Meet Dr. Lindsey
Dr. Treva B. Lindsey is an award-winning author and Professor at The Ohio State University, co-founder of Black Feminist Night School at Zora’s House, founder of the Transformative Black Feminisms Initiative at OSU. Her most recent book, America Goddam: Violence, Black Women, and The Struggle for Justice (University of California Press) received a starred review from Kirkus Books, landed on several “Best of 2022” lists, has been a finalist for prestigious national awards, and was described as “required reading for all Americans.” Her first book, Colored No More: Reinventing Black Womanhood in Washington D.C was a Choice 2017 “Outstanding Academic Title.”
She has published in Feminist Scholar Online, Biography, The Journal of Pan-African Studies, Souls, African and Black Diaspora, the Journal of African American Studies, African American Review, The Journal of African American History, Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism, Urban Education, The Black Scholar, Feminist Studies, and Signs.
She is the recipient of several awards and fellowships from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. She is the Distinguished Father Royden B. Davis, S.J., Chair at Georgetown University for Spring 2025. She was a 2020-2021 ACLS/Mellon Scholars and Society Fellow. She was the inaugural Equity for Women and Girls of Color Fellow at Harvard University (2016-2017). In 2022, she received the Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences Mid-Career Faculty Excellence Award. Professor Lindsey also writes for and contributes to outlets such as Time, CNN, Al Jazeera, NBC, BET, Complex, Vox, The Root, Huffington Post, PopSugar, Billboard, Bustle, Teen Vogue, Grazia UK, The Grio, The Washington Post, Women’s Media Center, Zora, and Cosmopolitan.
Meet Karen Hewitt, M.Ed. (They/She)
Culture Bearer | Community Builder | Rest Advocate | Creative Visionary
Karen Hewitt is a catalyst for connection, creativity, and transformation. As Founder of The Culture of You and Co-Founder & COO of The Ohio REST Collective, they specialize in Culture and Diversity Strategy, Leadership Development, and Community Building, centering Black and Queer wisdom while guiding organizations through meaningful change. Known for their sharp insight and warm, approachable style, Karen helps individuals and organizations navigate complex conversations with heart and strategy. She is a sought-after host, speaker, voice actor, and facilitator, celebrated for her healing-centered, trauma-informed approach that turns vision into tangible action. Their accolades include the 2020 Create Columbus Visionary Award, 2022 CEO Columbus Future 50 Fellowship, and 2023 membership in the African-American Leadership Academy Fellowship. They serve as President of The Buckeye Flame
Board of Directors and are a Board of Directors member for Zora’s House.
Beyond consulting, Karen is a dynamic creative, performing as Karen Marie in poetry, improv comedy, and music. They have graced sold-out stages like the Lincoln Theatre and are a published author of Grounded: A Collection of Healing Spoken Word Poetry (2019) and Fire: Poetic Memoirs of a Movement (2021), alongside contributions to anthologies such as The Black Woman’s Guide to Love and Business (2022), and Culture Impact: Strategies to Create World-Changing Workplaces (2023). With a background in mathematics, women’s basketball coaching, workforce development, and educational leadership, Karen integrates her analytical expertise with her passion for people to foster inclusive, affirming, and thriving communities. At the heart of her work is an unwavering commitment to creating spaces where people feel safe, valued, and seen.
