"I love myself when I'm laughing, but also when I'm looking mean and fierce."
- Zora Neale Hurston

Hello. My name is Daveda. Thanks for checking me out.

In my work, I focus on bringing people and ideas together. I love to take on challenges and projects that provide me the opportunity to lift the voices and share the stories of communities that are systemically and circumstantially silenced. Usually I do this type of work as a facilitator, coach, or strategist working within communities, organizations, and leadership teams. However, I also lift the same voices and stories as an artist and author. I believe processes and products should be designed to do difficult work while ensuring everyone’s dignity and respect remain intact.
 
In 2016, I launched Soul Light, a company committed to the healing and transformation of individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Soul Light is a collaboration of soul-based entrepreneurs who work together on projects while maintaining and expanding their individual expertise in their respective fields. Before launching Soul Light, I served as an administrator, educator, and the founder and president of Nyawela Consulting in Seattle, Washington.
 
I believe in laughing loudly and talking to strangers regularly. I’m also a world traveling, dirt digging, die-hard Chicagoan with an unwavering love of sitcoms, sunsets, and ice cream.

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A totally biased history of my brilliance/luck/work...

NOW

2016

I focus on teaching people how to authentically engage communities, create collaborations, and develop soul-based leadership skills. In addition, I am thrilled to host spaces and experiences to help women of color heal and transform. Life is good!

I move to California a week before 2016 begins. It may have been the warmth of the California sun. It may have been the lack of Seattle sun (aka coffee). Either way, I rebrand and redesign Nyawela Consulting as Soul Light . It was a year of creativity and true bravery.

2010-15

2009

I work a lot.
I travel a lot.
I learn a lot.
All of this inspires me to focus on serving government agencies, sovereign nations, nonprofits, artists, socially conscious companies and clients with a clear and demonstrated commitment to heal, transform, and be a light in the world.

I make the big leap and begin working full time in Nyawela Consulting. Although I had never planned to work for myself, I want to serve the communities, causes and clients I love. It all goes well. My friends, clients and colleagues appreciate that I honor who they are and use that as a starting point for work.

2005

2001

Whoa! I get my first Fortune 500 client, a formal coaching client, and then a big foundation as a client. Hooray! That same year, a client asks me to facilitate a meeting in a hot air balloon! I loved it. And, I keep my day job.

A friend invites me to facilitate a retreat for her team. She says they need a strategic plan and asks if I can help. I say, “Sure.” Within a week, I get a business license and birth Nyawela Consulting. I keep my day job.

Education & Training Highlights

• BA in English: Writing & Language, Secondary Education certification
  
• MA in International Studies, Focus Multicultural Education

• National Endowment for the Arts recipient
  
• National Endowment for the Humanities recipient
• Department of Defense Teaching Ambassador Grant recipient

• Chopra Center Certified Primordial Sound Meditation
  
• Certified Nia instructor, Brown Belt
• Reiki Master: Level III

That's more than enough seriousness...
                            Here are a few fun facts about me.

I love the DIRT and SAND.

Here’s my true confession: I am one of those weird people who enjoys dirt and sand. I like feeling any iteration of earth in my hands or underfoot. It holds me steady and reminds me of the might and magnificence of our planet. I love gardening just as much as I love the beach. Hence, I usually have a garden and plan my vacations based on beach access and food scenes.

I love to LAUGH and CRY.

So, I laugh a lot. I’m talking mouth wide open, honest to goodness cackling, no holding back, belly-shaking joy from the root of my soul kind of laughter. I am so hilarious to myself that I often laugh myself to tears and hiccups. When I don't cry from laughter, I cry because of perfect lines of poetry, sunsets, coffee commercials and deep feelings of joy, pleasure and gratitude.

I love my PASSPORT and BOOKS.

Books and my passport have changed my life. Whether I am using my passport or reading, I love to explore the unknown and experience the new. Both have helped me to meet people and have had experiences that amplify the simple truths of our collective humanity. Both have also led to me singing the French national anthem on stage in France! It's a cool story.