Tamitha Walker-McKinnis (she/her/hers) partners with movement building, philanthropic, postsecondary, community- and faith-based organizations to build the capacity of leaders, organizations, and networks to realize justice, joy, and equity. Committed to the care and liberation of Black and Indigenous children, families, and communities of color, her lived experience and vocational endeavors—both within and adjacent to liberatory leadership development, consulting, and coaching—provide her with discernment, strength for the journey, humility, respect, curiosity, and a genuine love for people. This love leads her to work using practices focused on facilitation, organizational and strategy development, culture change, and restorative and healing. In addition to her work with Change Elemental, Tamitha teaches with the Department of Black Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Prior to joining Change Elemental in 2021, Tamitha served as an independent consultant with racial and social justice organizations, capacity builders, leaders, and funders. She has also held positions as a Vice President of Programs with the Deaconess Foundation, Programs Manager with Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, Researcher, and Adjunct Faculty member at Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration, Program Officer with Robin Hood, and Management Consultant with Public Health Solutions.
Tamitha earned both a Master of Health Science degree in Health Policy and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University, in addition to a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary and has completed doctoral coursework in Public Affairs and Administration focusing on public/nonprofit management and finance at Rutgers University. When not with Change Elemental, Tamitha is likely somewhere learning and loving with her husband and four children.