text-only Resume
S. Leigh Thompson
Leigh is pronouced “LEE”. My pronouns are he/they
Contact Info
+1 402 212 9686
Professional Summary
Hi, I’m Leigh! I’m a facilitator, Theatre of the Oppressed Joker, strategist and coach with over 25 years of experience in equity and justice learning, leadership development, movement and organizing strategy, and systems change. I have expertise in curriculum and program design, embodied and creative workshop facilitation, and coaching for values-driven leaders and organizations. Proven ability to build equity inclusive learning environments, guide institutional transformation, and support transformational leadership growth and liberatory practice using a wide range of methodologies and approaches.
Select Employment
Co-Conspirtator and Co-Owner, The Asterisk (2024-current)
Run daily operations of community workspace for healing, creativity and liberation
Support community development, create and facilitate events and provide resources
Developed strategic approaches for national racial justice campaigns and online engagement
Self-employed (2015-present)
Serve as a consultant, strategist, facilitator, and coach responsible for design and implementation of large- and small-scale workshops and training programs
Provide tailored, wraparound programs and services developed to respond to the unique perspectives, needs and challenges of each community group
Provide organizational assessments, conflict and crisis response, and review and design of policies, organizational values, and more
Work solo and in collaboration with a team of collaborators and consultants
Adjunct Professor, SUNY New Paltz (2023-2024)
Designed and taught courses on gender and sexuality studies and feminism
Created an interactive, participatory classroom culture to engage students in critical thinking and social justice frameworks
Curriculum Designer & Facilitator, Center for Racial Justice in Education (2016–2023)
Designed racial equity curricula and programs for students, educators and families
Trained school communities on racial justice frameworks and action
Executive Director, The Forum Project (2012-2016)
Led small nonprofit organization that provided organizers, activists, educators and movement leaders with creative and innovative tools to create liberatory change
Worked with thousands of educators, activists, organizers, and artists in NYC and around the world to build skills to respond to issues of oppression
Designed curricula and programs and trained facilitators
Supported staff, managed budgets, grant writing, and board relations
Campaign Strategist, Race Forward (2011–2012)
Core projects included online organizer capacity building for the Drop-the-I-Word Campaign and building the organization’s online organizing and engagement model
Created educational materials, conducted advocacy efforts
Provided leadership coaching and direct campaign support for organizers
Served on Colorlines’ editorial team and contributed articles on racial justice
Education
New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study, M.A. 2010
Focus: Political and social change, critical pedagogy, public policy, nonprofit management, and change theory.
University of Nebraska, B.A. Theatre Direction, Cum Laude 2001
Focus: Theatre of the Oppressed
Awards
Brooklyn Borough Pride Award, The Office of the Brooklyn Borough President (2014)
Recognized for LGBTQ advocacy
Community partner award, Border Crossers (2013)
Recognized for racial equity and anti-oppression work
Key projects
Ensuring trans inclusion as Production DEI Specialist
Heightened Scrutiny (2024)
Advised the film production to ensure the team's trans-inclusive intentions were fully enacted on set
Trained crew members on affirming practices, supported talent and staff in navigating sensitive topics, and conducted pre- and post-interviews with each on-screen participant to ensure they felt prepared and supported
Create an environment where everyone could engage with the film’s complex themes with care, clarity, and confidence
12 years of civic leadership training and programmatic advising
Coro New York Leadership Center (2012-2023)
Trained civic engagement leaders in nonprofit, government, and for-profit industries
Served nearly one thousand leaders over 23 fellowship cohorts in multiple-day sessions
Designed and facilitated workshops on systemic power, critical thinking, and addressing oppression at work
Facilitated affinity group space for white fellows
Advised program leaders and provided coaching support for fellows
Leading global teams to examine organization’s internal power dynamics and bias
International Rescue Committee (2020-2021)
Program to support global organizing teams to address Eurocentrism and develop equitable and just practices across the organization
