testimonials — kinship methods

don’t just take our word for it

"The tools and principles I learned through working with Kinship Methods are priceless and I will take them with me to every future job. Sara and Jules are incredibly professional, encouraging, and work as thought partners to help benefit the culture of your organization, teams, and beyond. Sara specifically pushed me to get out of my comfort zone daily to work on my areas of professional weakness, such as giving clear critical feedback and building trust with the people I manage, while also holding them accountable. I looked forward to my Kinship meetings every week and I wish I could take them with me to every job I work in the future!"

Savannah Drake (she/her)
Campaigns Director, ADLCC
"We often think the work of being a legislator only happens in the chamber, but most of what happens comes from the relationship between an elected and their team and their community. Kinship Methods helped me level up my understanding of how I show up in those relationships and that's going to be a springboard for the work that I do. Jules and Sara not only encourage thoughtfulness, compassion, and self-awareness, they model it in the work. If you're an elected and you want to show up in ways that defy the old hierarchies and do something different, I'd recommend KM to any of my colleagues."

Ismail "Izzy" Smith-Wade-El (he/they)
Pennsylvania State Representative
"Sara and Jules served as wonderful thought partners to our in-state leaders and myself as we built out large-scale campus organizing programs. Their experience leading organizing teams made them able to empathize and target their coaching and training to where it mattered most. After the election, our teams had so much to talk about. They led a jam-packed two-day retreat that both enabled people to process their feelings about the election while coming together on productive learnings. We couldn’t have done it without them!"

Teddy Landis (he/him)
Director, Student Turnout Projects
"Kinship was an absolute value-add to our work and organization from top to bottom. Not only did they provide support and coaching to our leadership team, they identified opportunities for growth across the entire program and worked with us to implement solutions within our budget. Sara and Jules continue to be absolute rockstars to my team post-election as well, offering time and advice on job hunting and reorganization. The cycle is so much easier with them on your side."

Elsa O'Callaghan (she/her)
Executive Director, ADLCC
"Working with Kinship Methods was one of the most impactful experiences of my time as the Youth Deputy Organizing Director at the Michigan One Campaign. Stepping into the fast-paced world of campaigns, I had to build and manage a team almost immediately. Kinship’s guidance was instrumental in that process, equipping me with the skills and strategies to lead effectively. The lessons I learned have had a lasting impact, shaping both my professional growth and personal development. Kinship’s approach is invaluable for any group or team looking to strengthen relationships, maximize impact, and implement sustainable processes for long-term success."

Shannon Kennedy (she/her)
Youth Deputy Organizing Director, Michigan One Campaign
"I've been working with Jules since I was first promoted into a management role and her support has been invaluable in the years since. From hiring, training and growing a successful team, to conflict management, to approaching new challenges, Jules' guidance has always been thoughtful, honest, an integral in my final decision-making process. I often leave our sessions feeling more confident, having talked through the options, my priorities, and more often than not, potential solutions I never considered. I attribute so much of my success in my current role to Vocal's relationship with Kinship, and highly recommend their services to anyone looking to deepen their management and leadership skills."

Shannon Cooke Vigliano (she/her)
Director of Campaigns, Vocal Media
"The help that Sara and Jules provided to me during a stressful cycle was truly invaluable. Not only did Sara and Jules teach me how to work through everyday situations that we face in the workplace, but the one-on-one coaching sessions that I had with Sara was something that I always looked forward to. Being able to talk through any problems or hiccups with Sara and have her coach me to solve them was extremely helpful. Due to their professional backgrounds, they are uniquely equipped to coach people and help them succeed. I learned so much during my time with them and wish I had access to Kinship's incredible curriculum earlier in my career! I cannot recommend Kinship enough to anyone or team that wants to grow stronger."

Marcela Taracena (she/her)
Communications Director, ADLCC
“Sara is the literal greatest. I had no idea what to expect when beginning coaching. Little did I know, it was EXACTLY what I needed to grow as a manager and believe that I could still bring value to this work in the midst of an off-year. Our sessions were sacred and a mixture of things I wanted to talk about and process, as well as a space for Sara and I to have candid conversations about where I was in that moment and not just what the future holds or what’s next. We often forget to live in the now and give ourselves permission to feel our feelings. Sara helped remind me of that while continuing to support me and push me to live in my greatness. 100/10 recommend Sara and Kinship Methods for any and all coaching needs!”

