Our Founders
The story of beginnings is important. After years of leading strategic change initiatives and working in organizational management, we started fielding requests for help in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. JustPax Collective came together as a creative response to amplify and expand on current DEI efforts. We exist to challenge the status quo and equip organizations to build, develop, retain, and empower a diverse team in today’s changing world.
Shedrach
Shedrach Rowry earned his degree from Austin Graduate School of Theology and has authored multiple books. He is the CEO of The Levite Laboratory, a music development, performance, and production house that has recorded multiple albums and led worship for conferences all over the world, including: the House of Blues, SXSW music festival, Austin City Limits, Trinity Broadcasting Network, The Word Network, T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest Conference, Urbana Mission Conference, and Novaro Gospel Festival in Italy. He also co-founded The Refuge Place in Pflugerville, TX and serves on staff at the Texas Baptist Children’s Home. Shedrach lives in Austin with the love of his life, Kraven, and their three wonderfully smart and talented children, Isaac, Ariana and Elise.
Jonathan
Jonathan partners with leaders to consult on effective strategies to advance and expand on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. As an organizational developer, educator, and justice advocate, Jonathan founded JustPax Collective in response to leaders seeking grounded expertise in DEI strategy, racial justice initiatives, and peacemaking work. He brings together his background in pedagogical design and coaching to empower organizations to make lasting, impactful change. He holds a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and currently serves as the planting and campus pastor of Gateway Church Pflugerville. Jonathan loves writing, enjoying coffee with family and friends, shooting hoops, and moving communities forward in justice and peace.
Lisa
Lisa is an ordained pastor at Gateway Church in Austin, TX. She has a degree in social work and has worked with refugees and migrant communities, providing social services and access to resources. She also has a masters from Dallas Theological Seminary and worked as a clinical therapist, certified in trauma-informed counseling. For the past ten years, she has worked with churches and organizations in developing inclusion, reconciliation, and justice initiatives, leading groups and communities in theology, praxis, and systemic conversations, and engaging community advocacy work both locally and globally through various organizational partnerships and local government. Lisa is a daughter of South Asian immigrants, a little sister, and a dog mom. In her spare time, she loves trying new foods, seeing the world, walking trails, and almost any kind of board game.
Our Collective
We’re stronger (and smarter) together. We bring our individual strengths and experiences to drive organizational learning around DEI and community impact. Whether you are a start-up, a seasoned company, a non-profit, or a faith community, we leverage our cross-industry experience to evolve organizational cultures for the flourishing of all.
We Give Back
From the start, JustPax was built with a shared commitment to drive high-impact change through our work and community partnerships. Our 3 founders wanted to move beyond words and implement an ongoing practice to give back. Through our 10% Initiative, we donate 10% of our net profits to organizations that share our goals for mobilizing justice and peacemaking for the flourishing of our world.
Current partnerships include:
Seedling, Free Books Project, EJI, current grassroots opportunity
JustPax's Core Practices
While we believe in the importance of core values, we find that core practices are a better reflection of our commitments. As the saying goes, “Don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk.”
Learner-centric
Many trainings rely on outdated models that rarely engage active learning and participation, both of which are required for lasting and transformative change. We deliver training programs that are built on successful learning principles and human-centered approaches.
Justice
Our work is undergirded and guided by a vision of restorative justice in which all are involved in the work of equity and change.
Humility
None of us have fully arrived. We are lifelong learners who regularly challenge ourselves, second-guess our conclusions, and ask, “What if..?”. We stay dialed-in on our ever-changing environments. We don’t shy away from tough conversations and welcome feedback as we disrupt the status quo and co-create a new tomorrow.
Partnership
Because DEI work often involves hard truth, we focus on building a foundation of trust, openness, and empathy. We lead with grace, and we also won’t leave you guessing about difficult realities.
Hope
We practice hope daily. We believe in a world that will one day not need this work, and we’re committed to doing our part until that day comes.
Generosity
Through our 10% Initiative, we donate 10% of our net profits to organizations that share our goals for mobilizing justice and peacemaking for the flourishing of our world.
Peacemaking
We reject false unity and pursue a true peace in which all can flourish. To that end, we aren’t afraid to (respectfully) rock the boat a bit as we work together to heal divisions.
Mutuality
We establish partnerships that recognize and uplift our shared human dignity. We work to ensure that everyone gets to the table and can flourish.
Data-driven
We utilize tools and metrics to establish context and measure DEI growth so that your team can keep momentum moving forward.