Praise is Good

What people are saying.

  • "I am so grateful that Monique gave us her time and gifted us this guided meditation today. She is a natural (even just the softness of her voice and the ease of her instruction were enough to bring me instant calm). The visualizations were wonderful and the soundscape really allowed for space to ease those constant thoughts. I believe moments like this are truly necessary for everyone and would be such a wonderful addition to the community. Thank you so much again!!"

    — Quote Source

  • "Thank you for your motherhood workshop yesterday! I was really having a day with my 13 month old but I was still able to tune in and take in what you and the participants brought - which were honest insights and support. I lived in Germany for almost 3 years so I saw how birthing people could and should be supported. Honestly when I had my first child, I almost felt betrayed. So thank you again for starting this conversation and I can’t wait for part 2. Your thoughts, advice, straight talk, and compassion always brighten my day and make me think."

    — Katie Rombauer

  • "Working with Monique has been life changing. Before starting this work I had no concept of the depth of how white supremacy impacts all of us, and to approach healing with an anti racism framework has been the biggest turning point in my personal growth. Nobody is liberated until we are all liberated. I’m so grateful to Monique for provide such a safe space unpack my own racism and fragility (trust me, if you’re white, you’ve got it) and for being such a light in my life and on my healing journey."

    –Maia Mitchell

    1-1 Coaching

  • "I was just thinking today about how the community you've created is such a gift to the world and I wish more folks would receive it!!! Every community activity I have participated in has given me knowledge and joy...about the world, myself, humanity...l'm so grateful to be in this community"

    Lauren Tavares-Mulhern

    Reclaim Program

  • "I have just finished the Shine Box and I am very satisfied. I leave this course with an actual toolbox: questions that I can reflect on to make sure I am prepared to tackle the immense task of working on antiracism on a daily basis, and steps I can begin to implement in my day-to-day life to start having the difficult conversations with myself and people around me. I feel more confident, and hopeful. Thank you!"

    –Ariane Arghyris

    UOC/Shine Box

  • "Comment: All of Monique’s classes are fantastic; she is a compassionate educator who designs lessons that are accessible, easy to understand, challenging in that they encourage you to be honest with yourself, and and convicting (in the best way). I get something out of every lesson, whether it’s my first time taking it or my second or third time rewatching the video, reading the materials, or reviewing my notes. I highly recommend her work and encourage everyone to take a class."

    –Austen Weathersby

    Shine Class: Black Liberation!

  • "Working with Monique has helped me unlock parts of myself that I’ve felt disconnected to for years. The sessions I feel like I have the least to contribute to end of being the most transformative and fruitful thanks to all she brings to the table and the work we get to do together. I feel challenged in all the right ways and am grateful for the healer and teacher that she is."

    –Mandy Moore

    1-1 Coaching

  • "Monique's facilitation and coaching is an incredible example of loving accountability - I feel called in, but I never feel shamed. I feel held to account but never guilted - working with Monique is collaborative and spacious. We work together on what can feel like a ball of yarn, and we figure out which strands to pull on in order to support growth, accountability, and, ultimately, Black liberation. I'm excited to continue working with Monique, and I urge any other white folks who are interested in 'walking the talk' to invest in Monique's work!"

    –Genevieve Smith

    UOC/Shine Box

  • "I have so much graditude in my heart for you and the Unity Over Comfort program you created. Thank you for all of the time, effort, energy, and more that you have put into creating and facilitating this program. I had taken some of your shine classes in 2020 and then when I saw the invite to Unity Over Comfort, I knew it was the next step in my learning journey. Little did I know that it would lead to such a fundamental transformation of self and how I show up in community for liberation, centering Black Liberation. You gave me the tools for practicing anti-racism. You brought together a community of white women who have become my friends and accountability network in this work. I can't tell you how much that means to me. Unity Over Comfort was the beginning of a life long journey for me and I thank you so much for what a transformational program it was!"

    –Heidi Jenson

    Unity Over Comfort

  • "Monique led an amazing talk at Google about building your career village. Her talk was authentic, informative, and most importantly inspirational! She educated about the difference between a traditional "network" as we have been taught to think about it in corporations, and really leaning more into the idea of building a "village" of people you know will have your back & support you throughout your career. I loved the emphasis on the need for human connection & checkins, which we lose so much of in traditional networking, which is focused on the transactional and can often feel forced. She gave super practical tips & takeaways. This topic couldn't be more important in today's times, especially for people of color navigating their career growth, who definitely need a career village."

