Black Women Civic Leaders in Massachusetts and Renovating Democracy

Join the Allen Lab for a forward-looking conversation about power, participation, and the enduring leadership of Black women in Massachusetts. Opening remarks given by Danielle Allen, the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University; Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School; and Director of the Democratic Knowledge Project-Learn. Moderated by Christine Slaughter, a Research Fellow in the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Boston University, this discussion will center Black women’s voices in the sustaining and renewing of democracy and their experiences of “speaking truth to power.”

This panel brings together scholars, policymakers, advocates, and emerging leaders to examine the role of Black women in advancing democracy across the Commonwealth. Through a focused and substantive conversation, we will explore:

• Black women’s political representation in state and local government
• Labor, economic equity, and pathways to civic leadership
• Institutional barriers and structural conditions shaping participation
• The relationship between community organizing and formal policymaking
• The future of democratic governance in Massachusetts

This event is co-sponsored by the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPPP).

More About the Speakers:

• Danielle Allen (opening remarks), is the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University. She is also Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and Director of the Democratic Knowledge Project-Learn, a research lab focused on civic education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy as well as a seasoned nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, tech ethicist, distinguished author, and mom.
• Nadia Brown is a Professor of Government, chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program and affiliate in the Black Studies program at Georgetown University. She specializes in Black women’s politics and holds a graduate certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies. Dr. Brown’s research interests lie broadly in identity politics, legislative studies, and Black women’s studies.
• Courtney Henderson is a political strategist, community leader, and advocate for the youth in the South Shore area of Massachusetts. She currently serves as Board of Directors Co-President of the League of Women Voters in Massachusetts.
• Secretary Lauren Jones is the Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, appointed by Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll in January 2023. She focuses on workforce development, bridging business-labor gaps, and addressing issues in the unemployment system.
• Kristen L. Pope is a multi-hyphenate visionary, founder, speaker, award-winning television journalist, and multimedia strategist. Currently, she is the Associate Director of Social Media at Harvard University’s Division of Continuing Education. In 2023, Pope became the first Black person and the eighth woman elected to the Natick Select Board.
• Christine Slaughter (moderator) is a Research Fellow in the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Boston University. Christine’s research examines African American politics, with a focus on how economic inequality, gender, and psychological resources such as resilience influence the frequency and substance of African American political engagement and behavior.
• Aba Taylor is the President & CEO of the YW Boston. She has spent the last two decades engaged in social justice as an educator, facilitator, organizer, consultant, and nonprofit executive. She previously served as the Executive Director at the Brookline Community Foundation and has held leadership roles at the Astraea Foundation for Justice, the Network for Social Justice, and the Interaction Institute for Social Change.

Event Details

This event is open to Harvard ID holders only and registration is required.

The Ash Center encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its events. Should you wish to inquire about an accommodation, please contact our events team at info@ash.harvard.edu prior to the event.

Additional questions? Email the Ash Center events team at info@ash.harvard.edu.