education Operations Director of the Harriet Tubman Effect with a focus on Music Theatre and Corporate America.
Natalie Alterman (she/her)
Educator/Amplifier/Community Builder
A lifetime educator who fiercely advocates for equitable systems of schools, charitable giving, and democracy.
Zuri Washington (she/her)
Speaker of Truth
K-12 Charter School Equity Advocate and media content curator in the Musical Theater Industry for truth seeking and resisting white supremacy.
Cate Benioff (she/her)
Illuminator and Content Creator
Musical theatre researcher of historical and present white supremacy. Cate is passionate about creating safe spaces of belonging for all theatre workers.
Carlita Victoria (she/her)
Mental health advocate and Founder of Darkness RISING Nonprofit, consistently fighting for equitable and plentiful resources for marginalized communities.
Mental Health Educator
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Daryl A Ritchie (they/them)
Navigator and Mediator
Performing arts administrator and strategist. Providing support and crafting policies that affect sustainable institutional change.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fri, Sep 16Online SeriesA 52-week program consisting of an ongoing research study, weekly meetings and accountability practice for professionals looking to dismantle systemic oppression and white supremacy culture in workplaces.
