Our Story
Addressing a silent epidemic:
The decline of relational dignity
The Higher Ground Project was created in response to witnessing so much disconnection in our workplaces and relationships. There is no shortage of stories about toxic work environments and harmful people. And despite our best efforts to connect with others, we often struggle in our relationships, creating relational injury that wreaks havoc across our workplaces, communities and in our homes.
We saw a need for work that addresses not only the ineffective systems in our workplaces but also addresses the relational capacity needed to work and live well with others. Even our best systems are only as healthy as the people who build them. It's clear that we need better systems and better culture!
What's the root of all this disconnection?
We believe at its root, the disconnection we see in our organizations and in our relationships reflects a broader decline in relational dignity, reinforced by cultures and systems that prioritize performance and profit over people.
Relational dignity is the practice of treating others with fundamental respect, care, and humanity. It means protecting the humanity, worth, and psychological safety of ourselves and others within our relationships and our institutions. When relational dignity erodes, we become more disconnected from ourselves and from others and our capacity for care shrinks. This lack of humanity gets reflected in the systems we build and in how we relate to one another.
Higher Ground is our response. We help individuals, organizations, and communities build their capacity to create safer, healthier, and more connected ways of working and living together. Through organizational change strategies, trainings and community programming, we raise the bar for how organizations and communities function.
Why should you care about connection?
Disconnection is shaping how we live, work, and relate. It shows up as burnout, inefficient, inhumane and ineffective work systems, breakdowns in trust, weaker communities, strained relationships, and institutions that struggle to care for the people within them. Connection isn’t a “nice to have,” it’s foundational to individual well-being, healthy organizations, productivity and thriving communities. It's a public health crisis!
Furthermore, as our workplaces and communities face increasing polarization and technological change, the relational skills that make us deeply human (self-awareness, listening, perspective-taking, repair etc.) are becoming essential infrastructure, not just "soft" skills.
Meet The Founder
Hello! I’m Dr. Crystal Clarke, I’m a social psychologist and organizational change strategist. I support leaders and teams in organization development which often looks like shifting toxic or outdated culture and systems.
But at the heart of what I do, I help people and organizations see themselves more honestly, and move forward with greater integrity. I help guide people back to themselves and each other.
Whether I’m designing organizational change initiatives, advising leaders, or facilitating community programs, my approach is always grounded in social intelligence, deep listening, and the belief that sustainable change begins within. I’m here to make sure we don’t just talk about change, we become it.