Trained international team in systemic power, privilege and oppression
Built and collaborated with a team of facilitators to work with race- and place-based cohorts worldwide
Engaged senior leadership with opportunities for strategic change as guided by staff groups
Large-scale, multi-year equity project for national environmental organization
Sierra Club, Growing for Change Initiative (2017-2018)
Co-developed a multi-year equity learning program for nearly 1,000 staff and organizers nationwide
Provided organizational assessment, design and facilitation of 13 two-day workshop retreats for all staff and key organizers
Provided leadership support for executive leadership, staff and board members
Co-created an online asynchronous curriculum program
Trained subsequent workshop facilitators to deliver workshop content
Provided trans inclusive assessment of HR procedures
Additional Clients
ACLU
SEIU 32BJ
The Solutions Project
Kinetic Light
Queers for Economic Justice
Roundabout Theatre
Vera Institute of Justice
Florida Immigrants Coalition
Right to Be
NY Coalition of Radical Educators
Kingston City School District
Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force
Professional Service
Commissioner, Ulster County Human Rights Commission (2025-current)
Board Member, Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed (2005-2007, 2010-2018, 2023-current)
Review Editor, Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Journal (2017-current)
Board Member, Interim Board Chair, O+ (2021-2023)
Principal Advisor, Stonewall Community Foundation (2013-2015)
Co-founder and Board President, TransMasculine Community Network (2006-2010)
Writing Examples
Lead Author, Disclosure: the Movie Toolkits (2020)
Co-Author, "Image Theatre: A Liberatory Practice for ‘Making Thought Visible'" in The Routledge Companion to Theatre of the Oppressed (2019)
Columnist, Colorlines Magazine (2011-2012)
Co-Author, “Performing Truth: Queer Youth and the Transformative Power of Theatre of the Oppressed” in Come Closer: Critical Perspectives on Theatre of the Oppressed (2011)
Writing Examples
Multiple Theatre of the Oppressed workshops, Augusto Boal and Julian Boal
Multiple Workshops, Race Forward
Undoing Racism, People’s Institute
Popular Education and Organizing Workshop, Highlander Center
Stonewall Out In Front Leadership Fellowship
So many conferences and community learning events
Skills + Knowledge
Theatre of the Oppressed Joker for 25+ years, promoting solid critical analysis, creative thinking and responsive, attentive group facilitation
Strong understanding and analysis of systemic power, with deep practice in:
Gender binary, cissexism and heterosexism
Race, racism and white supremacy
Disability justice and ableism
Feminisms, sexism and patriarchy
Liberatory joy and empathetic practices
Organizational development
Assessments
Nonprofit management
Cultural development
Organization values development
Leadership and board development
Curriculum and workshop design and facilitation
Trauma- and disability informed
Popular education and critical pedagogy
Embodied techniques and somatic practices
Tools and approaches for interactive virtual facilitation
Approaches to embrace neurodiversity
Responsive and emergent approaches
Community and movement organizing skills
Coalition-building
Supporting movement alignment
Building innovative and strategic campaigns and movement strategies
Restorative justice and generative conflict
Equity and leadership coaching
Public Speaking
Impact
“Leigh is the kind of big hearted, fiercely intelligent teacher that pushes all of the people in the room to put their ego aside and continue to grow. You will leave the room vastly more prepared to be a problem-posing troublemaker in a world that needs more people shaking things up.”
—Bobby Gordon, Lecturer, UCLA Department of World Arts & Cultures, Director of Special Projects, UCLA Art & Global Health Center
”Leigh holds flexible, compassionate space in a room, challenges and supports workshop participants, and crafts containers for rigorous inquiry into dynamics of privilege and oppression. I find Leigh's work to be complex, participatory, transformative and hugely inspirational. His facilitation is his art form, and it's beautiful.”
—Nayantara Sen, Director of Narrative and Cultural Strategies + Senior Trainer, Race Forward
“Leigh brings a strong intersectional analysis that combines issues of race, gender, power and privilege that has been helpful in allowing participants to push themselves and see the impact of their identity in the work they are trying to accomplish. As a seasoned trainer, Leigh leans into these issues with humor, conviction and a sense of urgency”
—Benny Vasquez, Chief Equity Officer, KIPP Foundation