Dickerson’s journey in grassroots advocacy began in 1994 when she joined the Unity Community Center of South Jersey (UCC), a renowned African American nonprofit dedicated to performing arts and leadership development. Her dedication quickly led to her appointment as Education Director in 1998, a role in which she spearheaded culturally relevant youth programs across the Tri-State Area. For over two decades, she has served as a Cultural Ambassador and Education Advocate, organizing initiatives that celebrate and empower the youth of Camden, New Jersey.

 

Her advocacy in education intensified when she witnessed private interests threatening Camden’s public school system. In May 2014, she played a pivotal role in organizing a historic student walkout of 1,500 Camden Public School students, protesting the dismissal of over 200 educators. This courageous act propelled her to co-found the Camden Parent Union, a coalition of parents, caregivers, and community leaders dedicated to securing education equity, fair funding, local governance, and the recruitment and retention of Black and brown teachers in Camden’s public schools.

 

Expanding her impact beyond Camden, Dickerson serves as the National Organizer for the Journey for Justice Alliance (J4J), a national network spanning over 30 cities that fights school privatization and advocates for community-driven education policies. Her leadership has influenced presidential campaign models and national education platforms, fostering a multi-racial coalition for education justice.

 

Beyond education, Dickerson is a respected leader in Black maternal health. As the Co-Founder, Executive Director, and Trainer for Community Doulas of South Jersey, the region’s first African American-led doula organization, she works to combat high maternal and infant mortality rates in Black communities. She provides prenatal education, breastfeeding support, and postpartum care, ensuring that families receive culturally competent and compassionate maternal health services.

 

Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named one of New Jersey’s Most Influential African Americans (2019), one of New Jersey’s African American Women Leaders (2020), and one of “5 Black Women Fighting for Equitable Reopening in Classrooms” by The Grio (2021).

 

Through her tireless advocacy, Ronsha A. Dickerson continues to be a powerful voice for education advancement, community empowerment, and maternal health equity. Her unwavering dedication to justice and transformation is evident in every initiative she leads, ensuring that future generations inherit a more just and equitable world.