The Nine Asks: Creating Safer and More Courageous Spaces

Organizations have a responsibility to ensure that people who come there to work, worship, or volunteer won’t experience harm.

At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are being systematically dismantled—stripped from government agencies, corporate initiatives, and institutional policies—the need for genuine, sustainable culture change has never been more urgent. Superficial checklists and one-time training sessions are not enough. True transformation requires a trauma-informed, programmatic approach that prioritizes safety, trust, and deep engagement.

In The Nine Asks, Kimberly Danielle provides a groundbreaking framework for organizations—churches, nonprofits, businesses, and beyond—seeking to foster spaces where people can show up fully as themselves, free from harm. At the heart of this approach are the Nine Asks—invitations that guide individuals and organizations toward authentic, equity-driven engagement. Backed by real-world examples from Danielle’s extensive experience of coaching teams and institutions, The Nine Asks equips readers with the tools to apply these principles, such as being honest and vulnerable, respecting boundaries, listening first, and much more.

This book goes beyond rhetoric, offering practical strategies for building communities that nurture honesty, accountability, and healing. After fully exploring each of the Nine Asks, individual chapters focus on integrating these concepts, as well as tips and tools for practicing them in working spaces; learning spaces; living spaces; faith-based spaces; and even within our own body, mind, and spirit. This is not just a book to read—it’s a guide to live by.

In an era where the fight for inclusion faces growing resistance, The Nine Asks provides a necessary roadmap for those committed to creating communities of safety, trust, and true belonging. Whether you are a board member, part of company leadership, an educator, or involved in your faith community or volunteer organization, this book offers the tools to ensure that inclusion is not just a goal—but a lived reality.