Zanya Harriot

Zanya is an artist, educator, and somatic coach. Her passion lies in crafting enriching learning experiences within and outside traditional educational settings, focusing on celebrating and empowering marginalized groups. She currently works as the Project Coordinator for the Project Zero Reach team in partnership with DESE. This project aims to create professional development for K-12 teachers engaged in Civics education. She previously was the Project Manager for the Educating for American Democracy implementation project, a cross-ideological initiative to strengthen K-12 civics and history education in the US. Zanya's pedagogy, anchored in her experience as a Donovan Scholar from Boston College, is driven by the intersection of social justice, community, and critical inquiry. Her work with elementary students across various schools in Massachusetts has been dedicated to ensuring families and students alike feel seen, loved, and valued. As an artist, she has created inclusive spaces for collaboration and expression for fellow artists of color in Boston, cultivating sacred "third" spaces where people can exist, even briefly, without the gaze of the harmful/oppressive other. She is looking forward to developing an interactive showcase on depression and community. As a somatic coach, Zanya provides guidance and support to primarily Black women in navigating their relationships with their bodies and emotions. She is excitedly developing workshops based on her Body Kintsugi practice to offer healing and empowerment.