Alencia is the Founder of 1063 West Broad — a social impact consultancy and media company connecting brands, organizations and people to purpose driven solutions. Alencia harmoniously marries cultural cornerstones – social justice, politics, corporate and entertainment – together to address today’s most pressing social issues.
Alencia was a senior advisor to President Biden’s 2020 campaign as well as Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign. Earlier in the 2020 presidential cycle, she served as the national director of public engagement for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign -- managing strategic rollouts of Senator Warren’s policy proposals utilizing principal speeches, media strategies, surrogate endorsements, cultural moments and in-person events.
Prior to that, she spent six years at Planned Parenthood’s national office, where she engaged political, media, entertainment and corporate organizations and influencers to shift mainstream culture with positive, inclusive and factual perceptions of gender equity and women’s rights. Alencia was the architect behind Planned Parenthood’s “Stand With Black Women” branding and framework, developed the framework for Planned Parenthood’s engagement with broader social justice issues, and managed cultural partnerships including the WNBA, SXSW, Sundance Film Festival, Essence Music Festival and more. On behalf of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, she developed election engagement strategies with Secretary Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
In 2012, Alencia served on the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama, managing surrogate and influencer strategies. She began her career at GEICO’s corporate headquarters executing the company’s social responsibility communications.
Alencia is regularly seen on MSNBC, CNN, NewsOne, BET, Huffington Post Live, and featured in NPR, Washington Post, ESSENCE, Glamour and more. Alencia has been recognized on EBONY Magazine’s “Power 100” list of influential African Americans, PRWeek’s “40 Under 40” list, "The Root 100" list of influential Black leaders, as well as a "Champion in PR" by PRWeek and received the Woman of the Year Award from Harvard University’s Black Men’s Forum. Her board service includes the Warner Music Group/Blavatnik Family Foundation’s Social Justice Fund as well as Human Rights First and she was appointed to the Virginia Council on Women by Governor Ralph Northam.
A native of Virginia, Alencia received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Leadership Studies from Christopher Newport University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and currently resides in the Washington, DC area. Alencia can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @AlenciaJohnson.
Her national bestselling book, "Flip The Tables: The Everyday Disruptor’s Guide to Finding Courage and Making Change” is available now.
More than answering the question I’m often asked—“How can I have impact?”—this book reflects the journey I had to take myself on to discover my own power and not be afraid to use it. In 2020, amid the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and a presidential election, we were all stuck at home trying to figure out how to sow more good. I kept thinking of the story of Jesus flipping over tables and asked myself: What would it take for us to turn righteous anger into real action? To disrupt the status quo?
At the same time, I was personally unhappy—something that would’ve surprised anyone reading my bio. I realized that healing myself and getting into a deeper relationship with who I really am—not who the world expects me to be—was the key to unlocking my gifts. Gifts that could not only disrupt the world for good, but inspire others to do the same. So many of us are scared to be who we’re actually supposed to be—but that’s the key to real impact.
It’s divine timing that this book came out now, at a moment when so many people are searching for answers on what to do—without realizing we already have the tools within us. The courage to disrupt ourselves, our vision of what’s possible, and eventually, the world around us.
Saying, “I have no idea what I’m doing—but I’ll figure it out.” That mindset has allowed me to push through insecurities and self-doubt & go for it. It’s also allowed me to understand the importance of bringing other people along the journey – we can’t figure out everything on our own.
My late grandmother, Mrs. Ozella Bennett. Her name may not be known to the masses, but her participation in her community helped propel society forward. My early example of a person who understood their influence and the ability to use whatever gifts you have. It also helps that she was the flyest woman in town with her bold red lipstick – and a poet! It’s no surprise she raised such courageous and loving women like my mother and aunts. I write about her in Flip the Tables.
My daily tea. Whether it’s matcha or an herbal blend, preparing it helps me slow down and be present, even if I’m on the go. It centers me. And it’s a love language in my family—especially when I visit my parents and they offer to make me a cup.
More of us are realizing how to build an authentic community with one another—and what’s happening in our country demands it. That’s how we care for each other when the systems fail us. But deep community requires radical honesty with ourselves and each other—which is why my book begins with the section Disruption of Self before moving into disrupting communities. I’m excited that so many of us are finally meeting ourselves in ways we haven’t before so we can show up for one another more fully.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. I first read it in high school, and it gave me language to begin understanding what it means to be Black in America. It became a foundation for exploring the deeper teachings of bell hooks in college, and deeper curiosity of the Harlem Renaissance (which inspired me to move to Harlem in my twenties). In many ways, I – like so many other Black women – have been subconsciously writing the intersectional sequel, Invisible Woman, ever since.
