Black History Boston: Sheena Collier

Sheena Collier is a super-connector, convener, and strategic planner.

Sheena Collier is a super-connector, convener, and strategic planner. Sixteen years ago, she moved to the Boston area to attend Harvard Graduate School of Education, after attending Spelman College in Atlanta. As a Black woman, she struggled to feel a sense of belonging at school and in the city. Over a number of years, she started & joined organizations, became civically engaged, and hosted events that connected her to lots of different worlds, including education, politics, arts, community organizing, & business.

After being here for over 15 years, Sheena has designed events & workshops for fellow transplants who are constantly sharing their struggles with building connections that make them want to stay; particularly Black people who don't find Boston welcoming or easy to navigate. Sheena created The Collier Connection (TCC) to help strengthen the ecosystem for Black professionals who are seeking information, access, & belonging in cities. In 2020, she is launching Boston While Black (BWB)—a membership network of programs, events, and a digital platform that gives Black graduate students and professionals a roadmap on how to find their tribe, grow their network, navigate the city, and have fun. Imagine a law student or new tech hire who moves here for a great opportunity, but has no idea where to connect with other Black professionals. Or a company that is trying to attract Black talent who don't see Boston as somewhere they want to live. Boston While Black gives them the opportunity to know how to plug themselves or their potential talent into a thriving network. BWB will include an annual summit, a summer welcome party, monthly social events, connections to mentors, and a digital network that teaches them how to navigate Boston.