Research, strategy, and storytelling built for community impact.
I study why Black women run for office, help organizations build the infrastructure to prove their impact, and give people a place to tell their story without shame. Different rooms, one throughline: leadership as something we build together.
Where the work lives
Scholar
I build community in my classroom the same way I study it in my research. Teaching, to me, is what bell hooks called “the practice of freedom,” a space where students learn to hear one another before they learn theory, and where I model the same accountability I ask of them. That instinct carries directly into my research on Black women’s political representation, grassroots training, and rural politics, including a framework I’ve developed, Collective Power Alignment.
Strategist
Spencer Way Consulting partners with nonprofits, colleges, and civic organizations that are doing meaningful work but lack the internal structure to prove it. We evaluate organizational readiness, build data frameworks that hold up to funders, and help leaders communicate their impact clearly and credibly.
Advocate
Operation #iAM is a nonprofit built around a simple premise: people can share their stories anonymously, without fear of judgment, and find they’re not alone. Through story-sharing and mental health workshops for schools and community groups, we work to reduce stigma and build spaces for honest conversation.
The Power of Collectivism: Racial Healing and Black Women's Political Leadership
This article presents an integrative literature review, supported by illustrative survey data, examining how Black women's political leadership development is shaped by grassroots political training programs. Drawing on public administration, Black feminist thought, and political science, it explores how such programs cultivate leadership grounded in collectivism, community accountability, and care within political systems structured by individualistic norms. Survey data from 88 participants contextualize patterns in political ambition, consideration of candidacy, and inspiration from other Black women leaders.
Why Grassroots Matter?
In this inspiring TEDx talk, Shonna Tillman explores the power of grassroots activism and Black women's vital role in driving community change. Drawing from personal experience and research, she shows how true leadership often starts at the local level—long before someone runs for office. Watch to learn why grassroots efforts matter and how everyday people can spark extraordinary change.