About Us
Our mission is to empower individuals and organizations to create more equitable, inclusive, and just communities through the power of communication. We believe that equity and inclusion require ongoing learning and development, which is why we offer a range of training programs and resources designed to help our clients build their skills and knowledge over time. By leveraging the latest research and best practices in communication and antiracism, we help our clients to become more effective advocates for change, and to build more equitable and just communities for all.
Meet the Consultants
Dr. Yea-Wen Chen is a Professor in the School of Communication at San Diego State University. Dr. Chen was born and raised in Taiwan , contributing to her lens of intercultural communication.
Dr. Brandi Lawless is a Professor in Communication Studies at the University of San Francisco. She is an award winning instructor and researcher.
Our Services
DEI Workshops
Engage topics like microaggressions, antiracism, and identity among group members
Train the Trainers
Explore innovative pedagogies to help with innovative leadership
Formative Research
Participate in formative research evaluation of training materials and organizational dynamics
Topics we cover
- Microaggressions
- Antiracism
- Conflict Mediation
- Community Building
- Emotional Labor
- Organizational Culture
- Cultural Identities
- Intercultural Communication
- Critical Pedagogy
Why Choose Us
We represent an intercultural alliance and lead by example
We have experience in corporate, nonprofit, and higher ed settings
Our communication approach improves organizational climate
Our Clients
Awards and Grants
BRANDI LAWLESS
Distinguished Research Award, University of San Francisco, 2023
Community Engaged Learning Faculty Award, University of San Francisco, 2023
Distinguished Teaching Award, Western States Communication Association, 2023
Donald H. Ecroyd Award for Outstanding Teaching in Higher Education, National Communication Association, 2022
YEA-WEN CHEN
Advancing the Discipline Grant, National Communication Association, 2022
Waterhouse Family Institute Research Grant, 2021
Exemplary Teacher Award, Communication and Instruction Interest Group, Western States Communication Association, February 2020
Organization for Research on Women and Communication Research Development Grant, 2021
Together we have received over 30 top paper awards from regional, national, and international research associations!
Selected Publications
Lawless, B., & Chen, Y-W. (2021). Teaching Social Justice: Critical Tools for the Intercultural Communication Classroom. Rowman and Littlefield.
Chen, Y-W., & Lawless, B. (2019). Teaching critical moments within neoliberal universities: Exploring critical intercultural communication pedagogy. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 48(5), 553-573. doi:10.1080/17475759.2019.1683056
Lawless, B., & Chen, Y-W. (2019). “You have to cry before you teach this class”: Emotion with work and resistance in teaching intercultural communication. Journal of Communication Pedagogy, 2, 63-75. doi:10.31446/JCP.2019.14
Chen, Y-W., & Lawless, B. (2018). “Rethinking ‘difficult’ conversations in communication instruction from an intercultural lens: Pedagogical strategies for ‘SWAP-ping’ the communication classroom.” Communication Studies, 69(4), 372-388. doi:10.1080/10510974.2018.1472117
Lawless, B. (2018). Documenting a labor of love: Emotional labor as academic labor. Review of Communication, 18(2), 85-97. doi:10.1080/15358593.2018.1438644
Get in touch!
Find out how we can help you accomplish your goals
PHONE 805-720-8085
