work with me

I work with youth-serving organizations to build human-centered cultures at every level—from youth programs to staff development to leadership support.

Everything I do is built on genuine relationships: the collaboration starts before the work even begins. I take time to understand your culture, your people, and your specific challenges and needs before we design the work together. 

Every engagement looks different because every organization is different. What stays consistent is the starting point: a real conversation about where you are and what you need most.

let's connect

You might be reaching out because…

  • You want your organizational values to show up in how people actually work together, not just in your mission statement

  • Your team needs support to develop the skillsets and mindsets for effective communication, hard conversations, and giving direct feedback

  • Your youth-serving staff want to support young people more effectively: to build real relationships while holding healthy boundaries and high expectations

  • You want to build a culture where emotionally demanding, heart-centered work is sustainable and fulfilling rather than burning people out

  • You want to support youth to build the social and emotional skills that help them connect with each other and thrive in their lives

We might be a good fit if…

You are done with performative values. You believe human well-being is a central concern, not a luxury. You want to move away from compliance and control toward something more relational.

This is harder than it sounds. The old ways of doing things are deeply engrained, into us as individuals and into the systems and structures of our workplaces.

I'm here to help you build the internal capacity to do things differently, in a way that puts people at the center. 

Whether you're looking for a single workshop or ongoing partnership, you want the work to be real: connected to your culture, your challenges, your people. You're not looking for a box to check.

You don't have to be in crisis to work with me. Many of my best partnerships start with organizations that are simply ready to be more intentional about their culture and the way people work together.

let's connect

“Jo is a gifted facilitator, having much experience in guiding the play, discussion, and heart-space of groups of humans. I have unbounded trust and confidence in Jo to work with folks in a responsive, caring, supportive, and real way even when working with sensitive topics. At the level of human connection is where Jo truly shines. She makes students, peers, and families feel valued, seen, and heard. She creates relational healing and community strength through the simple act of being centered in herself while being with others.”

-Russ R., Principal, Creekside Community High School

how we work together

Every engagement is designed around what your organization actually needs.

Depending on what you're working toward, this might look like:

  • Professional development trainings for staff

  • Team development facilitation and collaborative culture design

  • Experiential keynote presentations and conference sessions

  • Leadership coaching and organizational consulting

  • Youth leadership programming and community-building

Some folks come knowing exactly what they want. Others arrive with a challenge and need help figuring out what kind of support would serve them best. Either way, we start with a conversation and collaborate to find the best path forward.

Reach out and we’ll schedule a time to connect. We will meet for a free consult to talk more about your organization and desired focus.

I’ll draft a proposal and contract based on our conversations and we’ll collaborate on the best approach for moving forward.

I will design and deliver a customized program or consulting plan based on your organization’s needs.

  • “Jo and her content exceeded our expectations; our team was buzzing with inspiration and excitement from her session for days! Our group was very engaged, and appreciated her approachable style and activities. She met with us beforehand to learn about our group, culture, and focus for the event, tailoring her expertise to what we needed. Her warmth, kindness, and authenticity shines through.”

    -Karla G., Chief Communications Officer, Community Services Consortium

  • “Jo Linden is an absolute gem to work with—thoughtful, flexible, and deeply committed to creating an experience that meets the needs of the group. She brings a rare combination of warmth, clarity, and depth to her work. Her delivery is grounded, authentic, and accessible—never salesy or overwhelming—making complex topics like neuroscience and child development feel usable and empowering.”

    -Anne I., Western Region PD Manager, American Camp Association

  • “We brought Jo into our annual all staff meeting to help everyone re-connect with their “purpose.” She is articulate, engaging, fun, and fantastic. She had people getting up and moving, connecting, laughing and learning. Our time with Jo was rated as the high point of our day, and I wouldn’t hesitate to bring her back. Jo and I were additionally able to connect one-on-one in a very authentic way, which resonated deeply for me as a testament to her living the same values she speaks to.”

    -Ryan V., Executive Director, OCW Council of Governments

  • “We worked with Jo to improve our person-to-person and organizational communication. Collaboration can be a challenge with two offices in different locations. We wanted to build a culture of support and trust. Jo helped us find a shared sense of how feedback is an investment in each other. Our sessions with her helped us share our personal and professional challenges in a way that led us to some crucial breakthroughs.”

    -Andy L., Executive Director, Westwind Stewardship Group

  • “Our training sessions with Jo have helped staff work with youth using practices that include a better understanding of how trauma impacts their brains. She helped us learn specific techniques to help youth learn to recognize and manage their trauma responses. Jo does an excellent job creating a safe space to learn while passing along truly valuable information and methods that help us with our work, as well as when managing our own mental health as we do this work.”

    -Katrin D., Former Director, YouthSource Program

the work in practice

Oregon Youth Works

Statewide Youth Workforce Development 2022–Present

A multi-year partnership supporting Oregon's youth workforce development ecosystem at every level, from statewide crew leader training and regional network convenings to internal team development and a youth workforce development best practices framework. 

Westwind Stewardship Group

Summer Camp and Retreat Center 2023–Present

Ongoing organizational culture work with a small team committed to doing things differently, including team development work, facilitated feedback dialogues, individual coaching, and summer camp counselor resilience training.

COMMUNITY SERVICES CONSORTIUM

Tri-County Community Agency 2022–Present

A relationship that began with youth-serving staff trainings and team development and which has grown to include an all-staff keynote and supervisor retreat. 

past partners

Let’s connect!