SeededGround

logo with SeededGround written across the top with a Lilly flower growing from the ground and roots visible underneath. Below the roots read sow justice, harvest dreams

What Is SeededGround?

Formed by Justice Shorter, SeededGround (SG) is a Disability Justice practice that produces powerful projects across movement spaces. We strive to sow justice and harvest dreams through work that is imaginative and intersectional. The firm consists of two primary branches. The first branch offers a suite of unique consulting services while the second is comprised of signature SG project/programs. Our  consulting work is provided in consideration of community needs, creative capacities, and client requests. All of our signature SG projects are freely available, justice-based and lovingly wedded to worldbuilding the futures disabled People of Color deserve.

How Do We Move?

In service of, and in community with, people of color with disabilities.

Who Are We

An amazing array of folks who practice worldbuilding one project at a time. When SeededGround receives an invitation to take on a new project, we immediately begin the process of securing collaborating partners and participants of color with disabilities. Collaborators alternate and are chosen based on availability, interest, and relevant experience.

Collaborators/contributors are asked to join projects on a rolling basis. They may include but are not limited to: Artists, activists, organizers, facilitators, event coordinators, project managers, researchers, writers, accessibility advisors, panelists, storytellers, audio engineers, editors, multi-media specialists, culture workers, sighted assistants, sign language interpreters, captioners, etc.  

Why Work This Way?

To join forces with as many phenomenal people as possible. We understand that bodies, minds, hearts, and schedules change frequently. So, we endeavor to work with a focus on flow, flexibility, and freedom. We recognize our respective capacity limits and rotate responsibilities accordingly. We root in offerings of direct financial and career/creative support for those most often excluded/erased from traditional employment opportunities. Equitable compensation for time, talent and overall contributions are thus built into project budgets from the onset. In the words of Maya Angelou, “I may come as one, but I stand as 10,000”.

Suite of Services

Click here to explore SeededGround’s suite of most commonly requested services. We can arrange a singular service, or multiple offerings can be provided via a customizable package. Rates are determined based on the scope and scale of service. Funds generated from this work are ultimately what allows SeededGround to produce our own original projects/resources that are accessible and freely available.

What We’ve Done

A black, long-sleeved bodysuit is displayed inside a white glass-front display case in an art gallery. The garment features a large, colorful beaded design of a turtle on the chest, with a human figure incorporated into the shell, and is accented with embroidered floral and vine details around the neckline, waist, hips, and legs. A small exhibition label in front of the case identifies the artwork as What Survived Was Reborn Sacred by Johnnie Jae. A brown leather bench and framed artwork are visible in the softly blurred gallery background.
Photo by Chip Van Zandt
A mixed-media textile artwork is displayed in a white shadow box mounted on a black easel in an art gallery. The piece features intricate beadwork and embroidery depicting two figures gathered beneath a blue, wave-like arch with a dark tree silhouette and bright floral accents. The lower section includes bold black-and-white geometric patterns and a row of small hanging shell-like ornaments. An exhibition label on the floor identifies the artwork as Prayer by Hoat! Sarah Young Bear-Brown.
Photo by Chip Van Zandt
A woman speaks into a handheld microphone while seated at a conference table during a panel discussion or presentation. She wears glasses, a tan knit sweater, a conference badge, and a tracheostomy tube, and gestures with her free hand as she addresses the audience. An open laptop displaying presentation slides sits on the table alongside a glass of water, a smartphone, a notepad, and other meeting materials. The neutral conference room background keeps the focus on the speaker.
Photo by Chip Van Zandt
Two attendees stand in a hotel conference lobby viewing a framed mixed-media artwork displayed on a black easel. One person carries a brown leather shoulder bag and a baseball cap, while the other wears a conference badge and leans in to examine the piece. The artwork is accompanied by an exhibition label, and a staircase, patterned carpet, and bright natural light from the lobby entrance create an open gallery-like setting.
Photo by Chip Van Zandt
A black, long-sleeved bodysuit is displayed inside a white glass-front display case in an art gallery. The garment features a large, colorful beaded design of a turtle on the chest, with a human figure incorporated into the shell, and is accented with embroidered floral and vine details around the neckline, waist, hips, and legs. A small exhibition label in front of the case identifies the artwork as What Survived Was Reborn Sacred by Johnnie Jae.
Photo by Chip Van Zandt
Photo by Carson MacPherson-Krutsky
Photo by Carson MacPherson-Krutsky
Photo by Carson MacPherson-Krutsky
Photo by Carson MacPherson-Krutsky
Photo by Carson MacPherson-Krutsky
  • Curated artistic initiatives that spotlight and showcase the talent/tenacity  of disabled creatives nationwide. 
  • Trained thousands of people worldwide on Disability Justice , Disaster Justice, Racial Justice, Climate/Environmental  Justice, Health Equity and LGBTQIA Issues. 
  • Facilitated individualized/immersive gatherings both in person and virtual for hundreds of participants.
  • Authored  guidebooks, working papers, roadmaps, access reviews and  briefing sheets.
  • Organized Liberatory Access practices for national collaborative/cross-movement events.
  • Designed/conducted  structured, semi-structured and informal interviews for qualitative research efforts. 
  • Coordinated creative multi-dimensional storytelling projects/advocacy campaigns that center disabled people of color. 

