Meet Aja
Aja (she/her/ella) is a consultant and facilitator; she is also an experienced executive leader who has worked in both programs and operations. Aja is a queer, abolitionist, and anti-racist, and as well as a partner and teammate, a lifelong athlete, and a strategic thinker who is inordinately passionate about GoogleDocs. When working on projects and with colleagues, she loves moving between big picture thinking and operational details with an ethic of courage and excellence. After growing up in Maine, Aja has since called New York City and Austin home, with short stints living in Western Massachusetts, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
Aja has spent over 20 years working with survivors of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and with those who use violence, with extensive work at the intersection of those experiences. Recognized for her transformative management, coaching, and team building skill, she loves assessing and improving organizational structures and systems. A decade playing internationally competitive roller derby, and leading teams in that environment, informs her approach. Aja grounds herself in values of justice and connection, especially when facing uncertainty and difficult decisions. She is a Human Resources Professional (PHR) and Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, and she is currently working toward her ICF Certification as a professional coach.
Aja has her MFA in Forensic Psychology from the CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts from Hampshire College. Aja’s approach is heavily informed by the thoughts, actions, and writing of: Angela Davis, bell hooks, Karyn Purvis, Mariame Kaba, adrienne maree brown, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Brené Brown, and Tema Okun. The quote that most centers her in this work is by Angela Davis: “Radical simply means grasping things at the root.”
HOW WE COLLABORATE
HOW WE COLLABORATE
M&L always approaches projects with a commitment to the pursuit of equity–particularly racial justice–and liberated workplace cultures. We know that in order to deliver on your goals with energy, innovation, and excellence, team members need to be and feel seen, heard, valued, safe, and understood.
Occasionally, we will also invite partners from our network to join us on projects in order to fill out expertise area needs and/or to enhance the connection with our clients. Operating within a network of experienced nonprofit consultants, M&L has the ability to bring in additional experts in group dynamics, human resources, legal needs, management best practices, and transformative accountability practices. We provide an emphasis on infusing leadership and teamwork with race equity, cultural responsiveness, and respectful communication.
We thrive when co-creating with individuals and teams to enhance collaboration and culture, develop leadership skills, repair past harms, and to intentionally hold spaces of authenticity and belonging with those in need of support. Within our network of consultants, we have conducted numerous transformational trainings and workshops, supported nonprofits of all sizes and in many issue areas, and led change management efforts. We utilize breakout sessions in affinity groups that center staff members who belong to historically marginalized or oppressed groups.