.png)
When we understand our stories,
we understand each other.
meet the founder :
Shenita Denson, PhD
I’m a social scientist, communication scholar, and creative with over 15 years of experience spanning academia, nonprofits, health + wellness, and the federal government. My work bridges research, practice, and imagination—centered on how we relate to one another, communicate across difference, and build systems that are human-centered and sustainable.
From college campuses to federal agencies, I’ve developed and led programs, taught social science and humanities courses, and created award-winning initiatives and resources focused on organizational effectiveness and inclusive engagement. Most recently, at the U.S. Department of State, I launched the agency’s first Culture and Organizational Learning Program and led the design of its inaugural Allyship course—both grounded in dialogue, reflection, and systems change.
For years, I’ve been creating and holding space for others to bravely share their stories—whether in classrooms, communities, boardrooms, or intimate settings. From youth and college students to community leaders and global organizations, I’ve taught people how to reflect on their lived experiences, make meaning of them, and speak their truths out loud—with courage, honesty, and intention.
my story
Born in the American South (Ft. Benning, GA) and raised in Fayetteville, NC by two amazing military parents, I developed an early love for culture, people, community, the arts, storytelling —and food for the soul. My path has never been linear, (nor have I wanted it to be) but it’s always been rooted in curiosity, culture, community, and the things that make us feel alive. I am grateful that my parents always allowed me to ask questions, to explore, and dare to dream. To this day, they remind me that nothing is impossible and continue to be my biggest fans. (Thank you.)
I’ve always believed that the stories we carry—heard, told or silenced—shape how we show up in the world. I was drawn to storytelling not because I saw myself as a storyteller, but because I saw how powerful it was when others felt safe and courageous enough to share theirs.
And we all have a story.
I've always paid attention to what wasn’t said just as much as what was. I noticed how stories lived in the body, how they echoed through silence, and how some never felt safe enough to be told out loud. That noticing became a calling.
Over time, I came to understand that stories are more than memories. They are maps—of identity, survival, connection, and hope. The way we narrate our experiences doesn’t just reflect who we are; it actively shapes who we become.
This work—helping others explore, give voice to, and make meaning of their lived experiences—is deeply personal to me. I do it because I’ve seen how unspoken stories can become sources of depression, shame, confusion, or disconnection. And I’ve seen how naming them—gently, honestly, bravely—can lead to healing, clarity, freedom, and transformation.
I don’t tell people what to say. I help them remember they have something to say. And that their story—exactly as it is—is worthy of being heard. Because when people feel safe enough to speak from the truth of who they are, everything begins to change.
When we understand our stories, we understand each other—and the world needs more of that.
Short version: Y(our) story matters. And it’s time we stopped leaving it untold.
educational background
-
Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Cultural Studies
Dissertation: Retrospective Storytelling, Meaning-Making, and Generativity (the passing down of wisdom): Black Intergenerational
Stories About Love
-
M.S. in Organizational Communication
Bowie State University
Minor in Public Affairs
-
B.A. in Communication Studies
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Double minor in African American Studies and Dance