A Community Activator
“She always looks out for ways to show up for our community in ways large and small.”
-Cora Cowles
The Black Effect: Turning Conversation Into Community
2018 and 2019
What started as an internal space for candid conversations about race and representation soon grew into something much bigger. With limited resources, we set out to transform dialogue into action — building connections, amplifying voices, and creating spaces where authenticity could thrive. Discover how this grassroots effort scaled beyond one office and sparked change across cities.
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![A woman leading a discussion with colleagues around a table in a busy office setting.]()
The Challenge: At a time when conversations about race and representation were often avoided, employees needed a safe space to share experiences and be heard. The challenge: create a meaningful forum for dialogue with no dedicated resources and a fully billable team.
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![A woman leading a team discussion with a glowing digital interface projected in front of her.]()
The Work: We began by listening to employees, community leaders, and cultural tastemakers to understand the realities of being Black in predominantly white workplaces. From there, we built community mixers and panel discussions that paired respected professionals with candid conversations on identity, belonging, and resilience. We chose culturally affirming venues, promoted events through grassroots networks and media partners like the Michigan Chronicle, and made sure every detail signaled safety and inclusion. On event days, I wore many hats — producer, facilitator, connector — ensuring the experience fostered trust and inspired action.
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![A panel of speakers presenting to a large audience with a screen reading “Innovation & Collaboration.”]()
The Result: The initiative grew into a multi-city series across Brooklyn, Detroit, and Atlanta, with each event reaching capacity — including more than 200 attendees in multiple cities — and creating a model for community-driven cultural impact.