    — Nicole Santiago

  • "Being in community with Monique and all fellow UOC participants has changed me foundationally, atomically, and cellularly into a more curious, compassionate, and present individual. Upon starting the course in 2020, I noticed immediately small changes in my behavior; those have, over the course of now 3+ years, amounted to substantial changes, a fundamental difference in how I show up as a peer, a friend, a partner, a parent, and a person who is committed to Black liberation. I've continued to build upon my learning in many different ways, but always find that coming home to Unity Over Comfort and to Monique, where my true commitment to anti-racism began, is among the most restorative, nourishing, purposeful, and impactful activities I have ever done for myself, and by extension, for all the communities in which I play a role."

    –Katie Johnson

    Card Reading

  • "I started following Monique in 201, and it didn’t take me long to enroll in Unity Over Comfort. I kept thinking that if I didn’t do it, I knew I’d regret it one day. 4 years later and wow, did I make the right decision! Monique’s UOC course opened my eyes, and I was completely committed to the work and lived for our Q&A sessions. Her ability to respond in such a thorough and comprehensive way taught me more than what I’d learned in books. But damn, UOC 2.0 rocked me in a way that I wasn’t ready for. Now we know that the last thing Monique is gonna do is coddle a white woman, but I felt in those sessions how much she cared. Not just us but her deep care for humanity. Her insistence that we do better for the sake of everyone’s well-being. I had the privilege and luck of live weekly sessions during the entire year of 2020, and she was so focused, empathetic, and grounded. She spent so much of her time guiding us and keeping us focused. Monique changed my life, and I am so grateful. She is a teacher, a guide, and a healer, and the world is a better place with her in it."

    –Krystal Parizot

    Unity Over Comfort

  • "Thank you so much for the opportunity to learn from you in the Unity Over Comfort course. I greatly enjoyed the five year celebration last week too! Unity Over Comfort completely transformed my understanding of Black liberation and anti-racism. My biggest issue before starting the course was confidence - I didn’t feel like I knew how to make a difference without worrying about what the right thing to do was or how to have difficult conversations. The structure and duration of the course allowed me to deeply engage with the content and develop a much deeper understanding of anti-racism and Black liberation in a way that I never had understood before. My life has been changed for the better through this course and I hope to continue what I have learned in order to positively influence others and the world around me. None of this would be possible without your teaching and your vision Monique. Through this course, you have created a legacy that will have ongoing positive impacts through educating and empowering people to pursue Black liberation. Thank you so much once again!"

    –Moria Tucker

    Unity Over Comfort

  • "For me, the course White Feminism Ain’t It was a needed follow-up to Unity Over Comfort, where I first learned about the role of white women in white supremacy, which formed the roots of white feminism. Through live discussion, replays, homework activities, and probing questions, Monique illustrated how white feminism shows up in the context of today - whether it’s media, an election, or the workplace. And in our own beliefs and actions. Among my many takeaways is the importance of being in community to take care of each other - including on a financial or economic level - while also needing to reconnect to our own humanity. Part of that is, as white women, healing from our internalized superiority - a belief you may find hard to admit having. I also appreciated forming community with the other participants in the course. Although the course has ended, we continue to meet, share concerns and ideas, and keep each other accountable. While addressing serious matters and the consequences of not doing the work, Monique also brought joy and play to the class in various ways, modeling a path for our own healing. I can't truly express how much gratitude I have for the space Monique held and the gifts she brought to making this course what it is. You will be uncomfortable in this course, but without that discomfort, I don’t think it’s possible to grow or heal from the harm white supremacy causes. I highly recommend you take this course at your next opportunity!"

    –Melissa Gibson

    Card Reading

  • "This was a course packed full of information, recommendations and actions that white women need in order to start being authentic in their relationships with Black People. Much of what I learned can also be applied in other relationships (not just friendships) such as those with co-workers, neighbours and other people you regularly interact with in your community. I also think that much of this information should be considered by Cis, Able bodied, white women in their interactions with Indigenous People, People of Colour, Trans People, People with Disabilities etc. These concepts were mentioned in the lesson, and I was feeling inspired by how I can use these teachings in so many of ways in the way I interact with people. The lesson gave me concrete examples of what I should do to have a positive impact on other people's lives because that is what they deserve and what I owe my fellow humans. Most importantly I learned how I can reduce the harm I cause and also how to behave when I make mistakes; the importance of knowing how to meaningfully apologize and learn how to move forward when I make mistakes. I'm excited to take Part 2!

    –Elizabeth Carter

    Shine Class: My Black Friend Replay