who we are
what’s next now
We’re a small team of facilitators, educators, and practitioners rooted in New York City and the broader tri-state region.
More than 15 years ago, we were brought together by a shared belief: every room holds collective wisdom, immense power and untapped potential.
Since then, we’ve been cultivating the art of gathering— creating the conditions for people to listen deeply, surface what they know, engage across difference, and discover what becomes possible when wisdom is shared.
Our work has taken us into nonprofits, public agencies, community organizations, faith communities, movement spaces and cross-sector collaborations — supporting conversations and processes that help people navigate change across complex systems.
We bring different experiences, practices, and perspectives to the work, but share a common commitment:
To allow the wisdom already in the room to become visible, connected, and actionable.
Together, we bring decades of experience in facilitation, organizational learning, participatory leadership, community engagement, systems change, and the art of meaningful conversations.
And we’re still learning — from one another, from our partners, and from every room we enter.
"We never know how our small activities will affect others through the invisible fabric of our connectedness. In this exquisitely connected world, it's never a question of 'critical mass.' It's always about critical connections."
-Grace Lee Boggs
Meet the Team
Chantilly Mers, MDiv
SENIOR FACILITATOR
Pasifika Circle-Keeper, co-creating spaces and cultures for togetherness and transformation. Founder & Community Steward of The Kin-dom Collective.
Richard Rivera, MSW
SENIOR FACILITATOR
Renew & Redesign Consulting, Organizational Coach, Facilitator, strategist, leadership developer, and drummer co-creating a world where we all heal together.
Kelly McGowan, MPA
SENIOR FACILITATOR
Harm reduction fan, queer farmer and emergent strategist co-creating spaces where every-body’s wisdom is activated. www.goingupstream.net
Our Collaborators

