<p>LaTosha is a contributor to <i>The New York Times</i> op-ed page and a Senior Practice Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. As co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund organization, LaTosha is dedicated to increasing the political power of Black people.</p><p>The Black Voters Matter Fund was credited with energizing and turning out voters in Alabama’s Black Belt and playing a decisive role in Doug Jones’ election to the U.S. Senate. </p><p>LaTosha and her Black Voters Matter Fund partners often travel through the South and key swing states on what they call “The Blackest Bus in America” to galvanize voters and stop to voter suppression. She is also the co-founder of Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute organization that provides training and support to community-based organizations. </p><p>An in-demand public speaker, LaTosha has distinguished herself as a trusted expert on political strategy, organizing, civil rights, economic development, wealth creation, and rural issues over a 20 year career. She is the founding project director of Grantmakers for Southern Progress and a founding member of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Ecological Health. She has advised many national and regional foundations, including the Ford Foundation, Open Society Institute, and the Clinton Global Initiative. </p><p>LaTosha is noted to be a “a visionary who is leading the charge for a new, inclusive America” by Notable Publication.</p>
Cofounder of Black Voters Matter Fund, jazz singer, and Senior Practice Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government
<ul><li><strong>The Future of American Democracy</strong></li><li>American democracy stands at a critical crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges while simultaneously holding remarkable potential for renewal. This keynote examines the historical trajectory of democratic institutions, unpacking the complex dynamics that have shaped our current political landscape. By analyzing both systemic threats and emerging opportunities, the presentation offers a clear-eyed view of democratic resilience in the 21st century. The speech highlights how demographic transformations are reshaping political participation, representation, and collective civic engagement. Ultimately, the keynote provides five strategic approaches that empower citizens to actively strengthen and evolve American democratic practices, offering a pathway from current challenges to future possibilities.</li><li><strong>Women Rising: The Transformative Power of Feminine Leadership</strong></li><li>Women are emerging as transformative leaders, bringing unprecedented creativity, empathy, and innovative problem-solving to global challenges. This keynote explores the rising power of women across professional and social landscapes, highlighting their natural leadership capacities that have been historically overlooked. By examining the growing women's movement and its impact, the presentation reveals how feminine leadership is reshaping institutional structures and offering new approaches to complex global issues. The speech celebrates women's innate strengths—as caregivers, visionaries, and change-makers—and positions women as critical architects of future social, economic, and political progress. Women are not just participants in leadership; they are defining a new era of holistic, compassionate, and innovative global transformation.</li><li><strong>Finding Our North Star: Visionary Leadership for Transformative Times</strong></li><li>Futurists are hope's greatest architects - visionary leaders who capture hearts and minds by painting compelling pictures of possibility beyond current limitations. This keynote explores how transformative leaders throughout history have possessed the unique gift of helping people believe in something greater, transforming collective imagination from a place of fear to a landscape of profound potential. By examining the power of visionary thinking, the presentation reveals how futurists don't just see problems, but weave narratives of hope that inspire people to see beyond their current circumstances. More than a motivational talk, this keynote is a blueprint for becoming a "North Star" - a guide who can help people find faith in better futures, reimagine what's possible, and believe in their collective capacity for transformative change. The speech invites audiences to become architects of hope, creators of expansive vision, and believers in the extraordinary potential that lies just beyond our current understanding.</li><li><strong>Voices Unbound: How Storytelling Liberates Truth and Imagination</strong></li><li>In a time when truth is elusive and vital histories teeter on the brink of erasure, this keynote champions the art of storytelling as a revolutionary force. It shines a light on how stories—woven from memory, culture, and imagination—become artful tools of liberation. More than mere communication, these carefully crafted narratives expose hidden truths, challenge long-held assumptions, and heal old wounds. By awakening empathy, deepening understanding, and inspiring new visions for the future, the art of storytelling enables us to claim our voices, preserve our legacies, and forge more just and inclusive paths forward.</li><li><strong>Love: A Revolutionary Force for Personal and Community Transformation</strong></li><li>This speech explores love as more than just affection – it's a radical force that sustains movements, builds resilience, and transforms communities. Drawing from both historical movements and contemporary experiences, we examine how cultivating love, even in challenging times, becomes an act of resistance and hope. The talk delves into three key dimensions: personal love as a source of strength, collective love as a community builder, and transformative love as a catalyst for social change. Through stories, cultural expressions, and shared wisdom, we discover how embracing love can fuel both personal empowerment and collective liberation.</li></ul>