led by DR. STACEY CHIMIMBA AULT
welcome ...
Restful Leadership is deeply rooted in my own lived experiences of burnout, perfectionism, and over-achievement. It is dedicated to the lives of Black women who died too soon, including my best friend Dr. Linda Garrett, who did not overwork, rather showed me the importance of slowing down, and reading, and giving, and laughing. I take her early death, at only 53 years old, as permission for me to live.
Dr. Linda reminded me how important it was to prioritize myself in a world that constantly tried to pull me in different directions. I watch Black women and people of other races and genders, who are exhausted keeping up with the expectations of white supremacy culture, while simultaneously trying to re-imagine and build a less oppressive environment in their homes, communities and work spaces.
I am encouraged by workers and leaders, and worker-leaders, who are dismantling toxic workplaces and building affirming, restful spaces within which they work.
Listening to peoples' stories helps us imagine new ways of being. This research is my attempt to capture and share examples of liberatory spaces, so we can all have the courage, and the strategies, to pause, to dream, to dismantle and to build.
I'm glad you're here.
bio
Dr Stacey Chimimba Ault (she, her, dr.) is a retired(ish) professor, a community leader, board certified coach, published author, and national speaker. She has over 30 years of experience working with children, youth, and families; especially those most marginalized through exploitation and incarceration. Most recently, Dr. Ault served as an Assistant Professor at California State University, Sacramento where she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in race, class & and gender, social movements, and social work practice. Dr. Ault left the academy in 2022 after being burnt out, burned through, and surviving a world that continues to be on fire. She is currently a community professor, sharing her expertise inside and outside of traditional academic spaces. Dr. Ault still writes and conducts research, using her doctoral expertise and passion for learning in more accessible ways.
In addition to founding and leading Restful Leadership, Dr. Ault is also the founder/CEO of the Race and Gender Equity (RAGE) Project, a nonprofit organization that works to harness the power of individual and collective transformation through healing, education, advocacy and research. The RAGE Project advances the wellbeing of Black youth through providing an infrastructure of support to individuals and organiations working to create change. RAGE creates spaces that create change, and hosts a youth healing and co-working space in Sacramento, CA, and provides pop-up wellness and rest spaces around the country. Learn more about the Race and Gender Equity Project here.
Previously, Stacey served as Youth Development Director and Interim Chief Family and Community Engagement Officer at Sacramento City Unified School District, where she leveraged her strengths in inside/outside change-making strategies, uplifting youth voice, building community, and equity-leadership practices to develop award-winning programming for students of color. This work was rewarding ... and exhausting. Most importantly, leaders touched by Dr. Ault's work continue to fight for justice throughout the world.
Dr. Ault's research focuses on Critical Post Traumatic Growth specifically uplifting the power and beauty of Blackness, resistance, joy, and healing. CPTG uses Critical Race Theory to examine, identify and complicate our understanding of Post Traumatic Growth, recognizing in communities of color, both trauma and triumph are persistent, not “post”. Her current research project explores the intersections of race, rest, leadership and liberation.
Stacey is Malawian, was born and raised in the UK, and currently lives in California. Dr. Ault got her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Sacramento State University and her Doctorate in International and Multicultural Education (with an emphasis in Human Rights Education) from the University of San Francisco. Dr. Ault resides in Sacramento CA close to her lil friends (her six birth children, one bonus daughter, and three grandchildren). Her community includes many young people she didn't birth and friends she considers family. Dr. Ault loves reading, traveling and resting. She is building a life she doesn't have to escape from while planning our collective escape.
Contact
If you want to learn more about this project or connect with me about other opportunities. Please send me an email. I'll respond as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience as I learn best how to create restful harmony in my work life.
- Dr. Stacey.