Cassie’s recs
Books I keep coming back to
Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown
A touchstone for me. The idea of fractals—how small shifts ripple outward—is something I return to again and again.
The Power Manual by Cyndi Suarez
A sharp and necessary reframing of what power is—and how we can wield it collectively and with care.
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
A beautiful reminder that love and accountability aren’t opposites; they’re partners.
A love letter to reciprocity, generosity, and remembering our interdependence with the earth.
Turning Toward Each Other by Jovida Ross & Weyam Ghadbian
Healing Resistance by Kazu Haga
A grounding guide to practicing nonviolence as a daily, embodied commitment—not just a philosophy.
All About Love by bell hooks
A classic. Every reread hits differently, reminding me that love is a verb, not a feeling.
A workbook that lives up to its title. Real tools for staying in the room during conflict with curiosity and care.
Conflict Resilience by Robert C. Bordone & Joel Salinas, M.D.
For the nerds who like a framework (me included). Accessible, science-backed approaches to navigating tension.
The Revolution Will Not Be Funded by INCITE!
A must-read for anyone trying to navigate (and transform) the nonprofit industrial complex from within.
Decolonizing Trauma Work by Renee Linklater
A vital reminder that healing practices must honor Indigenous knowledge and community-based approaches.
Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
The Nap Ministry changed my life and my calendar. A manifesto for slowing down and reclaiming rest as liberation.
Anything by Ross Gay
Joy. Tenderness. Delight. Truly medicine for the soul.
What It Takes to Heal by Prentis Hemphill
​Tender, clear, and deeply honest. A guide to remembering that healing isn’t solitary work.
Podcasts that keep me company
Code Switch
Essential listening for anyone thinking (or rethinking) about race, identity, and belonging.
​Vibe Check
A warm, witty, and deeply human take on culture, politics, and what it means to stay soft in hard times.
Becoming the People
Conversations about transformation, leadership, and collective liberation (with heart).
Other favorites
White Supremacy Culture by Tema Okun
Still one of the clearest mirrors for how domination culture shows up in our daily work. A forever resource.
Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage by Maria Primitiva Paz Root, Ph.D.
A joyful reclamation of complexity—reminds me that we don’t have to pick one box. A physical copy of this hangs at my desk.
Nonprofit AF by Vu Le
If you work in nonprofits and need a good laugh and a good truth, Vu has you covered.
Courageous Conversation Toolkit by Social Transformation Project
A trusty companion for facilitators and teams learning to have the hard (and healing) conversations.
The Feelings Wheel
A deceptively simple tool that I come back to all the time. Perfect for helping to dig into what’s really going on beneath the surface—and expanding our emotional vocabulary beyond “fine” or “tired.”