Who We Are

We are a network of consultants committed to social justice and keeping relationships at the heart of DEI. We center interpersonal relationships and learning-by-doing, so everyone in your organization, no matter their title or position, can understand and contribute to making behaviors and systems more equitable.

Two coworkers laughing at lunch

Our Mission

To transform communities, organizations, and individuals and foster relationships for sustainable growth. We keep relationships at the heart of diversity, equity, and inclusion, empowering people and organizations to embrace discomfort and believe in their ability to change systems and behaviors at the root of inequity. 

Our Core Values

Self-Exploration, Challenging Practices, Authenticity, Purpose, and Accountability

Our Approach

Our approach goes beyond traditional methods and centers interpersonal relationships and learning-by-doing, so everyone in your organization, no matter their title or position, can understand and contribute to making behaviors and systems more equitable.

Relationship-centered: DEI is not about compliance and checklists. It relies on our ability to understand ourselves and how we connect with others. We help organizations build trust and put relationships at the heart of their work to foster belonging
Mind-body connection: information alone will not ensure the knowledge translates to action and behavior change   We take an experiential approach, with practice-based opportunities for people to think, feel, and learn for lasting behavior change.
Shared responsibility: We combine the experiential learning with relationships to align an organization across all levels to create a unified vision for a successful DEI strategy.
Charmaine Utz, Relational DEI Expert

Charmaine Utz, LCSW

Founder, Living Unapologetically

Charmaine is a Relational DEI expert who sits at the intersection of thinking, feeling, and doing. She is an author, facilitator, skill builder, safe-space holder, family member, partner, and friend. And in all of those, her DEI lens is in constant use.

Charmaine has more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience in social service organizations and higher education, progressively advancing in the sector to focus on leadership development, strategic planning, program and curriculum development, training and coaching, and team building. She applies this expertise to blend a therapeutic approach with actionable strategies that help your organization achieve its DEI goals. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master in Social Work, with an emphasis on community mental health, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality from California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she is also an Adjunct Faculty member.

Transform your organization into an equitable, inclusive, and socially responsible powerhouse with our DEI consulting services. Our relationship-centered approach ensures that every member of your organization can actively contribute to positive change. Embrace the discomfort of growth and take the journey towards lasting transformation with Living Unapologetically.

Contact us today to start your transformative DEI journey.

Join our Relational DEI Community to learn through innovations that transform professional spaces.

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