Morgan Mann Willis (she/they) is a community builder, organizational strategist & facilitator based in Detroit.

Quick Bio

Morgan is a Black, nonbinary, queer, writer, traveler, and creative collaborator who dreams big. For close to 15 years, Morgan has worked to strengthen work, build programs, empower marginalized and under resourced people, places and projects—especially within Black, POC and queer+trans communities. She has worked with dozens of partners across the country to lead dynamic gatherings, design programs, train and support emerging leaders, build resilient infrastructures and expand people’s capacity for social transformation.

Morgan’s work has been featured in: Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Shaping Worlds, The SAGE Handbook of Social Constructionist Theory and other publications. She is the editor of Outside the XY: Queer Black and Brown Masculinity, a Lambda Literary Award nominated anthology. They’ve been featured on NBC, Michigan Radio and more.

Morgan’s work is anchored by two core beliefs: community organizing is vital to our collective survival and those most impacted by systems of oppression are best suited to identify strategies of resistance and sustainable transformation.

Current/Past partners include: Allied Media Projects Voices UnBroken Center for NuLeadership People in Education Detroit Narrative Agency Color of Change Cranbrook Academy of Art BK Legal Defenders bklyn boihood Mary J. Blige Center for Women Design Justice Detroit Community Technology Project Movement 4 Black Lives Black Bottom Archives Abundant Bodies New Economy Coalition People’s Guide to Tech Black Artist Meetup The Sierra Club Hollaback! NYC +++

Areas of Focus

Morgan has led and supported critical work across needs and issue areas. Her most developed areas of focus are:

  • Leading network gatherings for community-driven work

  • Designing pathways towards real diversity and equity

  • Strategic program design

  • Resource development planning

  • Hiring Good People

  • Mission and vision exploration

  • Writing and editing

  • Staff training

  • Capacity building initiatives

  • Managing and directing staff, consultants and contractors

  • Youth-leadership training and mentorship

  • Training and gathering new leaders of color

  • Staff retreat design and facilitation for Non-profits, small for profits and academic institutions.

  • Facilitation Training

  • Executive leadership development/mentorship/coaching

Testimonials

“Action to ideas, order to chaos—Mo’s work with us has been pivotal. She’s helped us reground ourselves and rebuild as a team. Intergenerational, local organizing doesn’t get a lot of support. Mo’s structural support helps us build better, connect to more people and do more things, period. ” -Chino Hardin, Co-ED, Center for NuLeadership

“Mo is a force that one wants to reckon with!… Mo ensures that all voices are not only heard, but honored. They create a space that allows us to see moments of tension as opportunities. Working with Mo has always allowed us to feel more grounded and confident in our work, which is why we have worked with them time and time again. Thank you, Mo!” -Corina Fidel, Detroit Safety Team

Let’s Connect.