"These times are urgent; let us slow down” - Bayo Akomolafe
Our Story
Kasey and Sam have been co-conspirators since 2018, Loam since 2021 and Johns Hopkins Social Innovation Lab Alumni since 2022.
Loam was founded by Kasey Armstrong and Sam Novak. They met in graduate school studying whole systems thinking and social change. Their self-organized alumni community was spread across the country. In 2017 Sam, in need of a stronger sense of community and comradery in her work, reached out with a simple question: “Does anyone want to nerd out about systems change?” Kasey raised her hand and the rest is history.
Kasey and Sam entered into a slow, spirited connection of swapping stories and sharing perspectives on the joys and heartaches of challenging the status quo. With no expectations, they became great friends before becoming great collaborators. That relationship has grown into Loam.
Loam is honored to be supporting humans who are doing the sacred work of changemaking to bring about better, more beautiful futures. Sam and Kasey work to leverage their privilege as white/non-indigenous, cis-gendered women towards solidarity and shared power. And, they choose to work with humans they love.
Inspirations & Influences
The ideas and practices we offer through our work, while sometimes shaped by us, largely originate from the work and genius of many scholars and practitioners who have come before us and who do this work alongside and around us. We attempt to decolonize our work through accountability to lineage, ongoing learning, and recognition and amplification of the peoples and places from where these ideas originate. People who heavily influence our thinking include…