Jazz Webb (she/her)
Campaign Manager and BLC Alum
"Working with Sara from Kinship Methods has changed the game in how I show up and operate with my team. Her 1:1 style, looking at problems together, and walking you through intentional reflection of yourself, and how you show up in your day to day is exactly the kind of support that has clicked for me in my own growth. Not only does every coaching session feel like such a rich, full hour of support and working through issues, but I walk away with tips and tools to continue and further the work on my own. After my first set of sessions with Sara, I felt so much more equipped to handle the unique challenges that management could throw at me."

Kate Kelly (she/her)
Senior Organizing Manager, New Era Colorado
"Jules and Sara are truly the best. I have looked up to their management for so long, and it was truly a JOY to finally get to work with them directly this year. Kinship's core trainings anticipated the challenges I would experience as a first time State Director, and my 1:1 coaching time with Jules helped me work through all the fun, messy, challenging parts of applying abstract principles of leadership to the realities of a large, fast-paced team. At so many times throughout the cycle, Jules was my biggest cheerleader. She consistently encouraged me to lean into my own perspectives and strengths while challenging me to trust the strengths of the team I had built around me. Our work together gave me the confidence I needed to chart my team's course, a safe space to invest in my own growth, and the opportunity to get curious with leaders I knew I could respect and trust."

Connie Miller (she/her)
State Director, Project 26 PA
"Sara and Jules provided invaluable support to our team in 2024, as our staff footprint grew exponentially in a matter of weeks. They worked seamlessly on our timeline to personalize our curriculum and ensure managers at every level had the tools and resources they needed to lead strong, collaborative, and compassionate teams. From sharing insights on how the group sessions were going to checking in with us to see if there was anything new we would like covered or extra time spent on, Sara and Jules continuously went above and beyond delivering results for our team. Relentless staff in every department spoke highly of their experiences in coaching, and were eager to share what they learned and how they were putting it into practice. Sara and Jules hold themselves to the highest of standards and made our entire team better while also maintaining confidentiality and thus increasing the trust of all our staff."

Megan Pappalardo (she/her)
Chief of Staff, Relentless
"Not only did Sara and Jules completely transform me into a better manager and all around better and more empathetic, brave, and solutions oriented person, but Kinship Methods absolutely made me fall back in love with my job, my team, and my passions. Working in leadership and managing people can be incredibly heavy and complicated, and can often blind you from why you even do the work to begin with. Kinship Methods helped me troubleshoot, adjust, and improve my own habits and management style. Through a ton of introspection, guidance, and support, KM allowed me to see why I love what I do again. I wake up ready to take on whatever the job may throw my way, and that happened as a direct result of the skills I learned and now use daily, after all of those weeks spent working with Jules and Sara during Kinship Methods sessions."

Meredith Chaffin (she/her)
Regional Organizing Director, MI Dems 2022 Coordinated Campaign
“Working with Kinship Methods has been an absolute game-changer for our firm. After years of organizing our retreats internally, partnering with Kinship was a revelation. Their dedication and planning over several months ensured the success of our retreat. What truly set Kinship apart was their personalized approach. They took the time to understand our unique needs and objectives, crafting a tailor-made program specifically for our team. Their preparation was evident in every aspect of the retreat, from the customized activities to the seamless execution. Kinship Methods didn’t just organize a retreat; they became integral partners in our journey toward growth and cohesion. Their expertise, attention to detail, and genuine care for our success were truly unparalleled. Partnering with Kinship was the best investment we made for our retreat, and I couldn't imagine doing a retreat again without them.”

Josh Grossfeld (he/him)
Founding Partner, AGENCY Strategies
"When our campaign began working with Kinship in June, we could not have anticipated the challenges we would face during the 2024 Presidential cycle. From our first meeting with Jules and Sara, it was clear that they hold themselves to high professional standards and are genuinely invested in the success of managers. As the cycle progressed, we found ourselves turning to Kinship more frequently, especially during times of uncertainty. Whenever unpredictable obstacles arose, Kinship was there with kind, reassuring words and practical steps our managers could take to support their teams. Personally, working with Sara has forever changed how I view my own skillset and that of an effective manager. She became the support system I needed during difficult times and the mirror I needed when my own actions were contributing to the problem."

