What Does It Mean to Be Person-Centered?

Being person-centered means designing systems, services, and relationships that reflect the full humanity of the people at the heart of them, both clients and practitioners. At Sankofa Leadership, our approach is grounded in the Two-Generation (2Gen) model, which recognizes that lasting transformation happens when we support whole families while also equipping the people who serve them. 

For communities navigating poverty, being person-centered isn’t just a philosophy — it’s a strategy for dignity, equity, and lasting change. This work is both relational and cultural. It challenges practitioners to lead with curiosity rather than control, to co-create solutions rather than impose them, and to see both clients and colleagues as resourceful, capable partners in change.