Founder & Managing Principal, Chicago Illinois

Shaniece Alexander is a systems change agent and social justice strategist focused on advancing cultural and institutional transformation. She uses an intersectional, cross-sector approach to tackle systemic issues like racism, poverty, and incarceration, particularly impacting people of color and low-income communities. Her career spans government, non-profit, and private sectors, with experience in both direct service and executive leadership.

With expertise in community health, workforce development, youth programming, policy development, and more, she works to create equitable programs and policies through coalition building, community engagement, and strategic planning. Shaniece holds advanced degrees in social work and behavioral sciences and is based in Chicago.

Founder & Principal

Patrick Brown is an artist, advocate and facilitator focused on organizational transformation. Through a national network of partnerships, he has created a body of work that includes equity coaching, transformative leadership, systems change strategy mapping and more. Patrick’s approach is open-hearted and joyful based on healing through rigorous individual work.

As a queer Black man moving through the world he often draws from his own experiences influenced by teachings of the Buddha and Dharma, Black Feminist Theory and somatic practices. Patrick was born into a lineage of union and faith-based organizers on the south side of Chicago. His background in workforce development focused on creating opportunities for the formerly incarcerated and women in non-traditional sectors.

He left that work for Oakland to better understand the process of transformation. Since arriving in 2011, Patrick has had the fortune to work with powerful partners in creating change. They include but are not limited to: the California Congressional Black Caucus, PolicyLink, The Justice Collective, Museum of African Diaspora, Whole Foods, The United Way Worldwide, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, PeRitual Coffee’s Institute for Undoing Racism, East Side Arts Alliance, The California Endowment, Urban Habitat, Othering and Belonging conference and more.

Patrick lives in Oakland, California. In his free time, Patrick enjoys beekeeping, growing food, connecting with nature and the deepest Chicago House music.

Founder & Principal

Rachael A. Tanner has dedicated her life to generating positive social change.  A passion for leadership development in tandem with strategic thinking undergirds her work.  Rachael is committed to developing strong systems and leaders that support institutions and organizations. United through these institutions, we create positive change.

Rachael previously served as the Assistant Director of Planning & Development Services for the City of Palo Alto, assuming this leadership role in June 2019. She has served local governments since 2013; serving the City and County of San Francisco (2016-2018) and the City of Long Beach (2013-2016). In the late 2000’s, Rachael served as Executive Director of Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community (ISAAC), a community-based organization in Kalamazoo, Michigan. There she learned how to organize, build winning coalitions for policy change, and hold the government accountable to implementing successful programs.

She earned her Political Science Bachelor’s Degree with minors in Spanish and also Urban Studies from the University of Michigan. Rachael earned her Master’s in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She focused on Housing, Community, Economic Development. Rachael is also a certified and practicing life and leadership coach.

Rachael lives in San Francisco. In her free time, she serves as a member of the San Francisco Planning Commission and officiates weddings through her business Officially Hitched and explores the peaks and valleys of California.