THE TEAM

The Heart Behind the Restoration

We bring decades of professional expertise in law, finance, development, communications, and community organizing. But more than credentials, we bring personal legacy. Many of us have family stories intertwined with the very blocks we're restoring. This isn't just a job—it's our responsibility to the ancestors who came before and the generations who will inherit what we build today.

Zanesha Williams

Community Engagement Manager

Zanesha Williams (she/her) serves as Community Engagement Manager at Williams & Russell CDC and Communications Coordinator at EARLY PR, where she bridges strategic communications with grassroots community building.

A journalist by training, Zanesha earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Africana Studies from San Francisco State University. This foundation deepened her appreciation for and commitment to amplifying the Black community, our histories, and supporting informed documentation of contemporary Black leadership, activism, and creativity—values that guide every aspect of her work.

At Williams & Russell CDC, Zanesha helps share the powerful story of North Portland's historic Hill Block neighborhood revitalization, connecting community members with this movement for reparative justice and ensuring that those who were displaced are informed and included in all opportunities to influence pathways to return and thrive. Through EARLY PR, she works alongside a team of BIPOC creatives using a Black Queer Feminist lens to craft narratives that prioritize and resonate with often marginalized and overlooked audiences while creating lasting impact for social justice organizations.

Previously, Zanesha honed her communications expertise at Apple, where she served as Brand Public Relations Specialist and Corporate Communications Coordinator for Inclusion and Diversity, advising leadership and helping develop strategic media partnerships. Her freelance work with Black-owned media outlets including Black Voice News, XPress Magazine, and unORIGINAL Magazine reflects her ongoing dedication to centering Black voices and cultural narratives.


Every decision we make is guided by Black vision, Black values, and Black community voice. This is what it looks like when we control our own healing.