Mission
At Dekine Cultural Strategies, our mission is to nurture spaces of belonging and transformation by weaving together ancestral wisdom, community voice, and strategic visioning. We partner with organizations and communities to align purpose with practice, ensuring that equity and care are at the center of every plan.
Vision
We envision communities and institutions grounded in justice, thriving through connection, and guided by strategies that honor both history and possibility.
What Cultural Strategy Means to Us
Cultural strategy is the art and practice of shaping the values, narratives, and practices that lead to equitable change. It is not only about policy and planning—it is about listening deeply, telling truths, and creating the cultural conditions for communities to flourish.
Core Values
Community-Led Change
We believe those most impacted should lead the solutions.
Equity + Justice
We embed fairness, repair, and care into every process.
Deep Listening
We create room for silence, story, and the wisdom of all voices.
Creative Practice as Strategy
We use art, imagination, and cultural practice to move vision into action.
Why Dekine Cultural Strategies
“Dekine” is more than a name—it is an inheritance. It carries the legacy of Black Southern sharecroppers, quilters, and ministers whose resilience, creativity, and spiritual grounding inform our work today. Through this lineage, Dekine Cultural Strategies brings both strategic care and cultural wisdom to communities, guiding collective transformation and sustainable change.
Field Notes from Our Practice
We share these guidelines freely, in the spirit of community care. Use them as they are, adapt them for your context, or let them inspire you to create your own. What matters most is not the words themselves but the spirit behind them: an intention to be present, to listen with care, and to speak with dignity.
from "Community Dialogue Guidelines: Entering Difficult Conversations with Care" by Marlanda Dekine on LinkedIn
Every person carries unique insight into their own life and the life of their community. No external training can replace that lived experience.
from "Listening First: How Deep, Confidential Conversations Transform Communities" by Marlanda Dekine on LinkedIn
How can we help?
Send us a message.
Your message has been sent
Marlanda Dekine 