As a former college faculty member, Tonjala has a proven track record of conducting needs assessment, creating curriculum and program design. She now leverages her previous experience to support clients in improving training initiatives through using dialogue education and diverse facilitation techniques. Her background involves working with clients in various sectors such as animal welfare, financial literacy, non-governmental organizations and non-profits.
Regarding social issues, she is passionate about improving conditions related to racial injustice, reducing the wealth gap and family restoration with a special focus on fatherhood. Corporately, Tonjala is interested in resolving talent development challenges and enhancing organizational culture. She resides in Birmingham, AL.
Education & Training
FORMAL
- Bachelor of Arts: International Business & Spanish
Dillard University | New Orleans, LA - Masters of Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education
Michigan State University | East Lansing
CONTINUING EDUCATION
- Global Learning Partners
Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach, Foundations of Dialogue Education - Center for Credentialing & Education
Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) - Coro Fellows Program
Public Affairs - Fellow (IIPP)
Institute for International Public Policy
Tonjala’s Work
Helping College Students Advocate for Themselves
Project HELP (Health Education Laddering Program) was a multi-site program available at several community colleges throughout central Nebraska through funding from the national Health Profession Opportunity Grants program.
Documenting Stories of the Daily Struggles of Vulnerable Families
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has been a leader in the fight for TANF reform. Their leaders have presented at national congressional hearings related to the necessity to reform the welfare system, with emphasis on the TANF Program.
Rapid Response: Preparing Financial Navigators to Serve their Communities
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE) and Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners (NTFP) teamed up with GLP to provide people across the U.S. with financial guidance and resources in the wake of our nation’s unprecedented crisis.
tonjala’s Resources
That’s Just Good Teaching
Village of Wisdom (VOW) in Durham, NC has been a champion of social-emotional learning (SEL) of Black students in the K-12 system since 2014. They leverage the cultural strengths of Black families and parents to collaboratively design and create culturally affirming learning environments (CALES), so that children of color are successful in the classroom.
Facilitating Online: It’s a Creative Space!
Facilitation is facilitation is facilitation. Right? Well, not quite.
In her interview Designing Engaging Remote Workshops with Gwyn Wansbrough, Nathy Ravez works to understand how online learning is different from in person learning, and how to facilitate in this unique space to maximize learning. Gwyn points out that virtual audiences don’t have the same non-verbal cues. They ask themselves, “Do I trust this facilitator? Do I belong? Do I have something to offer here?”
I See What You Mean: Using Visuals to Deepen Learning
Many of us are back on the road facilitating in-person events. It feels great! We can move around the room to engage with content and each other, we can sit in a circle for personal sharing, and we can touch, add and move ideas around to co-create meaning as we stand at a wall or move around a table.