HELLO! I am Natasha Harrison.
I believe Black women have the solutions for their lives and can manifest their wildest dreams. Self-care and support are paramount to making it happen.
I created Break the Silo | Live on Purpose + Passion to help Black women step into their purpose + passion while getting support and love.
THIS IS MY STORY
From dire beginnings…
By the time I was 8 years old, a family friend had sexually abused me. I witnessed my mother being physically abused by my alcoholic stepfather, and on occasion was a victim of the same abuse. By the time I was 18, I moved 14 times in 12 years; and, assumed legal guardianship of my 9-year-old brother after my mother died of heart valve failure three days after my high school graduation.
To IT professional to nonprofit executive…
Armed with a BS in Mathematics and Masters in Information Technology, I started out my career listening to a voice that was not my own. I wanted to make a lot of money as an IT professional. I soon realized working in IT was not fulfilling and wanted more out of my life. I quit my lucrative IT job and became a counselor at a residential facility to help girls with my similar background. Seeking to find out how to help girls from entering the child protection system, I later accepted a position as an AmeriCorps member to help reduce child protective services cases in my hometown. I soon rose through the ranks in the nonprofit sector as the vice president of a medium sized nonprofit.
Now living my dreams…
I had dreams of becoming a philanthropist-giving time talent, treasure, and testimony to support positive community development in Black communities; being a homeowner; and, having a positive, functional family.
Today, I am a wife to Ayodele Harrison and mother to Ajani, 13 and Ifetayo, 2. My family owns two homes in my hometown of Atlanta and Washington, DC.
In 2011, I founded Community Build Ventures, a strategic solutions firm committed to providing coaching, training, and consultation to foundations, businesses, and government agencies to ensure good intentions produce positive impact in Black communities.
My firm has provided services, most notably, to Gas South, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Capital One Foundation, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Foundation Center, and DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.
In addition to my role as President and CEO at CommunityBuild Ventures, I am a adjunct professor at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and a frequent facilitator and lecturer at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.
I am a member of HouseProud Atlanta Board of Directors, member of Circle of Joy Giving Circle, founder of For Her: A Black Women Giving Movement for Black Girls, member of the Ryan Cameron Foundation Anti-Violence Taskforce, co-chair of the 12th Annual Community Investment Network Conference, United Way Women of Cole Cabinet Member and a member of Junior League of Atlanta. I was selected The EnVest Foundation 40 under 40 honoree due to my outstanding service to my community.