About the Book

A place we return to again and again…where we're still learning and something beautiful takes root. These dialogues unfold in the breath before response, in the choice to stay with the tension, and in the brave work of staying connected through it. At the center are two women (one Black Puerto Rican, cis-lesbian, and one white, cisgender, straight) engaged in the everyday practice of Transmuting white supremacy and patriarchy through presence, honesty, and care. This book invites you into the tension, the tenderness, and the transformation that becomes possible when we choose to stay present with what unsettles, be moved by what emerges, and to remain connected through it all.

The Ground Between Us: A Garden of Conversations Across Race and Relationship invites readers into raw, authentic dialogues that model how to engage across difference without bypassing the discomfort that true transformation requires. The conversations emerged from the authors' shared work developing the Cultivating Intersectional Leadership framework, offering readers practical tools for Transmuting the ever present mechanisms of patriarchy and white supremacy into spaces of compassion, grace, and love.

Features a Foreword by NYT Bestselling Author Sonya Renee Taylor

About the Authors

Diedra Barber: Transmuting for me entails resisting a continuous flow of experiences directed at my mind, body, heart, and soul from the violent, humanity-vacant mechanisms of patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism.  My path has been to remember and deepen my connection to my divine spark- my humanity and therefore my ability to hold compassion, grace, and kindness from a place of fierce, unapologetic boundaries and protections. I do not desire to become what the construct has delineated and that which I have worked a lifetime resisting. Transmuting has assisted me in this resistance and expansion. I am here to engage, experience, and evolve as a human in a reality designed to disregard and devour our shared humanity and sparks. I hope that the transmuting offerings and information you find help you imagine, create, and foster a journey that supports you in remembering your divine spark and the power that is YOU, especially in these times of chaos and collapse.

Maureen Benson: With extensive experience building and leading social impact organizations, I am dedicated to the ongoing work of Transmuting white supremacy and patriarchy in both my personal and professional life. From my time as a high school teacher and principal in Oakland, CA, to serving as the COO of a national racial equity organization, I’ve been at the forefront of systemic transformation.

As a facilitator and coach, I work with executive teams, boards, and staff to guide organizations toward true racial equity and inclusive leadership. In community, I’ve also served as a Police Commissioner and organizer, focusing on ending police violence against marginalized communities—especially Black people who bear the brunt of state violence.

After 30+ years in education and social impact work, I am even more committed to reshaping our systems, both governmental and educational, to dismantle the historical disparities that continue to harm marginalized communities. The tools of Cultivating Intersectional Leadership are my commitment to a lifetime of unlearning and transformation.