More Diversity. Inclusivity Now.

Who We Are

MAS DIVERSITY CONSULTANCY is a Black-owned, Woman-owned company committed to equipping educational leaders and students with tools to address challenges of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the classroom and youth program environment.

MAS DIVERSITY CONSULTANCY exists to transform and build organizational and school culture capacity for true diversity while promoting longstanding inclusive environments for educators, administrators and students.

Maisha has a strong lens and understanding of the impact of race, gender, and culture on learning experiences and often engages participants around these themes. She creates a safe space for learners to talk about these issues and express their own views, while also giving support to ensure the conversations are successful.

Maya,
Consultant, The BridgeSpan Group

What We Believe

We believe that changed behavior begins with uncovering the rooted beliefs that shape them. We delve deep into the foundations of systemic power, implicit bias and dominant narratives in ways that resonate with all learners.

We believe that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is at the core of transformational growth providing new knowledge and skills that will inform teaching practices and encourage greater authentic relationships with students.

HOW WE WORK

MAS DIVERSITY CONSULTANCY employs an experiential approach to our DEI work fostering empathy and understanding around issues of racial, educational and economic equity. We stand on the belief that youth are the changemakers of our future. WE are passionate about ensuring that youth have the knowledge skills and tools needed to transform their own personal circles of influence, whether it be at home, school or work. We work hard to prepare educators and youth leaders to create genuine learning environments where all youth can be nurtured and stimulated in becoming advocators and allies against social injustice.

Program Consultation

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Workshops/ Speaking

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Maisha Azadi Sebastiany

CEO, MAS DIVERSITY CONSULTANCY

Maisha is an educator, filmmaker and artivist with a professional background in leadership development. Maisha holds an advanced degree (MBA) in the field of Media Management and has over two decades of working in youth development, launching and building leadership programs within the government, and non-profit sectors. Her experience includes curriculum and program development of diversity education and leadership training at both the collegiate and high school levels. She has worked with Morgan State University, Indiana University, and the New York City Department of Education's Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education.

In 2021, she was named one of Arts for L.A.’s Activate Innovators for her work in developing projects aimed at building a more diverse, inclusive creative workforce across the L.A. Region. Prior to that, she directed the launch of American Film Institute’s Storytelling Bootcamp in partnership with LAUSD with a focus on diversifying content taught to students across the city, and she's been a volunteer facilitator for The Center for Race and Reconciliation in Los Angeles.

She has served as the Program Director of both the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council and the New York City Youth Council through Coro New York Leadership Center and is the founder and director of Urban Artivist Academy, an arts-in-education program that cultivates cultural sensitivity in young creatives committed to utilizing television and film as a platform for social justice.
She has trained with Theater of the Oppressed, The Undoing Racism Workshop, (The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond), The Masterful Trainer, Cambridge Leadership Associates Adaptive Leadership Framework and Coro New York Leadership Center.

Maisha brings a creative energy and authenticity to her facilitation that creates space for compassionate yet challenging conversations to take place. She shares from an understanding of social movements and of how oppression, power and privilege play out in our organizations, communities and ourselves. Her commitment to her work allows for the process of shifting mindsets and changed behavior to become instinctive in her clients so that meaningful work comes from a place of personal power and personal connection and is lasting.

Deeply influenced by Maisha's many years as a teaching artist with a background in drama therapy, MAS Diversity utilizes theater technique and leadership development principles in its workshops and trainings. Clients include start-up non-profits, religious groups, schools and parent-teacher associations and social service agencies.