Sydney Spears, PhD, (she/her) identifies as a cisgender Black-multiracial woman. She has deep passion for elevating and advancing global social justice, equity, and compassion in the world. Consequently, Sydney has been highly committed to providing and integrating non-oppressive, strengths-based, and trauma-sensitive practices within her private practice and teaching. In the recent past, Sydney has worked as a faculty member for the University of Kansas-School of Social Welfare. Her academic teaching has been centered on cultural diversity, cross-cultural practice, anti-oppression, and racial identity issues.  She has also worked with children, adolescents, military veterans, and adults across educational systems and mental health social services. Sydney is currently serving as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB) for the Center of Mindful Self-Compassion, and she is also a certified Mindful-Self Compassion (MSC) teacher. In terms of advancing trauma-sensitive practices, Sydney serves as a member of the leadership team for the Boston area Center for Trauma and Embodiment and facilitates trauma-sensitive sessions as a certified provider. Sydney recently published a very user-friendly and experiential workbook for those who are interested in practicing mindfulness and self compassion. The workbook is called Finding Self-Compassion: A Mindfulness Workbook for Getting to Know and Love Yourself.