Dr. Shawn Ginwright

Biography

Shawn Ginwright is a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education whose work focuses on trauma, healing, and empowering African American youth. He addresses the challenges faced by urban youth navigating poverty and striving for equality and justice. His introduction of the concept of 'healing-centered engagement' has been instrumental in reshaping the discourse surrounding youth development. Ginwright is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Flourish Agenda, Inc., a research lab and consulting firm committed to unlocking the power of healing to empower youth of color and their adult allies to drive transformative change in schools and communities. Previously, he was a faculty member in the Africana Studies Department at San Francisco State University for 19 years. Additionally, he served as the chairman of the board for the California Endowment from 2019 to 2022, overseeing a $5 billion endowment aimed at improving health in underserved communities. He is also on the advisory board of the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning at Tufts University. Ginwright received the Fulbright Senior Specialist award from the U.S. State Department in 2011 and has authored several influential books and publications related to youth activism and urban education.

Research Interests