Ebony Walden Consulting
Ebony Walden Consulting (EWC) serves non-profit, philanthropic and government leaders that are passionate about building thriving and inclusive communities. EWC uses common sense strategies to help organizations strengthen their capacity to implement their DEI vision, engage a broad sector of the community and achieve greater impact. EWC works at the intersection of race, place and community.
I believe the following elements are essential in the work of building sustainable communities:
I believe in the ability of human beings to come up with solutions to the problems that face their neighborhoods, communities and cities. Together we can come up with new ideas that build on past successes and learn from mistakes. EWC will provide the creative space, tools and strategies that help residents, stakeholders and policy makers think outside of the box, prototype new ideas and become incubators for innovation. Art, technology, good questions, thought provoking activities and focused discussions are just a few ways I will keep you engaged.
EWC keeps equity and inclusion at the forefront of our work and helps clients do the same. EWC assists organizations and communities in creating space for a diversity of voices to be heard, incorporated and at the forefront of leading change (not an afterthought). I’ll help you devise culturally appropriate and responsive strategies for engagement and implementation on your DEI journey.
Not all actions are equal in their effectiveness and impact. Changemakers and the organizations they lead have limited time and resources. Therefore, I work with clients to identify the essential elements of their vision and move toward it with both intention and precision in their governance, funding, partnerships, services and project/program implementation.
Bringing together a diverse array of people to move toward collective action for greater impact is the ultimate goal. EWC take clients from simply collaborating to co-creating diverse, equitable and inclusive organizational solutions with staff, clients and outside partners.
Meet Ebony Walden
Authentic, Engaging and Strategic, Ebony Walden is
a mix between a creative catalyst and a community builder.
As an Urban Planner, Ebony works to create just and inclusive communities.
Ebony Walden is an urban planner, DEI consultant and facilitator with over 15 years of experience working to transform communities. As the founder of Ebony Walden Consulting (EWC), an urban strategy firm based in Richmond, Virginia, she works with community organizations to design and facilitate trainings and processes that explore race, equity and the creation of more just and inclusive communities.
Ebony is the creator and co-editor of the RIchmond Racial Equity Essays, a multimedia project that explores racial equity in Richmond, Virginia. Ebony is also an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University where she teaches Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the City.
Ebony was a 2019-2020 Encore Public Voices Fellow, where she wrote equity focused op-eds for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Hill on Land Use and Affordable Housing. She has also been featured in Next City, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond Magazine, Christianity Today and Cville Magazine and conducted workshops at local, national and international events and conferences such as Race Forward’s 2022 Facing Race Conference, SXSW and The Caux Forum in Switzerland.
Ebony holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Georgetown University and a master’s in urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia.
Talks by Ebony Walden:
Creative Mornings Charlottesville – Please Mind The Gap: What Transit Can Teach Us About Equity
TMI Consulting Manifest Equity Summit – Community Now Panel
Center for Nonprofit Excellence – Leading Equity at Your Organization
The Fellow’s Initiative Conference – Seeking the Peace of the City
