Our Mission
Necessary Interruptions is a radical equity consulting firm, that is rooted in interrupting anti-Black oppression, and centering an audacious Black based liberation lens.
The Origin Story
In 2020 at the height of distinctly unique civil rights chapter in these United States of America and our global community a sea of corporate offices, non-profits, businesses, educational institutions and communities were facing an internal racial reckoning. A reckoning that had been unfolding in times before ours, during the period of colonialism under oppressive regimes where code switching was a necessary means of survival for African communities who were fighting for freedoms from their Colonizers. Such was the case during the period of slavery when enslaved Black folks fled from the south to the north from their oppressors, in hopes to reimagine a life beyond the acres of an oppressive systems that had them shackled within the confines of white supremacist structures created by plantation owners.
Interrupting anti-Black and racial oppression has been the North Star that has guided a galaxy of Black, Indigenous and Brown ancestors who have contributed to countless movements that involved of freedom fighting, abolitionist work, human rights work that center a framework of liberation based ideologies that can still be felt to this day. Necessary Interruptions LLC, was birthed out of multiple conversations that Valeriana Chikoti-Bandua (Founder of NI) had early on in her life as a former refuguee which led up to consulting work in her adulthood through vital conversations with Family Members, Elders, Community Members, Church Leaders, School teachers, Friends, Advocates, Grassroots Activists, Consultants, Preventionists, Directors. Conversations that remain ongoing within the movement to end gender based, philanthropy and more importantly with grassroot organizing to fully center a Black liberation based lens.
Evidently these crucial conversations had one theme in common: For communities, movements, non-profits, businesses, community led groups, educational institutions to shift from performative anti-racist, diversity and inclusion frameworks towards creating action based policies and structures that specifically interrupt anti-blackness and racial oppression to make room for collective liberation.
“Thank you for bringing education and awareness to all of us. We are in this together. I commit myself to support in amplify voices and to be aware of my own behavior to be consistent with the values of human rights, anti-oppression and non-violence.”
-API CHAYA, Seattle Washington
Founder of Calm & Confident Doula Care
“I am so glad that I have better historical context - Strong Black leaders and African history are definitely not a part of standard teaching in public schools. ”
Visual Description: Valeriana is a dark skinned Black woman wearing clear glasses, with plum lipstick on, while wearing auburn single styled braids with clear beads at the end of her braids. In addition, she is wearing a Black buttoned up shirt with auburn overalls.
“It was a great honor to serve on Valeriana’s team. Her leadership and guidance were steady, clear and uplifting. Valeriana met each day and each challenge with brilliance and innovation. While she was solutions-based in her approach she never talked over a colleague nor rushed a process. I can say that Valeriana truly values People and strives to create an anti-oppressive workplace in which each of our authentic selves can shine.”
- Talcott Broadhead, Author of Polkadot