R'Yana Michele

United States of America

About Me

R’Yana Michele (she/they) is a black southern community development strategist and culture professional working to imagine and design earth and people centric ecosystems. She holds a BA in Psychology with a focus in human development from the University of North Texas and a M.Ed. in Community Development and Action from Vanderbilt University. They bring over 12 years of experience equipping organizers and communities to build power and dignity. As a skilled group facilitator, she creates containers that edify authenticity, home, and belonging. Her primary interests lie in holistic and relational health, popular education, and cultural organizing. Over the last 10 years, she has provided facilitation and project management to various innovative grassroots groups, networks, and member based organizations shifting economic, environmental, and cultural change. They have a particular passion for developing community and cultural interventions that transform the material conditions of Black communities. She has activated this desire in a variety of roles, including grief and trauma specialist, popular educator, community organizer, southern regional organizer, webinar host, organizational consultant and founding member of multiple Nashville black led organizations. R’Yana seeks to increase positive and healing organizing experiences through 1) finding cultural solutions to problems that traditionally neglected and unsupported communities face, 2) cultivating environments for joy and connection, and 3) excavating powerful but untold stories to facilitate healing.

Overview