And we’ve barely scratched the surface! Subscribe to our Stay Posted page for more frequent updates on SG projects, partnerships and future aspirations.

Groups We Grow With

Visit our Partners Page to view many of the groups we’ve grown with over the years. Groups are reflective of cherished clients, collaborators and partners whom SeededGround has worked with to dream up and grow out remarkable practices/projects/programs. Please note, our partners page does not include the countless groups we’ve served for one-time engagements such as singular trainings, speeches, panels, interviews or presentations.

SeededGround Gallery of Grounded Facilitation

Access Edition: a Gallery of Grounded Facilitation Aids

  • A modern, minimalist lobby with gray walls and a polished concrete floor. In the center, a glass door with a white logo reading “SEEDEDGROUND” above an illustration of a green plant in a brown pot. Flanking the door are two symmetrical alcoves each containing a single beige armchair and decorative wall lighting.
  • An infographic titled ‘BUILD A BOAT’ by SeededGround. The image features a list of metaphorical guidelines for teamwork and leadership. On the left side, there’s an aerial view of a boat on clear blue water. The right side shows a dark blue background with white and light blue text, alongside icons representing each point: ‘All Aboard,’ ‘Everyone Gets A Turn At The Helm,’ ‘Rope Your Remarks To Respect,’ ‘Listen & Learn - Be A Lighthouse,’ ‘Consult Your Personal Compass,’ ‘Anchor When Feeling Adrift,’ and ‘What Else Is Needed Before We Set Sail?’ Each guideline is accompanied by a related nautical icon
  • Graphic with six differently colored doors representing various emotional states. From left to right: a white door labeled 'Discouragement,' a red door labeled 'Worry/Rumination,' a black door labeled 'Tension/Frustration,' a green door labeled 'Intrigued/Vested Interest,' a turquoise door labeled 'Hopefulness,' and a wooden door with a garden view labeled 'Enthusiasm.' The top text asks, 'Where do you enter?' The bottom features the SeededGround logo with the tagline 'Sow Justice, Harvest Dreams.’
  • An infographic titled ‘WHAT’S YOUR TEMPERATURE?’ with a visual metaphor comparing emotional states to temperature readings on a thermometer. The thermometer graphic is on the left side, with a vertical scale and a bulb at the bottom. To the right are seven horizontal bars, each representing different emotional states, colored from red at the top to blue at the bottom, indicating varying levels of emotional intensity or engagement. The topmost state is ‘Unbearable Stress/Unsustainable Involvement,’ followed by ‘Emotional Eruptions,’ ‘Physically Tense/Recognition Of Pressure Points,’ ‘On Alert/Guarded,’ ‘Neutral/Mentally Present & Aware,’ ‘Laid Back/Unbothered/Uninterested,’ and finally, ‘Fatigued/Uninvolved’ at the bottom. Each state corresponds to a level on the thermometer’s scale.
  • Graphic titled 'Recipe for Reflections' showing various ingredients with corresponding emotional acknowledgments. It lists: '1 Teaspoon of Tenderness (I feel...),' '1 Dash of Empathy (I recognize that others may feel...),' '2 Tablespoons of Truth (I understand that multiple things can be true, such as...),' '1 Cup of Strong Medicine (We can’t collectively heal until...),' and '1 Pint of New Possibilities (I believe we can...).' The bottom right corner features the SeededGround logo with the tagline 'Sow Justice, Harvest Dreams.'
  • Defensive Positions Infographic: A presentation slide with a football field background featuring a list titled ‘Defensive Positions’ on a green overlay to the left. The list includes terms such as Significant Silence, Paternalism, Unchecked Toxic behaviors, Urgency/stressors, Unnecessary, Prolonged periods of uncertainty, Deflect/dismiss, Blame down, Interrogation, and Retaliation/Intimidation. The slide is branded with ‘SeededGround - Grow Justice. Harvest Dreams’ in the top right corner and has images of a blue football helmet on the left and a red helmet on the right at the bottom.
  • A slide titled ‘HUMBLE PIE’: a checkered colored background resembling a traditional picnic table cloth. There are six illustrations of pies with steam rising, arranged in two rows of three. Each pie is labeled with different phrases: ‘A SPECIFIC POINT OF TENSION,’ ‘A REQUEST FOR HELP,’ ‘A PROBLEMATIC PRACTICE,’ ‘AN UNASKED/CRITICAL QUESTION,’ ‘A NEW BOUNDARY,’ and ‘AN OFFERING/REMEDY.’ The slide uses the metaphor of ‘humble pie’ to represent various concepts related to self-awareness and accountability.
  • A slide titled ‘Grief & Growth’ with a background of brown soil. On the left side, there’s a list under ‘Personal Losses’ with checkboxes, all checked, next to the following items: Trust, Time, Peace, Privacy, Patience, Pay/Promotions, and Love for the work. On the right side under ‘Org Losses,’ there’s another list of checked items: Credibility/Transparency, Company Culture, Momentum, Staff/Capacity, Direction (Mission/Values), Communication, and Institutional memory. The bottom right corner has the logo and motto of SeededGround which says ‘Sow Justice. Harvest Dreams.
