Everybody's got a story
Meet the Storyteller on a Mission
Danita Rountree Green, M.A., TLSC is a wordsmith, trauma healer and CEO of Coming Together Virginia (formerly Coming To The Table-RVA), a nonprofit committed to racial healing in the city known as the former Capital of the Confederacy. As the only African American in leadership of an inclusivity group in RVA, she facilitates the "courageous yet clumsy" conversation on race, social equity and the legacy of the American Slave Trade for a mixed race audience with over 1200 online members and 300 active participants seeking to heal the wounds of the past.
https://www.comingtogethervirginia.org/
As a playwright and trauma healing facilitator, Danita conducts workshops addressing various forms of community trauma and race related issues. As therapeutic art and restorative language specialist, she uses storytelling to unravel self-defeating narratives, helping people move through personal, generational and historical trauma.
“Change the narrative, change a life.”
Appearing before audiences on five national tours, Danita has shared the stage with Iyanla Vanzant, Levar Burton and Dr. Bernice King. Her work has been featured in Style, Slantress, Essence and Richmond Magazines as well as USA TODAY and The Wall Street Journal. In 2013, she served as a chairperson for the 8th Annual Arts in Society Conference held in Budapest, Hungary, presenting her research on restorative language as a healing tool in marginalized communities. At home, she is the artist in residence for the Va Dept of Health providing a wide range of services related to trauma informed care. Due to her work in race and trauma, she was selected the United States Dept. of Patents and Trade as their ASALH Hallowed Ground Commemoration speaker in 2016 and co presenter with co-founder of CTTT-RVA, Martha Rollins for WOMANKIND 2018.
“Words are medicine.”
As an author, Danita (Satiafa) is best known for The Love Locked Down Series - a collection of work that addresses the effect of prison culture on American families. Her book is now a play, The LOVE Locked Down Theatre Project deals with racism and implicit bias to a diverse audience. She is also the creator of AND THEN There's Hope, a multi-dimensional fine art program targeting ACEs and implemented by VDH, RCJC and VCU Health Systems.
Her other titles include Broom Jumping: A Celebration of Love and Grandmother’s Gift of Memories (Broadway Books). Both address truth-telling in history and the importance of sharing personal narratives. Green is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Maryland University of Integrative Health. However, her greatest teaches are her three sons, the people she meets on the streets and the ancestors guiding her path everyday.
Books by Danita Rountree Green (aka Rachel Satiafa)
Grandmother's Gift of Memories: An African American Family Keepsake
"In 1998, My mother painstakingly filled out the autobiographical questions in this lovely book for my daughter, her first granddaughter. Now in 2007, my eight year old daughter asks me to read from the book as if my mother's life is an exciting historical novel. The book is a storehouse of family history and memories for future generations.
- Lathrup Village Rattler
Love Locked Down: A Novel About Women in Relationships with Incarcerated Men (R Satiafa)
"Great book! Couldn't put it down. So many twists and turns maintained the reader's interest and anticipation of the next chapter. Really enlightening portrait of the lives and mindset of the convict and those that love and support them opened my eyes and view of why love locked down is so prevalent!
- Anonymous
In our quest for social justice and equality, remember -
Bring Love to the Fight
"Let’s be clear, there is no racial healing without reparative action. Addressing the systems that are broken - our economic system, school systems, housing, policing, transportation - is imperative to our success. Now is the time to be heard, to put your convictions to WORK. This is how you bring love to the fight."