Desiree Adaway

Desiree Adaway is a seasoned nonprofit consultant and facilitator, and founder of The Adaway Group. She is known by staff, senior leadership, peers, and partners as being great at open, honest, and productive conversations. She is not afraid of addressing anything that gets in the way of great work. Her style is positive, approachable, engaging, service-oriented and audience-centered.

In her own words…

It is not enough to focus on diversity. We have to focus on creating inclusive and equitable organizations.

My work over the past few years has been focused on helping institutions—to create more welcoming and supportive work environments for everyone, especially people of color, women, and, more recently, those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ++), and disability communities.

A truly inclusive organization – an organization that welcomes, respects, supports, and values diversity within the organization – invests in programs that build relationships with diverse communities, develops and empowers diverse leadership, invests in staff and community development, through knowledge and action, systematically changes the culture of the organization so that all individuals and groups are encouraged to fully participate.

Desiree is also the creator of the Dear Sister (not just cister) card deck with art work by Tzaddi Gordon, prompts for self-reflection and journaling.