Dr. Venus E. Evans-Winters
Founder, Planet Venus Institute
Knowledge + Resilience = Power!
Dr. Venus E. Evans-Winters (Dr. V) is a Professor of Education, a licensed clinical psychotherapist and clinical complex trauma professional in private practice as well as a certified health and wellness coach. She is the author of several books on Black women and girls and has published dozens of academic articles on Black women's and girls' socio-cultural, educational, and mental health. Due to her commitment to research on and with Black girls and women, Dr. V was invited by President Obama's Administration to participate in a special convening at the White House to discuss research on the state of women and girls, and she served as an expert on, Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, film (Couvson, 2019). Dr. V has keynoted and guest lectured at numerous colleges and universities across the nation and internationally, including in South Africa and West Africa.
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In her spare time, Dr. Evans-Winters enjoys teaching women how to write to heal, research for racial justice, and practicing mindfulness meditation to revive the feminine divine within.
MEET THE COLLECTIVE
Lynette Shaw
Lynette Shaw is Planet Venus's social media content creator. She is currently a graduate student interested in mental health and psychology. She is a facilitator of the Black Girls Mental Wealth Academy and the mastermind behind the P.E.A.C.H.E.S. program.
Janice Baines
Janice Baines is the Executive Assistant to Dr. Venus and is the Associate Director of Community Education for Planet Venus. Before becoming a full-time doctoral student in Teaching and Learning at the University of South Carolina, Janice served as an elementary education teacher for 12 years. Her research focuses on African-centered curriculum, Black girls' literacy, and social media education as a Black feminist intervention.
Aniah Francis
Aniah Francis is a 20-year-old junior at the University of San Francisco. She is originally from Trinidad and Tobago but moved to America to further her education. Outside of classes, she is interning and working at six organizations that seek to dismantle oppressive structures and creating safe spaces for Black girls and youth of color.