Lativia Samone P., MPA, joined Deep Center in 2025 as Associate Director of Restorative Schools. In this position, Lativia is the partner-school site leader of our Healing Schools Initiative, collaborating with school leaders and educators to promote restorative practices and principles that align with each school’s unique context.
Lativia’s education and professional journey span the globe. She served in the Peace Corps in Guinea (2017-2019) and completed a Fulbright Research Grant in Morocco in 2020, focused on cultural preservation and youth access to the arts. These international experiences have had a profound impact on her work, deepening her skills in a wide variety of settings. In previous roles, her leadership expanded access to experiential learning opportunities, empowering high school students across Chicago to build critical skills, deepen their civic awareness, and strengthen their connections to their communities.
As an educator, advocate, and bridge-builder, Lativia is dedicated to creating learning environments where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. With a career rooted in helping students and educators discover their voices and potential, she has developed culturally responsive curricula, facilitated partnerships between schools and community organizations, and trained educators in trauma-informed practices, which increased student engagement and fostered positive relationships.
Outside of her professional work, Lativia is passionate about reading, writing, and horticultural therapy, and dreams of creating an equine therapy ranch that offers young people new pathways for growth, healing, and emotional sustainability.
She believes that joy, connection, and community are essential ingredients for lasting change.
Please join us in welcoming Lativia Samone P. to the Deep Center team! To connect with Lativia and learn how you can support Deep’s work, reach out via email to lativia@deepcenter.org.