Our Team

Richarda (she/her) is a social impact consultant with a background in conservation, sustainable agriculture, health equity and community organizing. She has a constant and deep curiosity about systems and structures, and believes that in order to experience different outcomes, we need to change the tools and approaches we are using. Richarda has centered a systems-change approach in the work she has done as a non-profit leader for more than 20 years with organizations such as the Northern Forest Alliance, the Land Stewardship Project, and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. Most recently, she was the Deputy Director of the Vermont River Conservancy, where she enjoyed planning inclusive access to spaces along Vermont’s rivers, and led the state-wide Face the River campaign to connect people across all lived experiences to the rivers that flow through their cities and town centers. Richarda is also a personal trainer, competitive runner, mom to three active teenagers, and a poetry enthusiast.

Kristin (she/free) is a social change leader, with a focus on the intersection of personal, social and ecological healing and transformation.

She consults on strategy, programs, equity and organizational development for nonprofits, foundations, social and land-based enterprises. In addition to serving as a Senior Fellow for Center for Whole Communities, Kristin recently earned a Certificate in Spirituality and Social Change from Pacific School of Religion, part of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Her work in the world seeks to dissolve the myth of separation – that we are separate from each other, and the earth. Kristin co-founded and was Managing Director of Green for All, working to build an inclusive green economy. She helped design FIREROCK, a musical to engage people around climate change, and has guided wilderness-based retreats for Ecology of Awakening. She has led the development and management of earth-based retreat centers, including Bell Valley Retreat and Tunitas Creek Ranch. For many years, Kristin worked as the Director of Programs at Bioneers, where she led efforts towards equitable ecological and community restoration. Kristin has stewarded the Tyler Rigg Foundation for over 20 years, where she has been a Trustee since its inception. She lives in Ramaytush Ohlone territory (San Francisco, CA) with her wife Bess.

Julian (he/him/his) is an Oakland, CA native raised in rural Northern California.

He brings years of organizing, facilitation and training experience to his role as Senior Fellow at the Center for Whole Communities. In addition to his work with CWC, he is the co-founder and Training Director for the Million Person Project, an organization which trains leaders of all stripes to harness the power of personal narrative. 

In his role at CWC, Julian utilizes story to help organizations explore their relationship and commitment to justice and equity so that they may ensure their structures, norms, practices and culture are inclusive, safe and generative for all people.

Prior to the Million Person Project Julian was a founding team member of Van Jone’s nationally renowned green economy organization Green For All. His career is fueled by a strong belief in authentic movements that are powered by people. To this end, he co-created Green For All’s College Ambassador program, which cultivates environmental leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. And launched Green For All’s Fellowship program, working to weave together and support the leadership of 135 seasoned organizers from all over the United States. 

In 2015, Julian was recognized by Huffington Post as one of “10 Leaders reshaping the Environmental Movement.” He and his Partner Heather Box were recognized as one of 16 projects to watch in 2016 by Grist, and Julian was a member of the inaugural “Grist 50” environmental change makers list. In 2019,  he co-wrote the book, “How Your Story Sets You Free,” published by Chronicle Books. He is the father to Roman, who is now walking…watch out!

Ginny McGinn (she/her) is a mother, artist, and nonprofit leader.

Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in the work of social and organizational change and in building partnerships across lines of power and privilege. Ginny has a profound interest in how change happens, from the level of individual transformation through the level of entire communities or systems, and it is this process of change that she seeks to continue to study and facilitate in her leadership at Whole Communities.

Previously, Ginny served as president of Bioneers, a national nonprofit dedicated to disseminating practical and visionary solutions for restoring Earth’s ecosystems and healing human communities. While at Bioneers she and her colleagues greatly expanded the reach of its programs by launching satellite conferences and building partnerships in cities around the country, creating access for many who would not have otherwise had it.

Cultivating practices that support whole communities (lower case intended) and bringing those practices into our daily lives is the focus of her current work. Through “Whole Thinking in Practice” we are able to stay present, make better decisions, and act on behalf of the whole as we go about our work in organizations and movements.

Ginny facilitates and consults on organizational change around the country, using the Whole Thinking Practices and the tools she and her colleagues have helped evolve at Center for Whole Communities.