N'Tanya Lee

N'Tanya is a long-time Center for Media Justice leader. Prior to becoming executive director at Coleman Advocates, N’Tanya was the project director of Coleman’s Youth Making a Change (Y-MAC), a multi-racial youth organizing project that builds working-class young people of color's leadership and wins policy victories to improve the lives of San Francisco's youth. As Y-MAC director, N'Tanya participated in YMC’s Global Justice Media School, integrated media advocacy into Y-MAC leadership development, and built relationships with key San Francisco reporters at YMC’s Youth/Journalist Roundtable events.

In her current position, N'Tanya is integrating strategic media work into Coleman's five-year plan to transform San Francisco into a city of hope and opportunity for all. She spearheaded a creative media campaign that helped win Coleman's “Budget 4 Families” demand: $10 million dollars for affordable housing protections, improved public education, childcare and violence prevention services. Recognizing the importance of strategic communications to building power and influence, N'Tanya is working with Youth Media Council to craft a frame that conveys Coleman's unique model of family organizing for education, employment and housing justice.

N’Tanya received her undergraduate degree at Brown University in American Studies and Public Policy, and did doctoral work in American Studies/African American History at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. She lives with her partner in the OMI/Lakeview neighborhood of San Francisco.