Violeta Donawa is a healing practitioner and applied sociologist who has committed her life to social justice at the spiritual, community, and systemic levels. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, USA to an African-American mother and Panamanian father. As someone whose identity has shaped her, she has spent much of her life engaged …
Hatim Eltayeb was among the first faculty members of African Leadership Academy. From 2009-2012, he taught primarily in the African Studies department. He also Chaired the Seminal Readings Committee, shaping the curriculum for a unique Socratic course at the heart of the Academy. As a Hallmaster in the student residence, he gained an appreciation of …
Dr. Chinelo L. Njaka is a social scientist and researcher based in Peckham, London, UK. She is a Nigerian American who group up in Minnesota, USA and later moved to England for postgraduate studies. She holds a MA in Culture, Globalisation and the City from the Department of Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. …
Alicia Garza is an African-American activist and editorial writer who lives in Oakland, California. She has organized around the issues of health, student services and rights, rights for domestic workers, ending police brutality, anti-racism, and violence against trans and gender non-conforming people of color. Her editorial writing has been published by The Guardian, The Nation, …
Chancelor Jonathan Bennett known professionally as Chance the Rapper, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and philanthropist from the West Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. In 2013, he began to gain recognition following the release of his second mixtape, Acid Rap. Apart from his solo career, he is a member of the …
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DeRay Mckesson was born in Baltimore, Maryland. The son of two now-recovered addicts, he thrived under the love and guidance of his father as well as other members of his family. By the time he was a teenager, DeRay became the chairman to Youth As Resources, Baltimore’s only youth-led grant-making organization. He also was a …
Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn is an assistant professor at the Columbia School of Social Work and a Faculty Affiliate of the Columbia Population Research Center. Her research integrates principles and methodologies across psychology, stress physiology and social epidemiology to investigate relationships between racism-related stress and racial health disparities across the life course. Her work has …
With nearly twenty years of experience, Semhar Araia is a recognized practitioner, organizer and thought leader on diaspora engagement, African affairs, women’s leadership and international development. Her mission-driven lens and approach has helped amplify diaspora contributions through national and global discourse on diaspora identities, next generation leadership and the role of diaspora communities in global …
As Managing Director, Ms. Soleye Niniola is responsible for leading DRASA’s day-to-day operations, the overall growth and launch strategy, fundraising, financial and organizational management, communications/marketing/PR, and partnership efforts. Ms. Soleye previously worked at Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health organization operating in more than 50 countries with a focus on priority health issues …
Shanthi Annan originates from Ghana, Nigeria, India and England. She was born and raised in the UK as the eldest of five daughters. In 2006, Shanthi graduated from Oxford University having read Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), affectionately known as The Gentleman’s Degree. She started her career in pursuit of the answer to the question …