Hi, I’m Dr. Amina D. Massey

I am passionate about ethical community engagement and meaningful support for artists and culture bearers.

I’m a sociologist and experienced program consultant committed to developing and implementing community-engaged research, programming, and education with measurable positive social impact. I have a doctoral degree in medical sociology, and my research has employed creative and participatory methodologies to address health equity through community advocacy, social policy, and public programming. My approach to consulting organizational leadership teams is also informed by my professional experience in organizational operations, program management, and human resources. 

In addition to my work as a sociologist and community engagement consultant, I have supported emerging and professional artists as they build their careers and manage the presentation of their work. I have worked as a teaching artist, an interviewer, event producer, program director, and I have managed the administrative aspects of creative careers in a range of media. I bring a rare combination of skillsets to support artists as they strengthen their public presence and share their work. 

About my services:

I offer community engagement consulting services for researchers, organizations, and public programs that respond to community needs and priorities. I provide strategic support in the development, management, and expansion of programs with positive social impact. I also support organizations by creating systems to sustain healthy internal operations in alignment with their mission.

I provide a range of creative career consulting services for emerging and established creatives working in any medium. I create personalized plans for each client, offering tools for self-assessment and career planning, writing support, professional photography, and connections to existing resources accessible to creative professionals. I will support you in managing the business aspects of your career with ease, allowing you to focus your energy on your creative craft.

I look forward to supporting your work!

  • Ph.D., Sociology of Health and Illness

    University of California, San Francisco, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences

    Dissertation: Beyond Coping: Responses to Chronic Illness Among Religious Black American Women

    Research interests: Health advocacy and education, social determinants of health, racial health inequalities, depression, collective trauma, chronic illness, religion and spirituality, women’s health, LGBTQIA+ health, sociology of emotions

    B.A., Ethnic Studies, Community Health

    Brown University - with honors

    Outstanding Honors Thesis Award for qualitative research on the role of cultural and religious belief in the experience of chronic illness among Black women in the U.S. and Brazil

  • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CREATIVE CAREER CONSULTANT

    Freelance | New Orleans, LA | 2015 - present

    FOUNDER, OWNER & OPERATOR

    [antidote] Botanical Wellness | New Orleans, LA | 2017 - present

    DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS

    Material Institute | New Orleans, LA | 2020 - 2022

    SENIOR BUSINESS CONSULTANT

    NOVACES, LLC | New Orleans, LA | 2018 - 2019

    COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH SPECIALIST

    PROGRAM MANAGER, LACaTS Community Scholars Program

    Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education, Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA | 2013 - 2017

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT, PATIENT ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION/LINKAGE

    UCSF Positive Health Program, Ward 86, San Francisco General Hospital | San Francisco, CA | 2011 - 2013

    POET MENTOR (Teaching Artist)

    YouthSpeaks Literary Arts Organization | San Francisco, CA | 2009 - 2011

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Health of Philadelphia Photo-Documentation Project (HOPPP)

    University of Pennsylvania, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics | Philadelphia, PA | 2006

    RESEARCH ASSISTANT AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR, Transcultural Community Health Initiative (TCHI)

    Brown University, Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity | Providence, RI | 2005 - 2006

  • Founder, [antidote] Botanical Wellness and Abolition Apothecary

    antidoteshop.co

    New Orleans, LA

    Founder, Shotgun Griot Podcast and Events

    shotgungriot.com

    New Orleans, LA

    Committee Member / Consultant, Smoke-Free NOLA Campaign

    The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL)

    Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition

    New Orleans, LA

    Guest Facilitator, Krewe de Lose Weight Loss Program

    Ruth U. Fertel/ Tulane Community Health Center

    New Orleans, LA

    Program Manager, Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LACaTS) Community Scholars Program

    Xavier University of Louisiana

    New Orleans, LA

    Community Engagement Specialist, Successful Weight Loss in Primary Care in Louisiana (PROPEL)

    Louisiana State University

    Baton Rouge, LA

    Lead Researcher, Responses to Chronic Illness Among Black American Women

    University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, CA

    Facilitator, Jazz Poetry in Middle Schools

    Youthspeaks, Inc. and SF Jazz

    San Francisco, CA

    Research Assistant, Patient Engagement and Retention/ Linkage (PEARL)

    San Francisco General Hospital / UCSF Ward 86

    San Francisco, CA

    Research Assistant, Transcultural Community Health Initiative (TCHI)

    Brown University

    Providence, RI

    Research Assistant, Health of Philadelphia Photo-Documentation Project (HOPPP)

    University of Pennsylvania, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics

    Philadelphia, PA