In this episode, Virginia and Justin visit Dr. Kazique J. Prince, a Belonging and Inclusion strategist, Afrofuturist visionary, and founder of Jelani Consulting. Kazique’s work bridges African-centered wisdom with future-focused innovation, challenging how we measure belonging, design organizations, and confront isolation.
This conversation explores Kazique’s dangerous idea: that loneliness is not just a personal ache but a systemic crisis that shortens lives, weakens communities, and undermines creativity. He shares why curated spaces for connection, whether through his Djembe tool, small group rituals, or even weekly happy hours, are as essential to health as food and exercise.
Virginia, Justin, and Kazique push into the intersections of race, equity, and power, examining how “belonging” has been manipulated and marketed, and what it takes to reclaim it as a transformative force. This dialogue will leave you asking where you experience real connection—and where you’re settling for the illusion of it.
5 Key Takeaways
Isolation kills. Kazique cites the Surgeon General: loneliness and disconnection carry health risks as serious as heart disease and cancer
Belonging is measurable. When people feel trusted, supported, and engaged, it shows up in health, innovation, and organizational loyalty
Small actions matter. From sharing articles to starting happy hours, one consistent act of connection can spark larger networks of change
Co-conspiratorship over allyship. Kazique reframes allyship as a co-conspiracy of shared vulnerability, transparency, and action in pursuit of justice
We need spaces for intimacy. Curated gatherings with food, story, and structure give people permission to connect meaningfully without pretense
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