Our story

Opened in April 2024, Radiate exists to partner alongside social impact organizations such as nonprofits, foundations, and small businesses undergoing periods of significant change. We were tired of watching toxic workplaces continue the plague of burnout within the nonprofit sector - we knew work could be different.

That’s why we specialize in workplace transformation, leadership development, and strategic planning. We infuse disability inclusion and restorative practices throughout all of our engagements. Through these pillars, we guide organizations along with their leaders and boards to cultivate healthy workplace cultures where they can reduce turnover, improve staff wellbeing, and motivate internal excellence in pursuit of the organization’s mission. Our approach is participatory, strengths-based, and undergirded by trauma-responsive practices.

By instilling the values of a healthy organizational culture into strategic goals and leadership programming, Radiate equips social impact organizations and their leaders to achieve their missions. All this while prioritizing their most important asset - their people. In this way, our communities are better supported by the positive, sustainable impact of healthy organizations.

We are committed to strategic and culture change initiatives and believe that budgets shouldn’t be a barrier to an organization’s wellbeing. As such, we also create accessible resources for everyday nonprofits who want to support their staff while excelling at their mission.

Organizations thrive when their people are supported.

Our team

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Jena Kitchen, Founder

Jena Kitchen partners with nonprofit and grantmaking leaders through workplace transformation and leadership development, focused on disability inclusion and restorative practices. She is drawn to systems change, recognizing that it all begins with relational work, and uses her training in conflict transformation and neuroscience to promote overall wellbeing for organizations and staff alike.

During 2021-2024, she helped launch the program strategy and organizational systems for an international peacebuilding organization, including managing a team of trauma healing leaders doing community-based reconciliation in the Horn of Africa. She has coordinated a Participatory Action Research project with reconciliation practitioners and designed a trauma-informed leadership project for leaders in Burma. She has worked with and independently consulted within philanthropic, public health, nonprofit, and higher education organizations and led the strategic planning process while on the board of a Richmond-based leadership nonprofit.

Jena is a person with disabilities and has her Nonprofit Board Education Certificate from BoardSource along with Level 1 of Strategies for Trauma Awareness & Resilience (STAR) through the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. In addition, she has a graduate degree from George Mason University in conflict analysis and resolution focused on trauma-responsive leadership; an executive leadership certificate from Cornell University; and bachelor’s degrees in sociocultural anthropology and Latin American studies from William & Mary.

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Kayla Ortiz, Strategy Consultant

Kayla Ortiz is a dynamic leader with a diverse background spanning startup consulting, HR, financial modeling, bookkeeping and account management. Over the past several years, she has honed her expertise at a fast-growing SaaS (software as a service) company, where she has become a champion for helping businesses thrive. Kayla is passionate about empowering others to grow their ventures by making data-driven decisions and uncovering actionable insights.

With a knack for simplifying complex data and a deep appreciation for working with mission-driven individuals, Kayla thrives on building meaningful connections with people who are passionate about creating positive change. In the spirit of learning and growth, she is currently completing a Master's in Social Innovation for Sustainable Development with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization in Turin, Italy.

When she’s not diving into spreadsheets or strategy sessions, Kayla enjoys organizing volunteers, reading, and connecting with communities to foster innovation in Richmond, VA.

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Miguel Petrosky, Consultant

Miguel Petrosky is a Consultant at Radiate, where he helps streamline organizational operations to better serve mission-driven work within the philanthropic sector. He brings a background in journalism, international development, and democracy promotion, with a focus on how religion shapes politics and culture both in the U.S. and around the world. Previously, Miguel worked at the Center for International Private Enterprise, supporting private-sector-led reforms and anti-corruption efforts, particularly across African democracies.

His work explores the intersections of governance, civic space, and cultural influence, with a global and systems-level perspective. Miguel holds a BA in Government from the College of William and Mary and is pursuing an MLitt in International Political Theory at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Outside of work, you’ll likely find him at a piano bar playing tunes, on his bike exploring new corners of the city, or deep into a book with a good cup of coffee in hand.

Madeline Anderson, Communications Specialist

Madeline Anderson is a Communications Specialist at Radiate where she provides communications strategy and social media engagement. Maddie has experience consulting with numerous nonprofit organizations and with local, state, tribal, and federal stakeholders. She is passionate about mentoring, problem solving, and relationship building.

Maddie currently teaches in Loudoun County Public Schools, primarily supporting students with disabilities and English language learners. Maddie’s background also covers philanthropy, international development and social justice, having previously served as the Reconciliation and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Reimagining America Project. Her role involved promoting Truth and Reconciliation initiatives and designing curricula to facilitate community dialogues and resiliency.

Originally from Louisiana, Maddie holds her Master’s in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding and a Certificate of Mediation from Georgetown University. Her two bachelor degrees from George Mason University are in French and Global Affairs, concentrating in environmental peacebuilding. Maddie is fluent in French and has intermediate proficiency in Spanish. Outside of work, you’ll find Maddie consumed by an Agatha Christie book or playing a board game.

We truly believe that collaboration with trusted partners who are aligned in purpose and values yields to an even better product or service than we could have designed on our own. Whenever we can, we seek to work cohesively with these talented partners.

Our partners

Led by V Fixmer-Oraiz, we partner with Astig Planning on certain strategic planning and organizational policy projects. Their unique approach, Strategic Planning+, complements our emphasis that programs and projects ought to be participatory, generative, and action-oriented.