Paulana Lamonier

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & FOUNDER

Paulana Lamonier is the founder of Black People Will Swim, a purpose-driven organization working to smash the stereotype that Black people don’t swim. 

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Learning how to swim in 2009 at CUNY York College by her swim coaches, she built her love for swimming and teaching others how to conquer their fears of swimming. For over a decade, Paulana has been working with swim clubs, teams, and gyms sharing her love of swimming and community with her students.

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She's also a multimedia journalist who loves telling compelling stories. She's written for Fast Company, Forbes, and interviewed the likes of Queen Latifah, Loni Love, Venus Williams, and more. 

Phe Morgan

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Phe is a brand strategist and graphic/product designer who specializes in crafting brand experiences for creative entrepreneurs, socially conscious businesses, and corporate companies in healthcare, beauty, real estate, food & beverage, entertainment, not-for-profits and more for over 7 years. She is dedicated to building scroll stopping brands that consumers will recognize, business owners will be proud of and competitors will add to their mood-board. She has worked with and designed for Red Lobster, House Of Blues, several celebrity photographers, Turkey Leg Hut and more.

Courtney Garrett

SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Courtney is a social strategist passionate about helping people of color build brands and community. With 7+ years of marketing experience, she has created social media campaigns for brands like Universal Pictures, Disney, Ford, 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, P&G and more. She's also led the social media campaigns for box-office defining films like Jordan Peele’s Academy Award-winning Get Out, the massive media Fast & Furious franchise, and Girls Trip, which became the first comedy of 2017 to cross the $100 million mark domestically. Now she uses her skills to help POC brands get the engagement they need to build support and community.

Tequilla White

PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIST

Tequilla White is a born storyteller with a gift for writing and a passion for helping others. She uses these tools to amplify the brands of her diverse clients at TWPR, a full-service communications consultancy agency. Known for combining creativity with big-picture thinking, she has a knack for crafting campaigns that raise awareness, and drive growth. She operates under the mantra “Nothing is impossible — it's just about figuring out a way to make it happen!” This is why L'Oréal, Nike, the National Basketball Players Association, and the Verizon Foundation are just a few of the brands who have utilized her expertise. Results-driven and determined, she has secured coverage in top-tier media outlets including Essence, NBC, Good Morning America, Refinery29, ELLE, Cheddar, Black Enterprise, Bustle, Forbes, and BuzzFeed.

Lizie Mensah

ADMINISTRATIVE/PARTNERSHIP FELLOW

Lizie Mensah is a Ghanaian- American millennial, born and raised in Bronx, NY. Raised in a Christian home, her faith in God keeps her grounded, but her cultural roots from Ghana cultivates her love for the rich African culture, and black empowerment as well. As a first-gen sophomore at St. John’s University, she pursues a double major degree in English and Communications with a minor in psychology. With this focus, she aspires to become a media journalist, presenter, and Ph.D. psychologist with the plan to advocate for mental health, whilst being a voice for others.