About

Kate Duva O’Rourke

she/they

​I was born and raised in Shikaakwa, so-called Chicago, and now live on unceded Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui lands - so-called Tucson, Arizona.

I've been writing, facilitating, and co-designing dynamic learning, leadership, and therapeutic programs with adult learners and intergenerational groups for over 10 years. My work is inspired by somatics, the power of storytelling, the science of neuroplasticity, popular education (by the people, for the people), and lifelong learning in diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and transformative justice.

My approach is shaped by my background as a community organizer, adult educator, bilingual intergenerational special education teacher, developmental therapist, coach/mentor, team manager, and people leader. I'm also a published writer, interviewer, and public speaker. The greatest joy of my career so far was founding a multilingual, transdisciplinary social program, and working with institutional and community partners to co-design it and build it from the ground up.

Kate stands smiling on top of a snowy mountain, wearing a backpack and hiking shoes and holding a hiking pole.

Hiking the mountains of Bosnia, 2013

Kate speaks into a microphone outdoors in front of a tree. She has one arm lifted, furrowed brows, and an expressive face. They are wearing a leopard print top, black pants, and bright blue platform sandals.

Chicago Newberry Soapbox Speech Champion, 2016

Kate and her teenage daughter at night, wearing swimwear and headlamps. They are standing in shallow ocean water, smiling at the camera.

With my “spawn,” collecting squid for bioluminescence research, 2020

I love to get creative and help people learn, grow, and make meaningful, measurable changes. I have a passion for social and cohort-based learning to leverage and grow the talent and wisdom that teams already have - as well as for creating systems and structures to foster self-accountability and leadership development.

I take an ethical, human-centered approach to learning - and center equity and accessibility in my technology use. I enjoy creating eLearning and digital resources with Articulate Storyline, Rise, Camtasia, and Adobe Creative Suite. Check out my portfolio to learn more.

Logo: purple circle with white triskele (3 interconnected spirals).

I operate from an awareness that we are living in turbulent times. Life is short, and we have precious little time to waste on meaningless work. Earth is changing so fast, it's hard to process it. Human health is changing, disability is on the rise, and society is undergoing seismic shifts.

​More than ever, we need to practice authenticity and humility. We need to be creative, collaborative, agile, and open to emergent strategy. Let's make space to reflect together. To design a more sustainable world. And to build it, one small act at a time.

For samples of my work in instructional design and eLearning development, visit my portfolio:

“The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it.”

James Baldwin