Ymani Hawkins (she/her/hers)

“Mental wellness is the linchpin of IDEAS work. Without it, there can be no individual growth, organizational change, or true systemic evolution.”

Ymani Hawkins (she/her) is a certified diversity and mental wellness coach who marries mental health techniques, psychological principles, and evidenced-based therapies with Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Equity (IDEAS) best practices.

As a Black woman, she understood that safety is a fundamental aspect of human existence that we need to belong and contribute meaningfully. But for some people—a lot of people—safety is not accessible. Ymani noticed the gaps in the IDEAS industry that seldom fostered conversations about the intersection between mental wellness and inclusion. She started DEEP-ish Consulting to provide organizations with the language and skills needed to embed belonging, community, and psychological safety into their workplaces to foster healing and restoration.

Hawkins addresses implicit bias, cultural humility, racial trauma, Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), and psychological safety via self-care awareness, emotional intelligence strategies, and mindfulness techniques. She delivers talks, training, and coaching to global tech, business, arts, and media sectors as well as religious institutions, nonprofits, educational systems, and environmental agencies. Prior to that, she worked as a social worker specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy.

Today, Ymani wears her passion for community in her role as Program Manager for IDEAS Generation. Here, she advances IG’s mission and values through program development, content creation and facilitation, and community oversight.

Hawkins holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the Silver School of Social Work at New York University (NYU); a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Interpersonal Communication Studies from Kean University; is a certified International Coaching Federation Associate Diversity Coach (ADC); has performed ethnographic research in Siargao, Philippines, and studied communications in Athens, Greece. She possesses certifications in cultural awareness, applied suicide intervention, mental health first aid, and PsychoHairapy, and is currently exploring Integrative Somatic Parts Work.

When she puts down her working fedora hat, you can find Ymani singing anything from jazz to gospel music or brunching with her tribe.