Book Taj
Take your event to the next level.
Delivering dynamic workshops, inspiring keynotes, and insightful webinars since 2010.
Taj M. Smith (he/him) is an award winning transgender educator and advocate and the founder of Rooted Respite, a virtual burnout coaching and support community for social changemakers. With over 20 years of advocacy and activism under his belt, he has first-hand experience with burnout as a social changemaker and has created methods for burnout prevention and recovery unique to people passionate about liberation and social change.
He has a creative passion for music and literature, particularly science fiction. He holds an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School and a BA in Politics from UC Santa Cruz.
Signature Talks
Taj is excited to work with you on your next event! Choose one of the topics below or get in touch to craft a bespoke workshop, training, or keynote for your organization or event.
Worldbuilding for Respite: Creating Worlds, Making Change, & Resisting Burnout
Time: 2 hours
This interactive workshop explores the concept of worldbuilding in sci-fi and fantasy genres as a creative tool for burnout prevention. Attendees will learn the foundational principles of worldbuilding, understand the link between creative expression and burnout prevention, and participate in an exercise to create their own world.
Coming Back from Burnout
Time: 90 minutes
This workshop provides leaders, managers, and directors an overview of burnout causes and symptoms plus tools to help support your team. By the end you'll be able to recognize burnout, understand your personal capacity and boundaries, and create a network of peer support for yourself and your team.
Work and the Crossroads: Intersectional Burnout Prevention
Time: 90 minutes
An interactive workshop that speaks specifically to the stress and emotional exhaustion experienced by people with multiple marginalized identities in the workplace. Participants will learn strategies to help them cope with workplace stress as a person with multiple marginalized identities. This workshop is also a space to build community for people with multiple marginalized identities.
Is Social Resiliency a Scam?
Time: 90 minutes
This workshop explores how social resilience can be weaponized against marginalized people and provides some strategies to help create space for emotions while navigating professional environments. Participants work together to strengthen their emotional intelligence and boundary awareness.