Katie Cottrell (she/her)
Training Director, MI Dems 2024 Coordinated Campaign
"The principals that founded Kinship Methods are purpose-driven professionals that support developing leaders in the political ecosystem which is needed. I had the opportunity to work with them on a project and am impressed with their understanding of their clients’ needs and the training and coaching they provide to help the leaders they work with increase their effectiveness. I am looking forward to seeing their positive impact as they work with more leaders now and in the future."

Beverley Wright (she/her)
Founder and CEO, Wright Choice Group
"Jules epitomizes what it means to be a LEADER (not just a manager) and what it means to holistically invest in PEOPLE. She is deeply thoughtful and compassionate and takes so much initiative to help people personally and professionally be successful. I can think of no one else who is so fiercely loyal and goes to such great lengths to advocate and support people. I use so much of what I learned from Jules in the leadership role I’m in now - her example and encouragement has helped me become a better leader."

Lorenza Ramírez (she/her)
Organizing Director, AZ Dems 2022 Coordinated Campaign
"I've been blessed to work on many good teams and for many good managers, with Jules Amin at the top of the list. Jules leads every team she's been a part of with empathy, kindness, and honesty. In each conversation she provides support and meaningful feedback. Jules has spent countless hours on tough and important conversations that leave up-and-coming field operatives feeling one step closer to achieving their goals. One of the most unique things about Jules's leadership is that it is constant. It doesn't end with an election day or a single job, it is continuous and lasts election cycle after election cycle. It's one that creates space for self-discovery, mutual learning, and connectedness to work that can be quite isolating and challenging. If everyone in the campaign space could spend a few hours working with Jules Amin, or working on their management skills in a program by her design, we'd not only have better professional workplaces on campaigns, we'd also win more elections for democrats along the way. "

Leslie Joy (she/her), Coordinated Director, MI Dems 2022 Coordinated Campaign
"I reached out to Kinship Methods to facilitate a staff retreat at a critical time for our campaign. Our small team, which went through unprecedented challenges in a hard fought primary win, had just doubled in size to gear up for what would be one of the toughest and most expensive campaigns of the cycle. Sara and Jules worked with our team to help forge meaningful interactions between new and old staff, push them to become better communicators, and identify solutions-oriented approaches for dealing with various external and internal challenges that arise on any tough campaign. Our staff came away from the retreat as a stronger and more united team, with a renewed focus on a set of common goals, and a vision for what success would look like – both on Election Day, and while overcoming the inevitable hurdles on the path to victory. I highly recommend Sara and Jules to any campaign that is serious about winning while prioritizing team culture and the professional development of its staff."

Brendan McPhillips (he/him)
Campaign Manager, Fetterman for Pennsylvania
"We hired Kinship Methods to train and coach our first-time managers, and working with Sara and Jules was enormously helpful to them and to our team. Sara and Jules provided whole group trainings and individual coaching sessions, and we immediately noticed their impact on our team. They trained on material that our folks were able to put into action right away, and it had a huge impact on the entire team, not just the folks who received the trainings from Sara and Jules. Feedback from everyone who worked with Kinship was that they learned skills and management techniques they'll use their entire careers."

Ben Tobias (he/him)
Coordinated Director, CO Dems 2022 Coordinated Campaign
"Sara is the best manager I've ever worked with. She took the time to build a personal relationship with me and I knew she was invested in my personal and professional growth. Instead of rooting management in power over others, Sara has the unique ability to help teams build and create power together. Her management style taught me to root all of my interactions with my teams in kindness while simultaneously holding my staff to very high standards and continue pushing the boundaries of what we believed we could accomplish. I would not be the manager I am today without Sara."

Gabi Finlayson (she/her)
Senior Partner, Elevate Strategies
“Working with Sara and Kinship Methods reassured and strengthened my confidence to not only lead, but to lead effectively, efficiently, and ethically. Sometimes, I worry about how my emotions show up in my leadership, and we explored a lot of different things that allowed me to develop my emotional intelligence.”

Brian Gregory (he / him)
Campaign Manager and BLC Alum
"Jules and Sara were such a pleasure to work with. Their sessions spanned learning far past the workplace and aids not only leadership in the workforce, but in personal development. I would recommend this to anyone looking for relatable, time efficient, and attention effective training!"

