Who We Are
Created by a culture rooted in social justice, Collective Roots, LLC strives to prepare community-based organizations and front-line staff with the tools and education needed to advocate for the most vulnerable and under-served communities.
Our work provides corporations with the knowledge and expertise to examine their practices, policies, and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion within their culture.
Mission, Vision & DEIB Statement
Collective Roots is committed to amplifying the voices of under-resourced communities. We stand arm and arm with our partners to push the narrative of social justice while disrupting systems of inequality. Our mission is to help organizations examine internal bias and reset accountability. Our vision is to create a world where humans have the love, support, and resources they need to live and thrive.
We believe diversity is all-encompassing,
We celebrate the beauty in all people,
We treasure your unique qualities, those seen and unseen,
We understand that DEI is the cornerstone of understanding for all humans,
We are committed to meeting community members at the intersection of acceptance and equality.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
ENGAGED
Services we offer include:
Ariesha Geier, Founder
Meet our team
Ariesha has worked in the human service and social work fields for over 25 years. Focusing on social service structures, community resources, and the strengthening of the family system has outlined Ariesha’s career and allowed her to live out loud her passion for helping others. Ariesha’s commitment to community, families, and children led to the start of the organization Collective Roots, LLC. The organization was created by a culture rooted in social justice and aims to assist organizations in focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in service delivery, and programming. Collective Roots strives to prepare organizations and their staff with the tools and education needed to advocate for the most vulnerable and under-served communities. Ariesha holds a BA in Psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia and a Master of Science degree in Human Service Management from Springfield College in Springfield, MA.
Zuri Stone, Director of Marketing and Communications
Meet our team
Zuri Stone is a change agent and community healing facilitator specializing in Restorative Practices. For more than a decade, her work has been centered in empathy and fueled by a passion for community empowerment, authentic relationship building, and social justice. Over the course of her career, Zuri’s leadership and direct service have positively impacted the climate and culture of schools, nonprofit organizations, and corporations. As a Restorative Practices trainer, Zuri supports organizational teams in the intentional transformation of their perceptions, communication, and group dynamics. Zuri received a BS and MS in Criminal Justice from West Chester University with a focus on Juvenile Justice and Psychology. When she is not designing and facilitating trainings, publicly speaking, or directing programming, Zuri leverages her expertise to support social-impact initiatives that specifically empower marginalized communities. Zuri strongly believes that through the use of Restorative Practices, we can create safe spaces that encourage us all to learn and grow.
Katina Williams, Human Resource and Policy Specialist
Meet our team
Katina owns HR Methods, which helps employers create and promote adherence to employment laws and employee engagement strategies. Before starting a human resources business, Katina gained over 15 years of expertise in the human resources field, concentrating on leave of absence administration and absence management. Katina is driven by her understanding of the interplay between FMLA, ADA, WC, and other state leave laws and the importance of employers building on their knowledge and education of such laws. She feels that continued education and training are the keys to her success, which supports why she currently holds a designation as an Associate Disability Management Specialist and her current course work in Human Resources Management from Drexel Goodwin College of Professional Studies.
Arial Goodwin, Facilitator
Meet our team
Ariel Goodwin is a Verbal Liberator and Revolutionary Catalyst, who revolutionizes the way people think by leading thought-provoking conversations that dismantle oppressive narratives and create healthy spaces of advocacy and continuity. She has joyfully spent the entirety of her career serving marginalized communities through the sector of education- and other education-based non-profits- as an educator, leader, strategist, and creator.
Ariel’s personal dedication to service is facilitating healing spaces in which people are able to reconnect deeply to themselves through realization, affirmation, education, wisdom, and love. She believes that love is the highest act of revolution and has based her entire existence upon it.
It is Ariel’s belief that we all have a contribution to offer in this life and we must hold ourselves accountable to the fulfillment of our individual destiny.
“Continuity does not happen automatically, nor is it a passive process”. - Audre Lorde
Hilary Maggio, Facilitator
Meet our team
Hilary Maggio is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) with over 15 years of experience in trauma-informed care and youth development. Hilary received her B.A. in Urban Studies and Sociology from Temple University in 2009, and returned to Temple for graduate school where she received her Master's Degree in Social Work in 2015. While in graduate school, Hilary focused on clinical social work, with a particular concentration on health and mental health in communities impacted by mass incarceration. She currently works as the Community Resource Specialist for an after-school program in Philadelphia where she supports the holistic well-being of families in crisis. Prior to her current position, Hilary worked in several alternative education programs as well as outpatient mental health and substance abuse settings.
Paul Luong, Facilitator
Meet our team
Paul Luong is an experienced data consultant working in the non-profit sectors of PA. In over 20 years of his career, Paul has collaborated with the PA Department of Health in the design of their epidemiological data tracking system, assisted the US Department of Labor in the design of their workforce development program data reporting system, and is also one of the architects of a local school data system. Paul excels in program evaluation, data analysis, and fine-tuning operation processes. He currently works as the Grants and Data Manager at a charter school in Philadelphia and uses his expertise to coach other local schools in their data practices. Paul holds an MS in Information Systems from Drexel University.
Tyrina Lassiter, Executive Assistant
Meet our team
Tyrina is a professional fueled by her passion for helping others accomplish their goals. Her 16-year career in the mortgage industry and experience as a program administrative assistant taught Tyrina the importance of coaching, planning, and communication. Tyrina’s commitment to helping others and her coaching, planning, and communication expertise led her to start T. Lassiter Services.
At T. Lassiter Services, Tyrina can live out loud her desire to help others; she provides career coaching to individuals, including resume writing and interview preparation. Tyrina holds a B.S in Communications with a minor in Technology from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.