strategy. design. facilitation.
rooted in culture.
Website currently under construction.
Solomon Matthews
Founder and Principal Consultant
Solomon Matthews is a New Orleans–born master facilitator, educator, and community builder whose work lives at the intersection of education, culture, and creative practice. With a background in social work and a Master’s in Education focused on Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs, Solomon began his career in higher education, where he became an award-winning Academic and Career Advisor known for helping people navigate transition and possibility.
In 2026, Solomon founded The Gumbo Collective. In addition to his consulting work, Solomon serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Adult Education Program at Delgado Community College, where he supports adult learners in achieving their educational and professional goals. At heart, Solomon is a steward of spaces, creating environments where people can think deeply, connect authentically, and build community.
The Gumbo Collective is a strategy and experience design studio that helps organizations transform ideas into meaningful programs, gatherings, and learning experiences. We blend facilitation, instructional design, and program development with deep cultural awareness to create spaces where teams and communities can think, learn, and build together.
Why Gumbo?
Gumbo is a dish built from layers — ingredients that on their own are powerful, but together create something richer.
The Gumbo Collective approaches our work the same way.
We believe the strongest ideas emerge when strategy, culture, creativity, and community are allowed to interact. Our work blends facilitation, systems thinking, and design to help organizations move from vision to implementation.