Dr. Rashida Govan
Community Scholar, Healing Justice Professional, Consultant and Radical Dreamer
Rashida Govan is an educator, scholar-activist and writer who has worked for over 25 years in education, policy advocacy and youth development. Govan considers her research the academic complement to the organizing efforts of Black and Brown people in pursuit of more just and well communities of color. She uses her research to amplify the power of marginalized people and to center their voices, experiences and ideas to transform systems, institutions, and communities.
Rashida has spent much of her career cultivating safe and just spaces that promote healing, learning and movement building for youth, families and community. She is the founder of Project Butterfly New Orleans, an African-centered rites of passage program for girls that has served nearly 400 girls of African descent since its inception in 2009. She was formerly the Executive Director of the New Orleans Youth Alliance, a youth development intermediary that adopts a healing justice approach to support a system of high-quality, youth development programs in centering youth leadership and equity in their work.
Rashida also has spoken nationally and internationally on a wide range of issues including healing justice, racial equity, and trauma-informed practice in education and youth development. She has spoken widely on issues concerning Black girls and women and is frequently sought to speak on issues impacting young people. Govan is a proud graduate of Morgan State University, the University of Maryland and the University of New Orleans. Rashida currently serves as Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions.