Our Mission

Our mission is to foster an environment that facilitates personal and organizational transformation and cultivates endless possibilities to becoming good ancestors.

About Us

At Collective Journeys, we believe that the key to creating a better future comes from understanding and respecting others as a result of their environment, culture, and experience. Our journey began in 2018 with a vision of promoting inclusivity and social change through education and dialogue.

We understand that our environment, culture, and experiences shape who we are, but it is up to us to challenge ourselves and strive for growth. Our goal is to inspire individuals and organizations to embark on their own journey towards becoming good ancestors - leaving behind a legacy of empathy, respect, and positive impact.

Through our workshops, events, and resources, we aim to create a collaborative space for open dialogue about belonging, wellness, and how we create together. We believe that by embracing our differences and engaging in meaningful exchange, we can create a more inclusive society for all.

Join us on this collective journey towards a brighter future for generations to come. Let's ignite change together.

Richard M. Josey Jr.

Principal Consultant

Richard Josey is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Collective Journeys LLC. As a nationally recognized facilitator, trainer, and equity and inclusion consultant, Richard has spent over 30 years in the history field. Much of his current work centers on how museums and historical sites can become better venues for strangers to become less strange and places that mitigate trauma and promote healing. Richard’s approach involves a variety of tactics, including data gathering and analysis, development of action plans, and facilitating workshops and trainings. Richard's work is guided by a question he heard from a Dakota elder: "What Kind of Ancestor Will You Be?" This critical question has encouraged thousands of public historians to work in community development and transformation, and intentional planning. He currently serves as a member of the American Association for State and Local History's governing board and Director of DEAI for the Virginia Association of Museums.

Email: richard.josey@collectivejourneys.org

Participants Reviews & Comments

"Richard Josey is incredible. The sessions/week would not have been the same without him, he made everyone in the room feel comfortable to express different/varying views and opinions."

"Richard was awesome, both formally and informally (I shared a few conversations with him one and one and in small groups outside of class time). "

"I expect that Richard will be someone that I not only learned from this week but whom I also look to for clarification and guidance in the future when topics arise that I am not familiar with. I appreciated his honesty, and his approach to discussing challenging subjects. "

"Richard Josey - He made me feel at home, and that my thoughts/ideas were important"

"I feel like he gave me the courage to break the stigma of teaching race and racism. I’m really looking forward to seeing how I can incorporate what he taught into programming at my site."

"Wonderful session addressing some of the barriers that many of us feel when interpreting race at our sites. It also made me realize that I want to help diversify the fields. I need to start recruiting a more diverse pool and interns from many different backgrounds,"

"Richard -you are a great listener and facilitator. I loved your story about the skull. You helped support our conversation and moved us in a positive direction."

"Richard Josey is amazing. His thoughtful presence was a highlight of the experience. He helped us have the courage to discuss a touchy subject and made us comfortable leading the discussions when we get back into the classroom."

"Richard was amazing! His ability to provide insights and new ways of thinking was uncanny, and he was always constantly interacting with the participants outside the realm of the daily workshops."

"Thought provoking, Richards is a “Keeper” in my opinion. To date, Richards is the diversity that we have seen. He was engaging and entertaining while bringing us to think deeply about the serious topic of race and racism. So glad he joined us."

"The characteristic that is most commendable in Richard is his ongoing desire to make history relevant to diverse audiences. Also, he has been very committed to outcome-based interpretive planning, and he understands the critical role evaluation can play in planning interpretive programs."

"Richard is well respected for being a thoughtful professional, one who has inspired me, and many others, as we strive not only to be better at our jobs but to be better people as well. This is not hyperbole. Richard’s passion for and eloquence in advocating for diversity and inclusion in historical narratives and in our daily lives has buoyed my own work and I honestly believe I am a better person for having known him as long as I have. "