Shuronda Robinson is a fourth-generation entrepreneur who currently serves as the President & CEO of Adisa Communications – a boutique PR firm based in Austin, TX. Robinson founded the firm in 1995 and has played an integral part in providing intuitive and creative public relations, training, and diverse communications solutions for clients ever since. Robinson demands clarity and expects success for each project taken on by the firm. She is an expert in turning around projects or programs that have failed or have never gotten off the ground; she prefers to create new experiences rather than maintain what has already been done.
 
Instead of “solving problems,” Robinson offers innovative solutions. She seeks creatively inspired ideas to solve challenging issues while leading with a heart for equity and fairness. Often called upon to work through difficult conversations, she is a master at facilitating and guiding others to greater clarity and productivity.

For nearly 30 years, she has helped policymakers improve decision-making processes and implement successful multi-million-dollar social services, transportation, planning, natural resources, infrastructure, and public affairs programs throughout Texas. Her private sector clients also rely on her level-headed approach to public relations and include Frost Bank, Lenovo, and Wal-Mart. She enjoys taking on the more interesting and complex projects – often saying, “Call me after you’ve made all of the easy decisions!” 
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Robinson also connects grass-root community leaders and grass-top policymakers to influence decision-making. In addition, she is an influential civic leader and has established herself as a leader in the Central Texas community through her work with the Austin PBS, Boys & Girls Clubs, Austin Foundation for Architecture, the City-Wide MLK Celebrations, Zach Scott Theatre, and numerous other community service projects and organizations. She is currently working with City, County and community leaders to address the transformation of the homelessness response system to create more equitable housing and programs.
 
In 2021, Robinson launched The Adisa Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to support a beloved community of entrepreneurs and leaders by providing leadership development, training, and grants to businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. The Adisa Foundation also helps bring together global thought leaders to create greater peace and beauty on the planet.
 
In addition to being an award-winning journalist, Robinson is also the proud recipient of the Austin Woman Magazine Woman of the Year Award (2020), Small Business of the Year Award from Greater Black Austin Chamber of Commerce (2015), Emerging Leader Award from the Black Austin Democrats (2014), Rosa Parks Diversity Award from Women in Transportation - Heart of Texas Chapter (2013), and Outstanding Volunteer Award from YMCA of Austin (2002). 
 
Robinson lives in Austin, Texas and is the mother of three young men, two of whom proudly serve in the US Navy and US Army.

The SXSW program committee is officially including NAACP President Nelson Linder as part of The Health Equity Collaborative (HEC)’s panel: “Health Equity: Ending Racism in the US Health Care” on March 12th from 10:00 - 11:00am. This panel will also feature Tammy Boyd of the Black Women's Health Imperative; Amy Hinojosa of MANA; A National Latina Organization; Justin Nelson of National LGBT Chamber of Commerce; and Jason Resendez of Us Against Alzheimer’s.

When Carter G. Woodson established Negro History week in 1926, he realized the importance of providing a theme to focus the attention of the public. The intention has never been to dictate or limit the exploration of the Black experience, but to bring to the public’s attention important developments that merit emphasis.

The theme for 2022 focuses on the importance of Black Health and Wellness. This theme acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.

In order to foster good health and wellness Black people have embarked on self-determination, mutual aid, and social support initiatives to build hospitals, medical and nursing schools (i.e. Meharry Medical College, Howard University College of Medicine, Provident Hospital and Training School, Morehouse School of Medicine, etc.), and community clinics. Clinics were established by individuals, grassroots organizations and mutual aid societies, such as the African Union Society, National Association of Colored Women and Black Panther Party, to provide spaces for Black people to counter the economic and health disparities and discrimination that are found at mainstream institutions. These disparities and anti-Blackness led to communities developing phrases such as “When white folks catch a cold, Black folks get pneumonia.”

Black Health and Wellness not only includes one’s physical body, but also emotional and mental health. At this point in the 21st century, our understanding of Black health and wellness is broader and more nuanced than ever. Social media and podcasts, such as The Read hosted by Crissle and Kid Fury, have normalized talking about mental health and going to therapy, as well as initiatives such as Therapy for Black Girls. More of us understand the need to hold down, lift up, center, and fight fiercely for our beloved trans siblings and family. Black girls are doing breathwork, and there are whole yoga studios dedicated to people of color.

In the still overhanging shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black people should and do use data and other information-sharing modalities to document, decry, and agitate against the interconnected, intersecting inequalities intentionally baked into systems and structures in the U.S. for no other reason than to curtail, circumscribe, and destroy Black wellbeing. Moreover, Black communities must look to the past to provide the light for our future, by embracing the rituals, traditions, and healing modalities of our ancestors. These ways of knowing require a decolonization of thought and practice.

NAACP Austin President Linder is quoted in the recent Austin-American Statesman article saying, "Addressing people who are most affected by this pandemic requires community involvement and communication from government officials and all of our community organizations. But I don't see that happening." Read more here.

The title of this book reflects the question on the table for the city, county, school systems, and the entire local community: Where do we go from here? Chaos or community? It's time for us to make a commitment. Do collective actions reflect what we're currently seeing?