Makani Themba

Makani Themba is Chief Strategist at Higher Ground Change Strategies based in Jackson, Mississippi. A social justice innovator and pioneer in the field of change communications and narrative strategy, she has spent more than 20 years supporting organizations, coalitions, and philanthropic institutions in developing high-impact change initiatives. Previously, Makani served as founder and executive director of The Praxis Project, a nonprofit helping communities use media and policy advocacy to advance health justice. Under her leadership, The Praxis Project raised more than $20 million for advocacy organizations working in communities of color and provided training and technical assistance to hundreds of organizations and public agencies nationwide. Her publications have contributed significantly to the public health field’s current emphasis on media and policy advocacy to address the root causes of health problems. Makani’s numerous publications include co-author of Media Advocacy and Public Health: Power for Prevention, contributor to the volumes We the Media, State of the Race: Creating Our 21st Century, and many other projects. Makani was chosen as one of “Ten Black Thinkers” asked to comment on Black conditions as part of the NAACP Crisis magazine’s 60th anniversary commemoration of the landmark article “What the Negro Wants.” She is the author of Making Policy, Making Change, and co-authored with Hunter Cutting Talking the Walk: Communications Guide for Racial Justice and Fair Game: A Strategy Guide for Racial Justice Communications in the Obama Era (under The Praxis Project).