Step into the world of transformative conversations with Dominique Samari, a visionary strategist, coach, and facilitator. Join us as we explore her journey from criminal defense attorney to fostering equitable and inclusive change through P3, the organization she co-founded.

Delving into the heart of racial segregation, Dominique's Belonging Project unveiled stories of how individuals create connections in divided communities. This led to the birth of Kin Universe, an innovative online platform, which revolutionizes dialogue. Users are thoughtfully matched based on personality traits, communication styles, and interests. Through six transformative conversations, they journey toward vulnerability and empathy.

Dominique's platform tackles tough conversations, especially regarding race. By connecting people with diverse backgrounds, Kin Universe sparks growth and understanding. This methodology is supported by University of Washington research and is finding its way into organizational equity and inclusion initiatives. Tune in to discover how Dominique's personal journey and innate gifts have culminated in her mission of fostering belonging, one conversation at a time.

Episode Highlights:

08:07 - It's an online platform that connects people across race for conversations with the idea that, very similar to my experience in Afghanistan, we need to be in relationships to have the very difficult conversations.

11:06 - The only two rules really are that you follow the discussion guides and that you don't talk about race or race-related matters across the first five conversations. By the fifth conversation, we are hoping that you have enough of a relationship where you can then talk about race.

12:54 - You have to know that going in, that that's exactly how you're going to feel. We are humans and being uncomfortable, whether that's physically or emotionally or mentally, if there's dissonance, we don't run towards these things. We just don't. I think in order to overcome most of the challenges that we're facing in our everyday world right now, most of the challenges that my colleagues and partners in these organizations that we work with are trying to face, that we have to get comfortable with some level of discomfort. It's what it requires.

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Bio:

Dominique Samari is an experienced strategist, coach and facilitator who helps organizations build and sustain equitable and inclusive change. A naturally empathetic leader, Samari specializes in supporting leaders as they navigate difficult and complex change.

Samari began her career as a criminal defense attorney and a City of Milwaukee criminal court commissioner. She transitioned from the practice of law to international development, serving in key management positions for the U.S. Department of State’s Rule of Law Program in Afghanistan. There, she designed and implemented culturally-relevant strategies and training opportunities for over 2,000 Afghan criminal justice professionals.

Samari is also the creator of the Belonging Project, a year-long exploration into how individuals create a sense of belonging across differences. Informed and inspired by data from the Belonging Project, she subsequently developed Kin Universe, an online platform designed to authentically connect individuals across real and perceived differences.