Meet Heron

It is an honor and a passion of mine to work with people consciously choosing to create a balanced, healthy and creative life.

I am certified in Mind-Body Medicine through the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C.

I've had the good fortune of having remarkable healers in my life who have guided me in my journey of finding balance and calm. I am indebted to them. The balance of life is always changing; accepting this truth challenges all of us at one time or another. You have the courage and capacity to find balance and calm. You can cultivate your own inner wisdom.

I have been a mediator and coach for twenty three years and am a Qualified Neutral under the Minnesota General Rule of Practice for the District Courts Rule 114 and a mediator in good standing. I've worked in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI+B) field since 2000 coaching organizations and individuals working towards equitable and inclusive goals. I facilitate dialogues on racism, equity and equality. I am a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Developmental Inventory® tool. I coach individuals and lead workshops and classes in Mind-Body-Medicine. 

I've worked in Hospice settings and with individuals as they've found inner peace and calm in their last days. I am a former EMT with three years experience on a rural ambulance. I have extensive training in many integrative-medicine practices and healing modalities.

I make a pretty good loaf of sourdough bread and won many first place ribbons in whitewater canoe races. I am also learning to yodel.

Below, in pictures, are some of the things that sustain me in life.

One of my good friends. It’s important to have time to wonder about the smallest of things. Wandering is equally important. I love the beauty to be found in life, whether in a garden, walking to greet a summer morning, or in times long past. Getting together with friends and family is sweet.
 

 

And for those who are more CV/Bio/Resume convergent:

Heron Diana is a trauma-informed, creative and respected consultant. She believes businesses thrive when they uncover the rich inner wisdom found in the diversity of employees.

She is an expert coach, facilitator, and businesswoman able to forge solid relationships and build consensus with multiple stakeholders. She works with clients as they navigate all aspects of cultural inclusion and competency. She also completed her Certification in Mind-Body Medicine from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine located in Washington, DC. and brings the awareness of how stress and trauma effect employees and workplaces.

Some of the contracts she has fulfilled:
• Lead focus group facilitator regarding creation of a MN comprehensive healthcare plan
• Consultant/designer/co-facilitator in a conflict resolution process for MN State Dept of Education
• Contractor staff overseeing public hearings of potential PolyMet Mining Company mine in MN
• Lead facilitator for focus groups in a 2018 Connected and Autonomous Vehicle study under Governor Dayton
• Team member with Mediation Center, Minneapolis and Falcon Heights, MN in creating and leading community discussions in Falcon Heights, MN regarding continuation of inclusion efforts in the aftermath of Philandro Castille's death.

Since 2016, Heron has worked in multiple large and small companies, both in the public and private sector, as an independent IDI Qualified Administrator (QA) implementing the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®). (This tool assesses intercultural competence.) For over 13 years, she served as a facilitator for the Minneapolis YWCA facilitating dialogues on racism and also served as an IDI QA for part of that time.

Heron serves as a trainer, coach and and mediator for The Mediation Center in Minneapolis since 2010. Heron served as a mediator and volunteer with the Dispute Resolution Center in Ramsey County for 12 years, helped to set up the volunteer training program, and was often called in for difficult cases. She is a practicing Circle Keeper and uses this as a tool to help resolve conflict and build stronger communities, whether in the workplace or out in the world at large.

Heron co-formed Generous Alternatives (GA) in 2008 with Bea VueBenson and Ilean Her in the aftermath of the Chai Vang shootings of six hunters in Wisconsin. This cross-cultural organization developed an innovative model for cultivating respectful intercultural dialogues and coaching stronger communication skills for groups in high conflict. While GA has closed its doors, Heron continues to lead intercultural workshops, training sessions and coaching in the public and private sector, for businesses, universities, churches and communities.