Co-Creation - Ft. Alia Whitney-Johnson w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy
Description
Watch this episode featuring Alia Whitney-Johnson, Founder of Emerge, to discover why the IDG skill “Co-Creation” is not just a strategy—it’s a transformative practice when rooted in trust, equity, and our shared humanity.
In this insightful conversation, Alia shares how her social impact journey—which began in Sri Lanka at the age of 19 —has been guided by a commitment to trauma-informed restorative practices and justice. She also emphasises how genuine co-creation requires psychological safety, inclusive language, and a radical reimagining of power dynamics.
00:00 Preview
00:28 Introduction
01:05 About Alia Whitney-Johnson
03:15 Alia’s backstory
07:24 What is the mission of Emerge?
10:16 How the IDG definition of “Co-Creation” resonates with Alia
12:55 How do we create spaces for true “Co-Creation”?
16:17 Inner work as the first step in “Co-Creation”
19:51 How did Alia learn to hold space for and uplift other voices?
22:38 The importance of shared leadership in “Co-Creation”
24:16 How can “Co-Creation” transform youth partnerships?
32:16 The humility required for “Co-Creation”- especially when being called out
35:01 A story that shifted Alia’s perspective
38:44 How does language influence “Co-Creation”?
44:26 Supporting mental health in challenging contexts
47:37 Alia Whitney-Johnson’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH ALIA
✩ Website https://www.aliawhitneyjohnson.com/
✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aliawj/
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliawhitneyjohnson/
SHOW NOTES
✩ Emerge
Video edited by Green Horizon Studio
United States
