Notes From the Lab.
These are insights, reflections, and field notes from the front lines of healing-centered work. They aren’t polished takes; they’re real lessons from real practice.
Whether we’re designing systems, holding space, or advocating for care-centered leadership, this is where we unpack what we’re learning in real time.
What If Our Workflows Took Care of People, Too?
What if your internal systems weren’t just clunky but causing harm?
In this Lab Note, Josh Garcia examines the consequences of workflows that overlook the emotional burden teams carry and explores the design of healing-centered systems that genuinely support individuals, rather than merely promoting productivity.
This Isn’t a Consultancy–It’s a Co-Lab.
More than a consultancy, JG Co-Laboratory is a space for designing systems that hold both structure and soul. In this first Lab Note, I share why I built it and why we need something different now more than ever.
When Doing Good Becomes Performative: How to Show Up Without Causing Harm
Joshua Garcia, founder of JG Co-Laboratory, explores how nonprofits and disaster response teams can avoid performative support and lead with trauma-informed care. Drawing on the MARCCD model and 280+ community responses, this guide offers insight into building trust, supporting healing, and creating sustainable impact in post-crisis recovery.
The Trauma We Don’t Count: Building Inclusive Systems of Care
Too often, the people closest to tragedy, but not “officially” impacted, are the ones we forget to care for. Friends. Helpers. Staff. Neighbors. Their pain is real, but it doesn’t always get counted. In this post, Josh Garcia reflects on his experience near the Pulse tragedy and makes the case for care systems that include everyone affected, not just those who fit the form.
The Cost of Caring: Why Crisis Work Can Quietly Burn Out Leaders
Crisis leadership often looks strong from the outside. But behind the scenes, leaders are quietly carrying enormous emotional weight, and too many are burning out in silence.
Why Trauma-Informed Isn’t Just A Buzzword In Leadership
Trauma-informed leadership isn’t a training, it’s how your systems hold both people and mission. Here’s what real trauma-informed leadership actually looks like inside organizations doing emotionally heavy work.