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Renée Bradford, Ph.D. is a 2026 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Renée Bradford at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Aqeel Tirmizi, Committee Chair, Dr. Philomena Essed, Committee Member (not pictured), Dr. Neha Kumar, Committee Member (not pictured)

Dissertation Committee

  • Aqeel Tirmizi, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Philomena Essed, PhD, Committee Member
  • Neha Kumar, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

civil rights leaders, civil rights movement, contemplative action, digital kinship, digital spaces, leadership, racial justice, reconciliation, resistance

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

This mixed-methods study aimed to identify factors critical in building a digital support network employing contemplative practices to support activists engaging in racial justice work in the United States. The research question that guided this study was: What factors do racial justice activists regard as critical in building a digital support network employing contemplative practices? The study’s importance lies in addressing the evolving landscape of digital activism while honoring the spiritual and relational foundations that have historically sustained social justice movements, particularly as contemporary activists navigate new technological tools while seeking to maintain authentic connection and contemplative grounding. Key findings revealed that activists prioritize relational elements over technological infrastructure, with clear communication channels ranking as the most critical factor, followed by accessibility and inclusivity, trust, and mutual support. The study identified nine major themes across focus groups, which emphasized that relational trust serves as the engine of sustainable activism, digital tools must serve the work rather than becoming barriers, and contemplative practices cultivate integrity for sustained justice work. Additional findings highlighted the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer, representation, and safety in digital spaces, as well as the need for digital networks to function as containers of cultivation that pair online accessibility with embodied presence, creating healing spaces that honor both technological innovation and ancestral wisdom. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (http://aura.antioch.edu) and the OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu/).

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Renée Bradford

ORCID iD: #0009-0008-1218-8324

Dr. Renée L. Bradford earned her PhD in Leadership & Change from Antioch University in 2025. Her dissertation research explores digital support networks for contemplative activists engaged in racial justice and reconciliation work, examining how technological infrastructure and contemplative practices intersect to sustain long-term activist engagement without burnout.

Dr. Bradford brings over three decades of ministry leadership experience to her scholarly work. She currently serves as Executive Minister at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, where she has led congregational transformation initiatives and organizational development for 18 years. She is President of the American Baptist Churches of the South (ABCOTS) Area III Ministers Council and a founding member of the Next Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP). She is a Fetzer Scholar and former Executive Team member of the MSR (Management, Spirituality, and Religion) Division of the Academy of Management (AOM).

Beyond her institutional roles, Dr. Bradford founded The Lemonade Stand, a daily contemplative digital fellowship that has met for four years, and Change and Know, a contemplative leadership practice that helps organizations and leaders navigate transformation through contemplative approaches, including her Holy Hill Framework drawn from Psalm 15. She holds an MDiv from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and a BS in Information Systems from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Dr. Bradford's research interests center on the intersection of contemplative spirituality, digital community building, and leadership sustainability in social justice movements. Her work has been presented at academic and practitioner conferences, and she serves on the board of the Berrett-Koehler Publishing Foundation.

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