Public Sociology
Akilah thrives in bridging academia and the public sphere, bringing her research, writing, analytical skills, and advocacy for inclusion in higher education to community engagement and non-profit efforts.
In 2023, the Black Studies Collaboratory awarded Akilah with a small grant to produce a virtual museum and mini-film, where she could materialize her artistic vision of sharing the history of Black displacement and resistance in Atlanta, Georgia since the 1900s. Her forthcoming website, the blackatlantaproject.com, will showcase archival photos, oral storytelling, and current activism to connect past and present efforts to sustain Black urban life. This virtual interactive platform aims to make historical racial injustices, Black anti-displacement efforts, and the voice of the community accessible to all ages of the public.
From 2022-2023, consulting firm Center Focus International, Inc. led by pioneering DEI analyst Dani Monroe hired Akilah to analyze and write a report on 50 interviews with Chief Diversity Officers across multiple professional sectors. Akilah's findings were used to present the CDO Impact Study at the annual Martha Vineyard CDO Summit.
From 2018-2020, the National Trust for Historic Preservation: African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund selected Akilah to conduct research on affordability issues and risk of displacement in Atlanta, Georgia. As one of ten fellows across cities, her study on SW Atlanta contributed to a national report of racial inequity and potential solutions to Black displacement: African American Places: Growing Preservation Potential as a Path to Equity.