Testimonials
What People Are Saying About Itzel
Itzel is an absolute delight to work with. She is joyful, kind, wise, and genuinely caring.
Francesca G.
Itzel’s trainings are helpful and most of all informative.
Daniel A.
If you want to live a happier life, work with Itzel. Point blank. She will help you love yourself more, love those around you more, love your life. She possesses the rare combination of wisdom, compassion, and patience, which allows her to take people on a journey to love without giving up on them. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Heather A.
Itzel listens and understands where each person is coming from from, where they are at the present, and where they want to go in the future... and guides each of us in our journeys.
Brenda A.
Five stars for Attuned Living. Learning to live in love again is fantastic.
Michelle S.
I highly recommend Itzel. She will help you on your journey. She helped me.
Anthony R.
Itzel feels like a much needed partner in the business of life. I am continuing to work with her, and I can't praise her highly enough.
Manuella H.
Itzel’s love for the world that can be—the one that has the potential to be at its best when it is filled by people striving to be their best—really comes through and creates very effective coaching that can impact me in ways both pragmatic and sublime.
Martin L.
She brings out the best in me; and in turn, I shine brighter in the world as a direct result of working with Itzel.
Christopher S.
Praise for “Responding to Everyday Racism”
The Series was challenging and made me think and work on myself, instead of just keeping it on the intellectual level with superficial exercises that happen in a lot of workshops about having difficult conversations or talking about race. Itzel and Kathy created a space where we could go into the mind of someone saying racist things and into our own mind as we were hearing it, slow down enough to really understand what was happening, and respond from the best part of ourselves. They also made it clear that the whole point is to make this world safer for Black people. It was powerful and real, so thank you Itzel and Kathy for your work!
— KW, Bay Area
Absolutely everyone interested in living a rich life filled with love, relationships and worthwhile conversations should take this course. Beyond the focus on how to foster anti-racism conversations with empathy and compassion, the communication skills gained in this delightfully enlightening series will uplevel all interpersonal exchanges. I loved how Itzel and Kathy role played with humor and vulnerability so that we could feel comfortable doing the same and diving deeper with our coursemates. Working in a community-forward anti-racist organization, I'm planning on having this course be required training for my entire team.
Heather Anderson, Founder, The Mamahood
You need skills to do anything well. To be an ally and advocate for social change and social justice you need to learn these skills and practice them in a safe space. This program is IT.
Jane West Walsh, EdD Baltimore, MD
Challenging but worthwhile process. I learned something about myself and how to interact with others, not only in regard to issues of racism but communication in general.
As we look at the state of our country today with it's vastly divided opinions, Kathy and Itzel provide the framework and tools for beginning to connect from the heart with people whose views differ from our own.
J.C. retired manager, El Cerrito, CA
This is such a great workshop series--Kathy and Itzel taught us ways to be comfortable with conversations that can be disconcerting!
Patrice Priya Wagner
Exactly what I need and what is needed now to be an activist woman in this world who responds to the needs of myself and others including all the children of the world. You give me hope; your teachings make room in my heart for the esperanza we all need to carry as we move forward, as we continue to take the steps into a loving future. Thank you so much.
Miyo Stevens
In this era of division and polarization, learning the technique of NVC is such a valuable skill. I highly recommend it to everyone.
CSR, Educator, Newton, MA
Kathy and Itzel are an amazing duo in facilitating learning about NVC and embracing an empowered stance to confront racism in our communities, relationships, and work world.
Miriam, Cincinnati
This series helped me build my courage to continue difficult conversations with other white people. The steps offered by Itzel and Kathy are easy to follow and there is a lot of encouragement to stay engaged in triggering situations.
This course really helped me further investigate my own approach to conversations that hold opposing perspectives and offered some very practical approaches to how to navigate them more effectively.
This series was transformative - a rewiring of my approach to difficult conversations that aligns with my desire to stay open and connected.
RH, Philanthropy, Seattle, Washington
I felt empowered and encouraged to change the habits of my communication to be more effective.
JS
This is a wonderful introduction to Non Violent Communication. The instructors and sessions are engaging and blend lecture, role play and participant practice in a short well paced hour long time frame. The course left me with a desire for more and positive feeling that this is something I can do to make a meaningful contribution.
Christine Gilbertson, Canada
I've discovered that the centering of connection and being in relationship with one another is the only way we can move the work of anti-racism forward. If we don't take the time to discover what connects us to one another, then we can never engage in the deeper, more meaningful work of social justice.
Elizabeth, University Professor
First George Floyd. The horror of those 8 minutes and 47 seconds were my epiphany. How could I have had my head in the sand for so long? I had just read the quote, “When black people are in pain, white people just join book groups”, and I had just joined a BLM focused book group thinking I needed to understand the situation better. And, also, what else could I do?. Then your email showed up. To start with, the name intrigued me. I started with NVC about twenty years ago. I thought this class might have answers for me and so it did. As an older white suburban woman, I couldn’t figure out how to make a difference and this class showed me a path. I can start change within my circle of white suburban women. It really does seem like the mustard seed that moves mountains. It is a place to begin and to make a difference, perhaps starting slowly, but moving powerfully. The time for change is long overdue, and this course series was the catalyst to move me from horror to positive action. Thank you, Itzel and Kathy.
I found this course with Kathy and Itzel to be so helpful and especially during this time of such division in our country.. I can see the power of deeply listening to the other person before attempting to express our beliefs...
L.S.
This class expanded my way of thinking and communicating. It was the perfect mix of thought-provoking content, repetition, and practice to make sure that we took away real skills. Each workshop really challenged me to grow, and at the same time, was enjoyable and something I looked forward to. Kathy and Itzel complement each other beautifully. Their energy and loving intent is contagious. Amazingly, Kathy and Itzel have created a safe and enjoyable space for people to really challenge themselves and grow.
Robin Rounaghi, parent / attorney, Laguna Beach
Kathy and Itzel are excellent teachers: thoughtful, passionate and full of helpful, practical skills to navigate difference. I highly recommend their program.
Claudia Bernard, Mediator/Trainer, Oakland, CA
This training helped me gain skills to have the many hard conversations that we need to have right now. It showed me a path toward standing up for what I feel is right and the courage to hope for common understanding.
Martin, Portland, OR
I'd highly recommend this opportunity to practice NVC in highly charged conversations. The fellowship with kindred spirits was also wonderful.
Julie, marketing professional, South Dakota
You can trust Kathy and Itzel to lead you through a magnificent workshop with skill and grace. At the end you will leave with the tools to help you stay connected and curious about your fellow citizens, as well as connected to self, during difficult conversations about race.
Itzel and Kathy have such an accessible style of non-violent communication. I appreciate that they always demonstrate a calm and thoughtful demeanor that one can emulate in their own practice.
Kiyomi Kowalski, Anti-Racism Educator, Los Angeles
A good start on the road of mindful, compassionate, and assertive communication about issues of racial injustice.
Tom C
The tools I learned in the NVC series has transformed not only my thinking, but my ability to be authentic and attuned in my relationships (at work, at home, in my communities). Practical applications and the spacing of sessions on a weekly basis allows for participants to truly digest and test-out new practices in their lived realities.
Itzel and Kathy provide an opportunity to learn communication skills allowing for discussion of difficult topics with others who do not share one's perspective, in a way that allows for practice and learning effectively. It is about loving listening and speaking. Thank you!
This course has the potential to change the world! Kathy and Itzel were wonderful with teaching, role modeling, and supporting everyone's learning. I am walking away confident in having difficult and worthwhile conversations that can potentially lead to compassion and understanding on both sides of the aisle.