Dr. Shakti Butler is a multiracial African-American woman (African, Arawak Indian, and Russian-Jewish) whose work as a creative and visionary bridge builder has challenged and inspired learning for over two decades.

Butler is the producer and director of the groundbreaking documentaries, “The Way Home,” “Light in the Shadows,”and “Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible,” Her newest film, “Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity” examines the causes and consequences of systemic inequity in the United States and features some two dozen racial justice leaders from across the country.

In 1994, as Executive Director of World Trust Educational Services, Dr. Butler designed and launched HEART-TO-HEART CONVERSATIONS, a national program of public dialogue designed to help people to learn together and share deep feelings about race and culture. This program has gained recognition and been reviewed on both local and national television.

Butler is an inspirational educator, filmmaker, speaker, social justice activist and healer. Her work emerges from years of self-exploration, commitment to social justice and experience as a learner, lecturer and public speaker. Dr. Butler’s services are sought after by colleges, universities, public and private organizations, religious and spiritual institutions and corporations.

A warm and compassionate person, Butler uses her ability to listen deeply while asking critical questions that support self-directed learning in others. Her speaking and teaching styles enrich people’s abilities to move toward expanded capacities for building community. Group dialogue, self-inquiry, reflection and whole body learning by participants are some of the strategies she employs. In addition, her videos and conversation programs stimulate the kind of new questions, which enhance any efforts towards deep learning and change.

Dr. Butler received her doctorate from the California Institute of Integral Studies in the School of Transformative Learning and Change. She holds an MA in Guidance and Counseling from Bank Street College of New York and graduated Magna Cum Laude from City College of New York. She is also a contributing author to The New Entrepreneurs, an anthology on new paradigm business practices and learning.