The mission of the Black Researchers Collective is to train and equip communities with the research tools to be more civically engaged and policy informed.

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Glenance is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Black Researchers Collective. She is a researcher, writer, community organizer, and filmmaker who uses various art forms as tools of healing and liberation for systemic change. Glenance is the Co-Host of Research in the Streets, the official podcast of the Black Researchers Collective, and the former Co-Host of IL Informed, a podcast about Illinois politics, government, and how the heck it all works (or doesn’t) in Springfield. With over 15 years of research and non-profit experience — and a strong track record of leading successful research, evaluation, and technical assistance efforts — Glenance has been keenly focused on institutionalizing racial equity at the state and local levels. Focused on strengthening her practice, Glenance was a 2019 Racial Equity Fellow for Chicago United for Equity and a 2020 Fellow for New Leaders Council. She serves on the Advisory Council on Equity for the City of Chicago, the Board of Directors for Kuumba Lynx, and is the Chair of the Economic Development Committee for the Grand Boulevard Advisory Council and the President of a Block Club in the Chicago community of Bronzeville. Glenance holds both a BA and MA in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University, respectively, and a PhD in Policy Studies in Urban Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Co-Founder & Deputy Director

Shari is the Co-Founder and Deputy Director of the Black Researchers Collective. She is a native Chicagoan whose national reputation has been cemented because of her insistence on elevating topics of inclusion, race, and equity. Her professional acumen includes leading the strategic planning, development, programming and community outreach for the Chicago Urban League, one of the largest of the 68 affiliates of the National Urban League. During her tenure at the League, Runner relaunched the Research and Policy Center. Under her leadership, the Center was heavily involved in statewide efforts to reform the school funding formula, called for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate policing practice in Chicago, joined a ground-breaking lawsuit with other community organization plaintiffs to develop a Police Consent Decree with the City of Chicago, and developed its innovative Race and Equity Initiative. Shari has more than 25 years of experience in operations and financial management. She has also worked as an entrepreneur, management consultant, and community advocate. Shari holds a BA from Wesleyan University and an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Documentary Filmmaker

Joshua is Black Researchers Collective's documentary filmmaker, and an independent documentary producer and cinematographer. Joshua started his career working at PBS and ABC affiliates. Joshua organized live-streamed events, managing video and audio delivery via the internet. He debuted his short film, From Prisoner to Professor, in 2017, which later was featured at the Black Harvest Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival, and won Best Short Documentary at the American Filmatic Awards. He was the cinematographer for Chosen Foe Life, a short film of an inner-city youth conflicted by neighborhood pressures and school influences, which aired on WTTW. His passion is filming and still shoots documentaries for other independent producers.

Quantitative Research Specialist

Temi is Black Researchers Collective's Quantitative Research Specialist. She is a quantitative researcher who enjoys transforming data into actionable insights. Temi also works with a Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) consulting firm where she applies her knowledge of advanced data analytics and research methods to support a wide range of projects with Life Sciences clients, focusing on health economics and outcomes research through the health equity lens. Temi received her MPH in Health Policy and Programs from the University of South Florida and her Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.