Who We Are
The Relational Center exists to promote the essential importance of relationships. When we value our connections with others and with the environment, we create the necessary conditions for health and sustainability. So our work promotes personal, interpersonal, and social practices that help people build strong, resilient relationships. Our programs provide healing support, a space for community building, and tools for leadership.
What We Do
Get Empathy
Trains allies in schools and youth-serving organizations to foster leadership and civic engagement among young people. Teacher Training * Youth Leadership
Leadership Institute
Trains leaders in mission-driven institutions to catalyze community engagement and social transformation. Consultation * Clinical Training * Community Gestalt Therapy
Community Project
Draws people close to resist isolation and nurture health through counseling, groups, workshops, and volunteering. Counseling Request * Groups & Workshops
Why We Do It
Values
To Protect
We are connected with
the whole ecology. So
what feeds connection
also nourishes us.
UNDERSTANDING
SUPPORT
CONTACT
Threats
To Confront
As part of the ecology,
human life comes under
threat when these
connections unravel.
APATHY
NEGLECT
ISOLATION
Supports
To Gather
To overcome this threat,
we need a culture
that keeps us nourishing
these connections.
EMPATHY
ACCESS
CARE
Actions
To Take
To catalyze this
kind of culture,
The Relational Center
takes three actions.
SPREAD EMPATHY
INSPIRE LEADERSHIP
BUILD COMMUNITY
Our Get Empathy campaign spreads empathy through a peer education curriculum taught to students, teachers, mentors, and allies nationally. This campaign also inspires leadership among young people and builds community in schools and organizations devoted to youth development and citizen engagement.
Our Leadership Institute inspires leadership by teaching and coaching a variety of changemakers in mission-driven organizations internationally. The institute also spreads empathy through popular education and builds community by nurturing leadership circles and action networks.
Our Community Project in Los Angeles is designed to demonstrate that when we build community, we have more resources to draw upon when confronting threats to our values. The project also spreads empathy through healing support and inspires leadership by giving people opportunities to volunteer, share stories, and participate in social action.
Your Invitation To Take Action
Show us how you spread empathy, inspire leadership, and build community. Post a photo and comment to your Instagram account with hashtags: #spreadempathy #inspireleadership or #buildcommunity. Make sure to tag @relationalcenter or mention The Relational Center in your posts!!
Meet Our Crew
Mark Fairfield, LCSW
Executive Director
Dan Fink, MA
Deputy Director
Amanda Morita, MA
Director, Operations
Jami Winkel, LMFT
Clinical Director
Gabrielle Zhuang, LCSW
Clinical Supervisor
Kaitlin Dull, MSW
Community Engagement Specialist
Deborah Ullman, MA
Cape Cod Coordinator
Lisa Fisher, MSW
President & Board Chair
Sara deLeeuw, MPA, MBA
Board Treasurer
Jill Sourial, MA
Board Secretary
Malory Katz, MA
Board Member
Penny Timmons, LMFT
Board Member
The Relational Center’s mission is to lead a shift to a culture that values empathy, diversity, and interdependence. We envision a world in which communities collaborate to practice mindful compassion, mutual support, and civic engagement.
The Relational Center is a 501c3 nonprofit community organization.