Shay Robinson (she/her),
Public Affairs Manager, Global Ecosystems & Apprenticeships, Aon
"Kinship Methods provided an invaluable service to our team of Regional Organizing Directors throughout the 2022 general election cycle in Colorado. They gave our RODs tools to manage up successfully, to manage through crisis, and to manage through interpersonal conflict -- aspects of a Regional Organizing Director's job that can often be so hard to train and develop thoughtfully amidst the chaos of scaling a voter contact program. Consistently, I heard from my team how thoughtful Jules and Sara were during their 1:1 coaching sessions and throughout the group meetings. Kinship Methods is the type of program that I wish existed as I was starting out as an early manager working on Organizing teams. They were an incredible asset to our team!"

Kenneth Gonzales (he/him)
Organizing Director, CO Dems 2022 Coordinated Campaign
"Kinship Methods is everything I didn't know I needed. Jules and Sara are some of the most dedicated people I've ever met. They follow through on every single conversation and their coaching is insightful and professional in every way. I'm sure they'd be fantastic working with any organization, but their past experiences in Campaign Organizing really shines through and allows for a deep connection with anyone in field leadership. Every session plan is methodically planned out and prepared for but they are also incredibly flexible and graceful in their execution. Any organization looking to have confident, dependable, and coachable managers would be lucky to partner with Kinship Methods."

Dani Valdes Posada (she/her)
Regional Organizing Director, FL Dems 2022 Coordinated Campaign
"Jules and Sara are phenomenal mentors who have helped me see the world differently. Their energy and enthusiasm for learning is contagious, and their ability to make complex topics relatable has helped me develop my leadership skills in ways that I can immediately apply to my current role and future endeavors. They challenge you to go beyond just understanding the material and stick with you afterwards to make sure you continue to build on your knowledge even after the class is over. I highly recommend Kinship Methods to anyone looking to grow as a leader!"

Sierra Thomas (she/her)
Regional Organizing Director, FL Dems 2022 Coordinated Campaign
"I’ve known Jules for almost a decade and I’ve managed her five times over the years. She is one of the best coaches and managers I know. She has inspired a ton of young organizers and managers on campaigns to invest their time and effort in the work. She's been a massive support mechanism for them, encouraging them to figure out what they want to do and helping them get there. In particular, she’s especially inspired a lot of people who don't feel like they fit in or fit the mold in politics to see a home for themselves here - she’s very perceptive and goes out of her way to be inclusive and make the work more accessible."

Janice Rottenberg (she/her)
MA State Director, Senator Elizabeth Warren
"My experience working with Kinship Methods was incredibly positive. Through their guidance, I learned how to use my strengths in ways I had never considered before. They helped me recognize and apply my skills more effectively, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally. I learned to pull out the key information from conversations and truly listen, which has helped me connect with others more effectively, whether in leadership, problem-solving, or community engagement. I’m grateful for the insight and support I received and highly recommend Kinship to anyone looking to maximize their potential."

Phazhon Nash (he/him)
Councilman for the City of Roanoke, VA
“Sara and Jules did an incredible job helping our firm set clear goals and expectations for our annual retreat. They did a great job diving in with our staff to understand how we can improve our company and plan for the future. The actual retreat was significantly improved by having professional facilitators who could keep us on task, adjust the agenda as needed, and lead the conversation while the firm's leadership could be active participants. In the lead up to the retreat, it was reassuring and helpful to have people outside leadership review and create materials and agendas to improve the efficacy and outcomes of our time together as a staff.”

Gillian Rosenberg Armour (she / her)
Partner, AGENCY Strategies
“Working with Kinship Methods has been invaluable for our company and our team. Their attention to detail in getting to the root of areas we can improve upon was impressive and they made it fun and informative. Their thoughtfulness in creating a customized set of tools to train us on to successfully make those needed improvements has given our entire team the confidence that we have the skills it will take to reach our goals. I would recommend them to any organization looking to improve communication and solidify a positive culture.”

Emily Parcell (she/her)
Founding Partner, AGENCY Strategies
"Jules was a godsend for me as a first time Organizing Director. She helped me sort through the obstacles that cluttered my schedule to allow me to be an effective leader. She always pushed me to become more solutions-oriented and prioritize my team. As a first time manager, my team could notice a marked difference after I started working with Jules and how I was able to spend more dedicated time helping them grow as organizers. Not only that, Jules struck a perfect balance between validating my problems and encouraging a positive, solutions-oriented approach. I highly recommend working with Jules to any manager looking to improve their leadership skills!"

Angelica Afanador (she/her)
DCCC Organizing Director, FL-27