Trauma-Informed
Systems Change
Designing tools and frameworks that help institutions move from harm to healing, rehumanizing the systems in which we live, work, and learn within.
Overview
I work with institutions, educators, and changemakers to design practical tools that address the root causes of harm — and create conditions for intergenerational wellbeing.
My work in this space focuses on translating trauma studies and systems thinking into frameworks that are usable, adaptable, and relational. It’s about creating opportunities for repair, not just reform — by integrating healing-centered design into the structures that shape our collective lives.
This work has taken shape across higher education, public institutions, and storytelling spaces, and is rooted in the belief that transformation begins with restoring dignity and shared humanity.
Featured Projects
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A practice-based model for transforming cycles of harm into conditions for intergenerational wellbeing.
The Journey Framework is a systems change toolkit designed to help individuals, communities, and institutions identify patterns of trauma and harm—and chart meaningful paths toward repair. Developed collaboratively through years of research, storytelling, and facilitation, the framework equips changemakers to engage with complexity in healing-centered ways.
Rather than focusing only on individual interventions, the framework invites users to reimagine organizational cultures, policies, and practices as sites for rehumanization. It's been applied across education, media, community work, and policy to support trauma-informed action that honors both context and care.
My contribution to this work has focused on research synthesis, narrative development, and co-designing accessible tools for those navigating change across sectors. It continues to shape how I approach facilitation, systems thinking, and values-driven strategy.
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Designing global programs that explore how healing, purpose, and place intersect.
As part of The Wellbeing Project, I supported the development and facilitation of the Ecological Belonging Initiative—a cross-continental program examining how people reconnect to themselves, others, and the planet through storytelling, reflection, and systems-informed practice. My work spanned content design, communications strategy, and multi-site coordination with partners across four continents.
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Curriculum redesign centering LGBTQ+ youth voices in inclusive sex education.
In partnership with FreeState Justice youth focus groups, and One Love, I led the participatory design process to reimagine sex and healthy relationshps education through a lens of equity, inclusion, and wellbeing. This work included research synthesis, workshop design, and developing narrative tools to uplift youth experience and influence statewide policy conversations.
One Love distributed this curriculum nationally to more than 100+ schools in their corresponding programs.
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Collaborating on youth employment and life skills innovation in Rwanda.
With Akazi Kanoze Access, I contributed to research and communications for programs focused on youth livelihoods, workforce readiness, and gender equity. My work included synthesizing programmatic learnings, co-creating storytelling assets with Rwandan partners, and supporting organizational narrative strategy for greater global visibility and impact.
Media & Publications
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The Journey Framework
Georgetown University Red House
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Transforming Higher Education: Building Trauma-Informed Communities for Healing and Intergenerational Wellbeing
The ADVANCE OSU Journal - Vol. 5, Issue 1, 2024
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“Ecological Belonging: Weaving People, Purpose and Planet”
Network of Wellbeing
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Why It’s Easier to Joke About the Apocalypse Than Imagine a Better Community
Timeleft
Collaboration Testimony
Shawn Westcott - Special Initiatives and Projects Lead at The Wellbeing Project (Ecological Belonging Lead) - Stockholm, Sweden
“I had the pleasure of managing Kate in a global NGO. She was part of a team that was developing a new global program focused on wellbeing, belonging, and deep ecology. The challenges of starting a new program bring lots of emergent factors that require flexibility, creativity, and a deep ability to make sense of many elements in order to develop something worthwhile for the public. The work involved stakeholders and partners from around the globe, and Kate was an invaluable member of the team. Smart, thoughtful, empathetic, and diligent, Kate was able to take complex and varied ideas and thoughtfully structure them in a way that was extremely valuable and helpful to our efforts. She's a very intelligent and structured person who was able to work with minimal supervision but with high quality results. Plus she was a wonderful person to have on the team simply because she's such a great person. I highly recommend Kate and trust she will do great things in her career and to the benefit of society.”
