Jamilah Bradshaw

Jamilah serves as an Arts & Creativity Program Officer, contributing to our commitment to racial equity, artistic leadership, investing in artists through partnerships, and the cultural dimension of building power. She champions artists, creatives, and arts organizations as essential pillars of society, recognizing their unique ability to nurture imagination and showcase what is extraordinary, enduring, and formative. Viewing creativity as a critical skill set and mindset, she believes it is indispensable for shaping a new future. She draws on community-centered design methods, speculative inquiry, Black speculative arts, and her cultural studies background, to innovate philanthropic strategies and inspire transformative solutions. She came to Barr from The California Endowment, where she collaborated within regional and statewide teams to advance people power and health equity.

Previously, Jamilah served as a nonprofit consultant, was an inaugural Greenlining Institute Health Equity Fellow, as well as a UPenn Global Social Impact House fellow and Niroga Institute Integral Health fellow. Her lifelong creative practice encompasses writing, theater, and dances from the African Diaspora. Jamilah earned a bachelor’s degree from Mills College, a master’s degree from California Institute of Integral Studies, a Certificate in Social Sector Leadership from Haas-Berkeley, and an Executive Certificate in Social Impact Strategy from UPenn. Additionally, she has authored works on healing-informed programs, policies, and systems change. Living in Jamaica Plain MA, Jamilah is from East Oakland, CA and has an amazing dog named Che.