  • A slide titled ‘POWER MAP’ with an aerial view of a cityscape in the background. Overlaid on the image are various red location markers connected by lines, each labeled with different elements related to organizational structure and employee welfare. The labels include ‘Employee Benefits,’ ‘Diverse Leadership/Decision-Makers,’ ‘Collective Bargaining,’ ‘Pay Parity,’ ‘Accountability Audits/Assessments,’ ‘Professional Development,’ ‘Employee Protections,’ ‘Affinity Groups,’ ‘Safety, Dignity, and Belonging,’ ‘Support Services/EAP’ (Employee Assistance Program), and ‘Institutional Memory.’ In the bottom right corner is the SeededGround logo.’
  • A graphic image displaying a ‘Ladder of Committee Participation/Power’ with eight rungs, each labeled with a different term related to levels of control and influence in a committee. From bottom to top, the rungs are labeled: Manipulation, Therapy, Informing, Consultation, Placation, Partnership, Delegated Power, and Committee Control. The ladder is placed on a white note card against a blue background with the SeededGround logo in the lower right corner. Arnstein, S. (n.d.). A Ladder of Citizen Participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224.
  • A slide titled ‘JEDI: Efficacy Equations’ with a list of equations related to justice-based concepts. Each line pairs a term with a definition, starting with ‘Justice = A Praxis (Where theory & practice meet)’, followed by ‘Equity = A Method/Measurable Milestones’, ‘Diversity = A Recognition Of Differences’, ‘Inclusion = An Action’, ‘Access = A Right’, ‘Belonging = A Feeling’, and ending with ‘People = Power’. On the right side of the slide, there is an image of a spaceship resembling the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars. The background is black, and at the bottom, there’s text that reads ‘SeededGround SOY JUSTICE, HARVEST DREAMS’. There’s also an attribution note added from the work of Shelia Reid, Shakti Butler & Marianne Kaba.
  • A slide with a black background and a title ‘IMPROV TO IMPROVE’ in bold white letters at the top. On the left side, there are two columns of round light bulbs framing the slide. In the center, there is an image of a red curtain slightly open to reveal two theatrical masks, one smiling and one frowning, representing comedy and tragedy. To the right of the masks, there is text that reads ‘“YES, AND…” Acknowledge/Affirm What You’ve Heard + Your Contribution = Collective Visioning’. The bottom right corner has a SeededGround watermark logo.
  • A parchment paper background with the title ‘Declaration of Interdependence’ at the top. Below the title, there are several questions listed: ‘Why should we move with a spirit of interdependence?’, ‘Who is involved? Trusted? Accountable?’, ‘How do we start? Pick back up? Check in?’, ‘Where can we create a safety net strong enough to hold up and what do we put into our people?’, ‘When do we show up for our people during future crises with information, joy, actions, help etc.)’, and ‘What is an immediate experience you can take in response to what was shared today?’. The SeededGround logo appears at the bottom.
  • A graphic slide with a title Miles Traveled. Below the title, there is a timeline of events listed from February to November with specific actions and outcomes related to organizational development and diversity initiatives. On the right side, there is an aerial image of a curved road cutting through a lush green landscape, symbolizing progress and journey. The timeline includes events such as tensions during board meetings, racial equity training, hiring of a Justice Shorter for Crisis Management support, staff discussions on diversityand inclusion, facilitated staff discussion about self-improvement on investigation techniques, national search for a new Senior JEDI Executive, and a recap session to review feedback from facilitation sessions.
  • A graphic featuring a circular framed mirror with a title ‘YOUR REFLECTIONS’ at the top. The background shows blurred greenery and leaves, suggesting an outdoor setting. Inside the frame, there’s a list titled ‘The Executive Team’ with the following bullet points: There are still unaddressed issues A long-term systematic process is needed. None of this matters if white leadership doesn’t show they care about holistic impacts. Show the care outside of specific work duties/hours because we (those most impacted by racial inequities) hold this when we go home. This has been an incredibly stressful year for senior leaders, yet the workload/output hasn’t decreased. Leaders need the space to adjust deadlines/deliverables when dealing with crises. Staff should also hold that leaders won’t always get it right, but they will always keep trying.
  • Accessibility Projects
  • Advocacy Projects
  • Community/Cultural Projects
  • Cross-Movement Projects
  • Multi-Media Projects
  • Research Projects
  • Entertainment/Recreational Projects 
  • Archival Projects
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