Storyteller 
Disruptor 
Equity Practitioner

Activist Mama. Disruptor. Storyteller. Freedom Dreamer. Dr. Tunette Powell is the mother of three beautiful Black boys. That—existing in this world as a Black mother raising free Black boys—is an act of resistance, of boldness, of defiance. Her career embodies that same boldness, resistance and defiance across sectors, including in educational, nonprofit and entertainment spaces. She freedom dreams and moves through connection and collaboration in pursuit of liberation. She is an equity practitioner, published author, and an award-winning public speaker. 

Her commitment to historically and contemporarily marginalized groups is evident in both her personal and professional pursuits. Dr. Powell gives her time freely to parents and families in need of a co-conspirator as they navigate harmful, racist and anti-black systems.

In academic spaces, Dr. Powell is known as a scholar who studies kinship, race, racism, and school-induced collective trauma. She supports schools and universities to acknowledge and repair historic harm, and promote affirmation and healing in curriculum and instruction, policy, professional development, and family and community partnerships.   

In nonprofit spaces, Dr. Powell serves as both a board member and equity practitioner where
she supports groups and organizations committed to and in search of sustainable approaches
to equity and inclusion in the areas of HR, policy revisions, and DEI strategic development. 

In entertainment spaces, she works as a storyteller and disruptor and is best known
in TV writing rooms where she co-creates inclusive writing rooms,
diversifies writing teams and tells more diverse stories. Most recently, she served
as a DEI consultant, story editor and writer on seasons 10 and 11 of
Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart.