Who We Are

Humanity in Practice is a small organization doing serious work.

Here’s who we are.

Humanity in Practice is a small, committed team of practitioners, scholars, and strategists working on one of the hardest problems of organizational and institutional life — how to build systems where more people can thrive, and how to make that change last.

We practice what we build. We hold each other to our values.

Our Values
In all of our interactions with each other, and in our practices, programs, and services, Humanity in Practice board members, staff, and associates strive to align with these shared values.

  • Accountability

    We hold ourselves accountable to shared expectations. We accept mistakes, we value deep apology and earnest efforts to change.

  • Collaboration

    We bring multiple perspectives and skills to decision-making, creating and problem-solving.

  • Curiosity

    We earnestly seek to learn about and understand others’ perspectives, ideas and experiences.

  • Emergence

    We understand that liberation is ongoing, and that ideas, ideologies, and artifacts must be subject to critique and change.

  • Grace

    We see each other as fully human, each with vulnerabilities and strengths, worthy of kindness and compassion.

  • Integrity

    We align our behavior at work and in public with the ILI mission and values.

  • Nonviolence

    Our behavior affirms human complexity and avoids harm to people and planet.

  • Restoration

    We seek to sustain nonviolent and productive community through restoring relationships rather than punitive practice.

  • Social Equity

    We acknowledge systemic and historic inequities and ensure access to employment and resources provided by the ILI.

  • Transparency

    Our policies, processes, and organizational documents are accessible to all ILI employees, Stewards, and supporters.

Staff

Founding Executive Director

Lucinda J. Garthwaite

  • An organizational leader, strategist, and systems change practitioner, Lucinda has always worked at the intersection of learning, leadership, and social change. She was co-founder and Lead Partner of ChangeMakers Partners, a consulting and research group focused on organizational and social change, and a senior leader at Goddard College for over twenty years, serving on the faculty and as Academic Dean, Chief Strategy Officer, and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.

    She holds a Doctorate in Leadership for Change from Fielding University, a Masters in Education from the University of New Hampshire, and an MFA in Creative writing from Goddard College. Lucinda is a Fellow of the Institute for Social Innovation at Fielding University.

    Contact Lucinda here.

Deputy Director

Christina Lee

  • Before joining Humanity In Practice Christina led departments and teams across the nonprofit sector, with particular depth in organizational development and program design. She managed complex projects and collaborative initiatives at every level of organizational life, with a consistent focus on the people doing the work and the value they bring to it.

    Outside of her role at Humanity in Practice, Christina serves as a the Board Chair of SCRAP Creative Reuse.

    She holds an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Queens College, a Master of Arts in Biology from City College of New York, and a BA in Biology from Williams College.

Senior K-12 Scholar

Shelley Vermilya

  • Shelley has taught multicultural education, race, gender, and disability studies for over twenty-five years, at Goddard College, the University of Vermont, and St. Michael’s College. She was a community facilitator with the Vermont Peace and Justice Center’s Racial Justice project, and has trained in restorative practice through the International Institute for Restorative Practices, the Insight Prison Project, STRONGHOLD, and the North Dakota Study Group.

    She holds a Doctorate in Education in Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont and an MA in History from Goddard College.

Board of Stewards

The Board of Stewards is legally responsible for ensuring the financial stability of Humanity in Practice and the alignment of its activities, structures, and policies with its mission. The board operates on the principle of shared stewardship — volunteer and staff members serve as voting co-equals.

Co-Chair

Ana Gaeta

Co-Chair & Treasurer

Melissa Gopnik

Steward

Sumeet Ajmani

Steward

Lyn Chamberlin

Steward

Kris Hege

Steward

Mark Nagasawa

Steward

Brad O’Brien

Advisors

Humanity in Practice advisors are leaders, practitioners, and thinkers in areas related to our work. They inform our research and impact agenda, and offer their experience and perspective as critical friends — with no legal or fiduciary responsibility to the organization.

Founding Donors

Humanity in Practice is grateful to our founding donors, who supported the launch of the Institute for Liberatory Innovation and made this work possible.

Anonymous, in memory of Breonna Taylor • Paul Angell • Toni Auten • Angela Baldini • Sandra Benson, in memory of Barbara Garthwaite • Lindy Biggs & Stephen Knowlton • Deborah Brevoort • Judy Bridges • ChangeMakers Partners, Inc. • Patrice Carlisle, in memory of Bob and Barbara Garthwaite • Lyn Chamberlin • Michele Clark • Julie Clemons • Jennifer Davidson & Tara Sandler • Carol Dagostino • Anna DiStefano • Ann Driscoll & Kay Cichon • Maureen Dunphy & Craig Daly • Eileen Elliott • Sharon England • George Fitzgerald • Robert and Julie Garthwaite • Kaitlin Garthwaite • Lucinda Garthwaite • Brian Gibson • Ellen Goldsmith • Kathleen Grace-Bishop • Erin Gravelle, in memory of Josh Castle • Bethe Hagens • Kristine Hege • David Henne • Robin Hummel • Lisa Jacobs • Christopher Janeway • Mark Jurentkuff • Phyllis Kaelin • Cynthia Keaveney, in memory of Jane Keaveney • Colleen Kilcoyne & Don Arnoudse • Jane Lea • Carolyn Locke • Cristina Madariaga • Julie Martin • Richard Maybury • Ron Miller • Elizabeth Minnich • Diane Green Minor • Nora Mitchell • Nicola Morris • William Moser • Robert Myers • Joy Oliver, in memory of Steve Schour • Jennifer L. Olsen • Lynn G. Olsen • Ryan W. Olsen • Chris Riddell • Yvonne Rutford • Pamela Ryan • Gunner Scott, in memory of Josh Castle • Melissa Seifert • Nicole Seligson • Kathy and Dan Sewell • Jennifer Shannon • Patricia Shepherd • Jace Sheppard • Hannah Steiman • Debra Stoleroff, in memory of Marge Grevatt • Janet Thompson • Kathryn Thompson • Monica Urquhart • Shelley Vermilya • Sandy Ward • Jan Waterman • Bruce Wickstrom • Darcy Winslow • Jane Wohl • Sylvia & Misha Yowe