Getting It Done — Lessons from The “CROWN Act” Champion
In May of 2023, the CROWN Act became law in Texas. Not typically known for bipartisanship, with Adjoa Asamoah's (Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah) expertise and sound strategy, her thoughtful partnerships, and tapping a powerful personal network, the state banned race-based hair discrimination, complete with a bill signing with the governor. Given the current partisan divide in politics and the infrequency of people working together, noteworthy lessons can be learned from the recent passage of the CROWN Act in Texas and throughout the country. During this truly motivational session, with Adjoa’s unmatched captivating style, she inspires audiences to spearhead substantive & sustainable change and gives you a glimpse into her strategist’s playbook, teaching attendees how to navigate working in challenging environments, building a coalition, and defying the odds in pursuit of a more equitable future.
Leadership – There Are Levels to This
Understanding the dynamic interplay between power, leadership, and subject matter expertise is critically important for those working in the vast majority of organizations and seeking to lead at the next level. The concept of power, and the people who dare to seek it are oftentimes viewed negatively. To many, leadership is thought of as mostly an attribute of personality, and not viewed as something that can be cultivated. This session with Adjoa Asamoah (Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah) is designed to unpack these notions and equip those who work in professional settings and are in the executive pipeline, with the knowledge to attain power and leadership roles.
Bring Out the Strategist that Lives Within
With hit shows like ABC’s Scandal, HBO’s Homeland, and CBS’s Madam Secretary drawing audiences in the millions, America is clearly fascinated with the strategists and political operatives who make things happen in the nation’s capital. As one of those highly sought-after strategists, Adjoa Asamoah (Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah) spends her days advising those who lead America. As she often says, “Many people use the title strategist, but few actually are.” In this talk, participants learn what it takes to strategize for real change.
Additional Offerings from Adjoa Asamoah (Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah)
.svg)
Adjoa Asamoah (Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah) is an accomplished executive, racial equity czar, leading purveyor of justice, and internationally sought-after political power player who has worked to right historical wrongs for over three decades. An award-winning social impact strategist and history-making liberation policy architect, she is known globally as The “CROWN Act” Champion. She conceptualized, developed the national legislative and coalition-building strategies for, and leads the unparalleled CROWN Act movement to outlaw race-based hair discrimination, resulting in laws changing in 23 states and more than 50 cities. With an unrivaled legislative record, she also spearheaded the victory to codify the first Office of African American Affairs.
A former adjunct professor who has taught African American Studies and psychology, Adjoa leverages cultural intelligence and behavioral insights to create meaningful and sustainable systems change and develop winning campaigns. She was entrusted to serve as the Biden-Harris Campaign’s National Advisor for Black Engagement and was then tapped to serve as the Black Engagement Director for the historic 59th Presidential Inaugural Committee.
A trusted advisor to local, state, and federal officials, Adjoa currently serves in yet another historic capacity as the first Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary and the only Black woman to ever hold the title in the federal government. She also previously served as senior policy advisor in the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
She provides subject matter expertise as an appointee to numerous commissions, committees, and advisory boards for notable entities including Temple University’s Board of Visitors, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Advisory Committee, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.’s National Social Action Commission, DC Commission on African American Affairs, DC Commission for Women, and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.’s National Public Policy Committee to name a few. She has been appointed by multiple superintendents to the State Title I Committee of Practitioners and has been elected chair for eight consecutive years. She chaired the Democratic National Committee’s African American Leadership Council for several years, and she is faculty at the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.
Adjoa Asamoah (Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah) was voted Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.’s 2023 “International Citizen of the Year” joining an esteemed list of awardees, and she was voted “Advocate of the Year” by the Women in Government Relations. She has been deemed one of the 100 most influential Black Americans by The Root in 2023, one of the most powerful women in the world by Marie Claire Magazine in 2022, and one of the 100 most powerful people globally by EBONY Magazine in 2021 for her social justice work as her record of national policy wins is unmatched. She also graced the “special edition” cover of the iconic EBONY magazine. She served as a radio show co-host on Sirius XM, is a celebrated published author, and as a known culture keeper —has hosted events for cultural institutions like BET.
She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Psychology and African American Studies. She earned a master’s degree in educational psychology, and a post-master’s certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. She also completed a specialized series of graduate courses in cognitive behavior therapy at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned 3 professional licenses including one as a behavior specialist and another as a psychometrist. She was an international student and studied abroad at the University of Ghana at Legon. Adjoa completed the UPENN Equity Institute for Doctoral Students at the Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education, and she earned an Doctor of Education degree in Education Leadership: Administration & Policy at The George Washington University with a groundbreaking dissertation that examined the CROWN Act.
My Speaker List
