ASWR is an approved OSPI partner and proud IPTN member.

We support schools across Washington in disrupting exclusionary practices and reducing disparities—centering Black students with IEPs and all students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).


Our mission is to ensure every scholar is meaningfully included in classrooms and communities. 

Why ASWR?

Born from our roots as therapists and equity-driven leaders, we create spaces for healing, innovation, and systemic change.

At ASWR, we believe that your school community should be spaces of possibility, not just productivity. We understand that traditional systems often reinforce harm, exclusion, and burnout—so we’re here to offer innovative and equitable resources to support all diverse learners.

Through Parent & Family Engagement, Student Support, Educator & Staff Engagement, and Critical Incident Response, we empower educational institutions to adopt sustainable inclusion practices that align with broader efforts to reduce exclusion and foster true belonging.

We help educational institutions dismantle barriers and cultivate cultures where people and ideas thrive—spaces that are equitable, sustainable, and radically human.

Creating Healing Spaces For All

Parent & Family Engagement

Our Parent and Family Engagement offerings create welcoming, collaborative spaces where families can authentically share experiences, build community, and access support. Through listening sessions, group supports, and community events, we strengthen school-to-home connections that center trust and equity.

Student Support

  • Centering Historically Excluded Students:

    • For Black students with disabilities, we provide affirming spaces that uplift voice and disrupt harmful patterns of isolation and bias.

    • We offer strengths-based support sessions that honor the lived experiences of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

    • Our approach emphasizes belonging, communication, and connection — building inclusive environments where every learner can thrive.

    • Sessions are delivered in small group and individual formats, centering care, access, and cultural responsiveness.

Educator & Staff Engagement

We create spaces where educators and staff can meaningfully reflect, build shared language, and deepen their capacity to lead inclusive, equity-centered practices. Through confidential coaching, collaborative workshops, and practical tools, we help teams grow together and sustain transformative change.

Critical Incident Response

We provide responsive, healing-centered support to help school communities navigate difficult moments and move forward with clarity and care.

Whether addressing incidents of harm, bias, or disruption, our team offers structured sessions that prioritize emotional safety, reflection, and next steps for inclusive leadership.

One feature of this support is “The Call In” —a new 30-minute learning space created to support growth, reflection, and practical strategies for more inclusive schools. This free statewide series offers confidential drop-in sessions where Washington educators, staff, and leaders can come together to strengthen inclusive practices in real time.

We believe inclusion is not a program—it's a practice, a commitment, and a path toward educational equity.

What Our Clients Are Saying

  • It was a 10/10 experience. [And Still We Rise] was so nice and helpful! All the students involved had such a great time and we learned so much!

    Gaina, Framingham BSU

  • “And Still We Rise has been a welcomed partner…to provide guidance and services to BIPOC families following a racially-motivated hate crime. They were able to quickly pull together a team of professional in the direct aftermath to support the families in this tragedy. Further, we continued our work with And Still We Rise in leading workshops focused on affinity groups to explore means to improve solidarity. The team at And Still We Rise has been engaged, attentive and very professional.”

    Meredith, Winthrop Department of Public Health & Clinical Services

  • Roberta Holmes has been extremely helpful and has gone above and beyond to create workable solutions for our needs at Mount Holyoke. And Salwa has met the needs of one of our students in a way that very few others could have. We look forward to continued work together.

    Beth, Mount Holyoke College

  • “Very very wonderful! Thoughtful, kind, supportive, responsive.”

    Amelia, Pause Wellness Center

  • Dr. Cesar is passionate, and absolutely unrivaled in connecting with my BIPOC students. She developed lessons to teach them self awareness, build community, and improve their overall understanding and comfortability in their Black/Brown skin. I am so grateful for the work of ASWR. EVERY school district needs an ASWR provider!

    Andre, BART Charter Public School

  • “We recognized early on that there was a major gap in culturally responsive mental health care. The staff of And Still We Rise spent the time explaining their approach to health and wellness and delivered exactly what our community needed.”

    Meredith Hurley, Public Health, Town of Winthrop

  • “They create safe spaces where individuals feel supported in addressing the mental and emotional toll of their work.”

    Michelle Curry, OSPI

  • “We are better because of our collaboration. ASWR’s feedback and recommendations have been direct, specific, and incredibly helpful.”

    Dr. Lisha Cabral, Easton Public Schools

  • “ASWR demonstrated exceptional expertise in navigating complex conversations around power, privilege, and systemic oppression.”

    Octavio González, PhD, OUT MetroWest

  • “They connect quickly with diverse groups and adapt content in real time. Every member of their team reflects integrity and deep alignment with values.”

    Kelly Lynch, Found in Translation

  • “Students left with increased confidence, connection, and sense of belonging.”

    Andre Lynch, MCLA / BART Charter School

  • “ASWR helped me understand I’m not going through life alone—and that I can lean on my peers.”

    Student, ASWR Affinity Group at BART Charter School

  • “They have demonstrated the highest level of inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and mutual respect. ASWR has been a phenomenal partner.”

    Ishmael Moyo, Gov Service Group

Building an Educational Institution Where Every Student Thrives!

Invest in proactively building a thriving, collaborative culture where everyone flourishes. Join the movement—let’s reimagine learning together.