Nakisha Lewis
Deacon
Nakisha M. Lewis (She, Her, Hers) began worshipping at Riverside Baptist Church in 2024 and immediately found the congregation to be warm, affirming and a place she could call home. Since becoming a member, Nakisha has enjoyed volunteering with the church’s protein pantry, back to school drives and hospitality committee. While not a native Washingtonian, she has lived in Washington D.C. for several years and enjoys being an active member of the Southeast and Southwest communities.
Nakisha is a Black lesbian feminist and lifelong advocate for racial and gender justice and equity. Before moving to Washington D.C, Nakisha lived and worked in New York, Philadelphia and Boston where she has spent more than two decades mobilizing for racial justice, worker & women’s rights, and LGBTQ equality. A compassionately gifted impact strategist, Nakisha has been at the vanguard of narrative and cultural change for decades. She has conceptualized, implemented, and directed game-changing arts installations and multimedia campaigns such as “Why We Can’t Wait”, #SayHerName, and #DefendBlackWomanhood. Through her storytelling work, she amplifies the voices of people too often invisibilized and unheard by addressing systemic harms through shifting narratives in all of the spaces where power is exerted — from media and popular culture to philanthropy and politics.
Nakisha has held leadership positions in several social justice organizations including as President and CEO of Let’s Breakthrough Inc, National Director of Civil, Human and Women's Rights at the AFL-CIO, and Program Officer and Senior Strategist for Safety at the Ms. Foundation for Women. Her work on women’s rights also includes the co-founding of the #SheWoke Committee—the catalyst for the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls; established in 2016, the founding co-chair of Grantmakers for Girls of Color as well as organizer and board member of Power Rising.
Nakisha finds joy in fashion, travel and frolicking. She is also a proud dog mom to Play Amis Lewis.