our story

our story

we created civitatem resolutions to focus on the human in the loop.

as ai evolves at breakneck speed, we are confronted by a challenging reality. ai adds to a social system in which power dynamics, discrimination, violence, injustice, and inequity are deeply entrenched.

focusing on making ai ethical calls on us to work on the human in the loop, the containers holding the human, and the knowledge streams informing the human. our work looks at the continuum between the online and offline world.

we focus on community, where we harness the power of people coming together to listen, learn, and facilitate change; containers, where we shape spaces, platforms, and networks by embedding human-centric principles and values; and constellations, where we build knowledge repositories to guide communities and shape containers for engagement.

in the words of gloria anzaldua, in her poem the new speakers:
“we don't want to be stars but parts of constellations”

what we do 

our work is centred on the following areas:

  • ai governance and policy support

  • advisory support

  • dispute-resolution across the ai lifecycle

  • facilitation for the development, deployment, and use of ai

  • training on responsible ai

  • research and knowledge creation on responsible, ethical, and human-centric ai

how we work

our approach is grounded in the belief that sustainable community building requires addressing three levels simultaneously:

  • the relational level: building individual and interpersonal capacity for healthy connection

  • collective level: creating group dynamics and cultures that support thriving relationships

  • structural level: developing systems and policies that enable rather than obstruct community formation

we bring expertise in conflict transformation, policy advisory, tech governance, research, and collective work. we work with an understanding of power dynamics, inclusive practices, and the interconnected nature of personal and systemic change. through this work, we support teams, organisations, collectives, non-profits, and groups:

  1. seeking to build responsible and ethical ai

  2. seeking to deploy / use ai in their existing work

  3. engaged in disputes relating to any part of the ai lifecycle

Our Core Values

connection over division: we believe in people's fundamental capacity to find common ground and build meaningful relationships across difference.

transformation over quick fixes: we focus on addressing root causes and building lasting capacity rather than applying temporary solutions.

inclusion and equity: we ensure all voices are heard and valued, recognizing that true community requires justice and fairness for all members.

systemic thinking: we understand that individual, relational, and structural changes are interconnected and mutually reinforcing.

integrity in process: How we work matters as much as what we achieve—our methods model the collaborative, respectful relationships we seek to foster.

the civitatem team

we’re a small team, but we work with a big heart.
a note on our “designations:” we’ve decided to move away from capitalistic frames that tell you our roles in relation to productivity standards we don’t subscribe to. instead, we leaned in on deepa iyer’s social change map and identified our roles.

  • experimenter, disruptor, builder

    kirthi jayakumar is a lawyer, facilitator, and mediator, specialised in ai law, policy, and governance, as well as data protection and privacy.

  • experimenter, disruptor, builder

    aparnaa nagesh is an interdisciplinary performer, writer, and art-maker blending dance, theatre, and storytelling with social impact, education, and gender advocacy across platforms.
    she champions purpose-driven creativity and community through artistic expression and transformative facilitation.