Our Team

Kerensa Mabwa, Abaluhya (she/her/hers) is a community builder, facilitator and organizational consultant. Blending social justice and systems thinking, imagination and the gifts of the natural world, she assists people to navigate liminal spaces and expand their healing potential. Kerensa combines cross-cultural and dialogue circles with inquiry, socio-emotional wisdom and expressive arts to help groups transform and grow. She supports individuals to identify barriers, heal trauma patterning and co-create a more joyful, illuminated, and connected life.

Kerensa is passionate about youth and families, her indigenous and immigrant ancestors and decolonizing the land. She advocates that people most impacted by systematic oppression are often the ones with the least opportunity and the most knowledge about beneficial solutions. With 20 years of serving people on the margins, Kerensa strives to leverage her tools to support grassroots leadership, especially among groups with lived experience. She has over 17 years of experience in the nonprofit world from parenting, child welfare and affordable housing; to project evaluation, management, fundraising and community engagement. With her international background and passion for inspiring cross-cultural learning, much of her past work has been spent helping people to live successful and sustainable lives through empowerment and inclusivity. She has 6 years of experience as an organizational consultant.

Kerensa is a Usui Reiki Master, and is a certified practitioner in both Dar’Shem Healing and Reiki for Sacred Childbirth. She lives with her family with deep gratitude in Olympia WA, on the ancestral and current lands of the Salish peoples, including the Squaxin, Nisqually, Chehalis and other nations. On the weekend, you might find her immersed in her garden, having a spontaneous dance party or hiking with her family.

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