Description
THE ROOT OF US
This opportunity is ideal for those interested in the intersection of social work and public education K - 12. Appropriate for all levels for students who want to learn, practice and serve in these areas;
Racial Healing and Social Justice rooted in trauma informed, healing-centered practices; specializes in Racial Equity, Identity Development, Anti-Racism/Anti-Blackness Education, with a focus on Black and Brown Youth Advocacy and Empowerment, committed to building strong communities of practice.
BIO:
Fernell Miller, Founder and CEO of The Root Of Us, has intentionally built a framework of radical, liberatory practices where vulnerability, love, truth, personal and collective power, mutuality, respect, and healing are consistently modeled, firmly held, and always provide a soft place to land. She is instrumental in developing and maintaining this environment and the level at which both youth and adults engage. Fernell’s work as an educator, spanning 40 years, carries deep community trust, especially with Black and Brown families and students of color.
“I had to create brave spaces where I could show up authentically, in all my identities, without apology or permission for why I needed spaces that reflect the true history of Black people—by lifting up our brilliance, beauty, and the resilience of Black humanity, which represent who I am and how I want to show up in the world.” – Fernell Miller
The Root Of Us, an Equity and Inclusion Consultancy that collaborates with Educational, Governmental, and Nonprofits Organizations in service of Racial Healing and Social Justice rooted in trauma informed, healing-centered practices; specializes in Racial Equity, Identity Development, Anti-Racism/Anti-Blackness Education, with a focus on Black and Brown Youth Advocacy and Empowerment, committed to building strong communities of practice.
By seeking authentic relationships through conversations, consultations, circles, classes and conferences, we learn the history of injustice in this country, how injustice is maintained through individuals, culture, and institutions, and the strategies, skills and tools to disrupt this. Our goal is to educate, empower and uplift individuals and communities, one root at a time.
Knowing ourselves, digging up our roots, is the first step in building strong diverse, equitable and inclusive communities of practice. From this ground work comes the knowledge needed to build strong, resilient, multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational teams, organizations, and communities - the sturdy trunk. It is there where we branch out to include others, always working towards the establishment of a just society. Roots, trunk, branches.
Thank you for your interest - I'm rooting for you!
Fernell
Micro
At Root of Us, our core focus is healing—restoring our collective humanity through culturally-grounded, trauma-informed racial justice practices. We prioritize interpersonal principles such as transparency, vulnerability, authentic connection, and community building to support meaningful transformation. These micro-level interventions directly foster anti-racist and equity-oriented interactions within K-12 classrooms, higher education settings, and organizational leadership contexts.
Mezzo
Our primary method is Circle practice, deeply informed by African and Indigenous cultural traditions. Through Circle, practitioners develop essential group competencies including active listening, reflective engagement, effective redirection, authentic modeling, skilled facilitation, and compassionate mirroring. This mezzo-level work supports the creation of inclusive environments and group dynamics that enhance racial justice initiatives across educational institutions and leadership teams, promoting anti-racist practices and equitable outcomes.
Macro
The Root of Us is a founding partner of The Racial Healing Project (TRHP), a collaborative initiative dedicated to systemic change through racial healing, advocacy, and education. At the macro-level, our partnership actively engages in policy advocacy, curriculum reform, and leadership development aimed at dismantling structural racism and embedding equity-focused practices within K-12 education systems, higher education institutions, and organizational leadership structures.
Additional Perks or Funding
Perks are flexibility, 1:1 mentoring and coaching.
Required Experience
Experience around organizing, supporting, and/or working with Black, Brown, and/or Indigenous communities of of all genders and sexualities.
Required/Preferred Languages
English preferred
How to Apply
Contact: Fernell Miller
Email: info@therootofus.com
