Research/Publications/Presentations

Academic Presentations

Destination Commodification: Exploring cultural tourism in South Africa through slum tours and cultural villages

Research examines the ideas of exoticism, possession, economic empowerment and the colonial construct of the Western tourist and the Black South African. Abstract accepted for presentation at BLACK PORTRAITURE[S] III: Reinventions: Strains of Histories and Cultures held in collaboration with the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research/Harvard University, New York University’s LaPietra Dialogues, Tisch School of the Arts and the Institute for African American Affairs. November 17-19, 2016 at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, South Africa

You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served: James Baldwin and Nina Simone: celebrity and activism on a global stage. 

Presented at A Language to Dwell In”: James Baldwin, Paris, and International Visions- This presentation explores the transnational cosmopolitan identity of both Nina Simone and James Baldwin. I examine how both employed a modern form of parrhesia (Foucault) at great personal risk to speak truthfully about US Civil Rights in global settings. The American University of Paris – Paris, France May 27, 2016.

What Color is the Hand of Development? The Framing of Global Issues through the use of Black and Brown Images in Development Communications. 

Presented at BLACK PORTRAITURE{S} II: Imaging the Black Body and Re-Staging Histories - The Presentation explores the use of images of black and brown bodies by NGOs to construct a global representation of poverty. This research looks at the consequences of these portrayals and the possible motivations for the continued use of these images - Florence, Italy - NYU –Florence, Italy - Villa La Pietra, Odeon Firenze - May 28-31, 2015

Published

DETOUR: Best Stories in Black Travel - Editor in Chief - Founding editor-in-chief of Black travel digital journal distributed through McClatchy Network of Newspapers and online publications.

• Editor's Letter DETOUR: Best Stories in Black Travel

• Editor's Letter Travel as an Expression of Love

• Editor's Letter Freedom: It's Complicated

Wiki Approaches to Wicked Problems: Can Wiki-based Approaches innovatively Employ the Principals of Traditional African Philosophy to Lessen the Impact of Wicked Problems

• Development in Practice special edition Endogenous Development: Naive Romanticism or Practical Route to Sustainable African Development

• Contributing Author - Endogenous Development: Naive Romanticism or Practical Route to Sustainable African Development (Book)

• Presented at the University of Cape Town School of Business Conference - Business of Social and Environmental Innovation 2013: "Co-Innovation to Address Wicked Problems Conference Cape Town, South Africa" November 2013

“Representations of Gender in Reproductive Rights Communications Case Study: Marie Stopes, South Africa.  Graduate School Capstone Project- The American University of Paris – Paris, France May 2013

Blog

Pack Light Global Itineraries (www.packlightglobal.com) PackLight Global Itineraries provides global travel inspiration and trip planning resources for authentic, creative and wise women of color.

Article: Pack Light?  Published October 10, 2017

Topics of Research/Expertise

•  Global Communications

• NGO/Non-Profit Communications

• Corporate Social Responsibility

• Cross-Cultural Communication

• Collaborative Development

• Representations of Race and Gender in Development Communications

• Crisis Communications

• Marketing-Communications Strategy

• Content Strategy/Corporate Publishing

• Public/Media Relations

• Travel and Tourism in Communities of Color