Kin Universe Platform: Building Authentic Connection

Trust and understanding across differences aren’t built through diversity trainings — they’re built through structured, ongoing conversations that help people see and appreciate each other’s full humanity. Kin is designed to facilitate independent, meaningful discussions that support building trust, understanding and empathy between two people from different backgrounds.

The Kin Universe Supports:

Jonathan Kanter

Research Associate Professor, University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
“If your team or group wants to build a stronger sense of belonging for all, then Kin Universe is the most evidence-based thing you could do to move the needle. And it’s risk free.”

Kin Universe Snapshot

University of Washington

The Kin Universe approach to culture building focuses on building and deepening authentic relationships and increasing the foundations for collaboration, understanding and empathy, across a workplace. It works by pairing individuals from different backgrounds and departments to participate in six conversations with each other. Each conversation provides a slight increase in vulnerability and is supported by very intentionally designed conversation and reflection guides. 

One of the early adopters of Kin Universe is the University of Washington Medicine’s Harborview Medical Center. Christine Ijiomah, a participant in the first Kin cohort at Harborview shares, “My partner and I had some really tough conversations, but now I know her and I trust her. I would not say we are friends but there is no one else I trust more to stand beside me and go to war with me.”