Jiva is a brother, son, facilitator, and organizer. He is connected to a collective of people around the world who are dedicated to supporting movements, organizations, and individuals to align values, resources, and action to maximize impact for social change. As Director of National Organizing and Narrative Shifting with Equal Justice USA, his work focuses on creating a world in which violence is rare. His approach to change is grounded in principles of nonviolence, including a commitment to accountability through collective action, organizing led by those most impacted by violence and the injustice at its roots, and trauma-informed, healing-centered practice. He has built strategy, trained leaders, and facilitated change with youth, elders, activists, executives, incarcerated people, educators, migrants, and government officials in Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, England, Iran, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Romania, and throughout the United States. He lives on Tohono O’odham land (Tucson, Arizona) with his partner, Hannah, and an ever growing stack of speculative fiction books.
