Rooted Respite
ROOTED RESPITE
Pronouns: he/him
Rooted Respite, founded by Taj M. Smith, helps people struggling with burnout and compassion fatigue in social change, uproot the cause and firmly plant themselves in the world they envision: rested, resourced, resilient, and free of exploitation. We provide 1-on-1 and group coaching, courses, webinars, and community support to those working to advance justice and liberation for all.
Taj is a coach, writer, speaker, and transgender educator. His work explores the spaces where spirituality, justice, and identity overlap. He is a Black transgender man who is deeply curious about the ways faith and identity interact to produce hopeful futures. He has a creative passion for music and literature, particularly sci-fi and fantasy. Taj’s written work appears in Sojourners, Huffington Post, and the Harvard Divinity Bulletin. His own transition story was published in Austin Hartke’s book Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians. He holds a BA in Politics from UC Santa Cruz and an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School.
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Collaborating with Taj M. Smith of Rooted Respite offers a unique opportunity for individuals and groups dedicated to social justice and liberation to address and heal from burnout and compassion fatigue. Taj’s deep-rooted expertise in coaching, coupled with his profound insights into spirituality, justice, and identity, provides a nurturing environment for personal and collective growth. His approach integrates academic rigor—supported by his degrees from UC Santa Cruz and Harvard Divinity School—with a compassionate understanding of the challenges faced by activists. Participants in his programs benefit from Taj's educational style, which draws from his expansive knowledge in politics, spirituality, and his personal experiences as a Black transgender man. His commitment to creating a hopeful future for all, supported by his love for music and literature, makes his coaching a transformative experience, ideally suited for those seeking to thrive while making a difference in the world.