About
Our Mission
foster awareness of America’s history of black massacres and other state sanctioned violence against Black communities,
make the history and cultural heritage of black massacres readily accessible to the public,
explore the legal, cultural, social, political, and economic implications of this historical era, and
identify and promote restorative practices, including reparations, to make impacted communities, along with their survivors and descendants whole.
Our Team
Kenya Tyson
Founder/ Executive Director
A Fulbright Scholar, Kenya has received recognition and awards in honor of her service and scholarship. In 2016, she was recognized by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives in appreciation of her support to the Citizens of New Jersey. Kenya is a fellow of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation and was recognized by the National Gang Crime Research Center as the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Frederick Milton Thrasher Award for her scholarship on gang courts. She was also named one of the New Jersey Law Journal’s Diverse Attorneys of the Year in 2019.
Kenya earned a JD from Widener University Delaware Law School, a MS in Criminal Justice, with an emphasis on Criminal Behavior Analysis from the University of Cincinnati, and a BA in Political Science from Winston-Salem State University. Kenya is also an active member of the Beta Alpha Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Ashlie Claxton
Associate Director of Operations
Mashayla Billups
Project Coordinator
Irissah King
Creative Operations Associate
Irissah King is the Creative Operations Associate for The Black Massacre Project. Irissah has experience working as a multimedia journalist and on-air correspondent for magazines and in radio. She is also a multi-disciplinary artist with a background in print and digital marketing, brand creation, and brand marketing. Her experience includes working for celebrity interior design firm, Sloan Square, award-winning media production company, VRR Productions, and Sloppy Vinyl, an artist development company and studio based in New Jersey.
A champion for political education and advocacy, Ms. King has worked with organizations including When We All Vote and the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group. Irissah graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a minor in Psychology.
Kenyéla Renée Horn
Program Coordinator
Kenyéla Horn is a Program Coordinator for The Black Massacre Project and graduate of Rutgers University-Newark studying Public Administration and Affairs. She has previously interned for non-profit community organization Project Ready NJ, Senator Cory Booker’s 2020 Presidential Campaign, for The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation with New Jersey Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, and image activist Michaela Angela Davis.
A New Jersey native, Kenyéla has been a profound orator for over 10 years. Her passion lies in social justice advocacy and she hopes to work in public policy, specifically education reform. Eventually, she plans to pursue a law degree and practice Civil Rights Law. In her free time, she likes to read and write. Kenyéla is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
For inquiries, please contact us