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Karen Hewitt named Associate Director of Leadership Columbus

Leadership Columbus is excited to announce that Karen Hewitt, M.Ed. has been selected to serve as the organization’s Associate Director!

Karen (Ze/Hir/Hirs and She/Her/Hers) is a resident of Columbus, OH and was born and raised in Cincinnati. Ze holds a Master of Arts in Educational Policy and Leadership from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from St. Francis University (PA).

Karen is committed to doing the work of holding space to create connection, belonging, and community. Ze comes to Leadership Columbus after serving as Deputy Director for Kaleidoscope Youth Center; she additionally facilitates and consults in the areas of Leadership Development, Team Building, Anti-Racism and Diversity Management through K Hewitt Consulting.  Karen is also a creative. She is a 2020 recipient of the Create Columbus Visionary Award, a 2021 Cohort Poet in Scott Woods’ Rhapsody and Refrain, and an ensemble member in Counterfeit Madison’s Aretha Franklin Tribute; which performed in front of a sold out Lincoln Theatre in February 2020.   In 2019, Karen self- published hir first book of poetry, Grounded; and is excited to release Fire: Poetic Memoirs of a Movement Autumn 2021.  Ze is also an improv comedian, poet and singer.

Karen serves on numerous committees, commissions, and collectives to further advance the work of racial and social justice, and to foster visibility and representation for Black, Queer, Women (presenting), Non-Gender Conforming and Non-Binary individuals and communities.  Her work and presence compels others to journey inward, and encourages them to see the world in more expansive and hopeful ways. She is a non-negotiable stand for the most marginalized and the dignity and value of every human life.

Karen is the co-founder of The Ohio REST Collective. The Ohio REST Collective (Restorative Equity through Sustainable Transformation) was founded to create space for individual and collective restoration.

“As the Associate Director for Leadership Columbus, I am committed to the mission and vision of developing and inspiring innovative, dynamic leadership that reflects the rich diversity within our city. I look forward to making new connections and supporting opportunities for growth and expansion for individual leaders and the collective leadership community,” Karen shared. “Representation and visibility are important to me and I hope to lead with a lens of cultural responsiveness that elevates and amplifies voices that are often silenced or altogether excluded.”

Please join us in welcoming Karen to the Leadership Columbus team!