What began as a passion project evolved into a movement.
We’re breaking barriers and creating pathways for the next generation of diverse leaders.
She Shall Speak is a not-for-profit organization committed to cultivating and strengthening the leadership capacity of women of color in public service, activism, and advocacy.
We connect emerging leaders to critical resources and networks, foster meaningful mentorship, and build intentional communities that support their growth and impact.
What We Do
Fellowship Programs
Through the Bethune Leadership Fellowship and our emerging College Mentorship Program, She Shall Speak connects young women of color with leaders in public affairs, expanding their horizons through mentorship, professional exposure, and leadership development. Our programs equip participants with the skills, networks, and confidence needed to pursue careers that drive meaningful impact. Know someone who might be interested?
Investing in Young Changemakers
Through the support of community members and practitioners—including you on the other side of the screen!—We hope to provide scholarships and stipends that empower alumnae of our programs to pursue educational and professional opportunities that advance racial and gender justice. Interested in supporting this work?
Meet Our Founder
Since founding She Shall Speak in 2022, Denia has worked to create sustainable pathways for underrepresented changemakers to thrive in impact-oriented careers. She continues to lead initiatives that inspire, develop, and connect emerging leaders to opportunities for meaningful impact.
Our StoryWe believe that when young leaders are equipped with the right tools, support, and community, their voices can shape a more just and equitable future.
Founded in 2022, She Shall Speak began as a podcast that amplified the voices of Black female leaders spearheading local initiatives rooted in racial justice, gender equity, and social impact. Hosted by Denia Smith, the She Shall Speak Series housed introspective conversations on Black womanhood, leadership, and social impact with 20 interviewees, including award-winning entrepreneur Olamide Olowe; activists and poet Fatimata Cham; UNICEF Youth Consultant Alliyah Logan, and gun-prevention activist Kayla Austin, among others. The platform reached 800 viewers across 25 U.S. states and 20 countries across 2 seasons, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, and Ghana, among others. Online, She Shall Speak co-launched, in partnership with Revolutionnaire, a social media campaign (#VoicesforChange) amplifying the voices of 30 Black collegiate changemakers across 8 institutions, garnering 38,705 streams. In November 2022, She Shall Speak received a $1,500 grant from The Taco Bell Foundation and Ashoka Changemakers through the inaugural Ambition Accelerator. In October 2023, Denia presented her work with She Shall Speak at the United Nations ECOSOC Chamber in honor of International Day of the Girl Child, hosted by The Working Group on Girls. Her remarks underscored the importance of centering Black women and girls at decision-making tables and were addressed to Sima Bahous, Executive Director of U.N. Women, Genevieve Boutin, UNICEF Deputy Director for Programmes, and representatives from The Permanent Missions of Canada, Peru, and Turkiye to the U.N., among 100 stakeholders present in the room. Seeking to scale our impact, She Shall Speak has evolved into a hub for mentorship and skills development for emerging public servants and social impact leaders.
