Mar
27
2025
Our team at the Building Movement Project has grown in the past few months, and we wanted to introduce you to our newest staff members! Read on to get to know Janaé and Priti.
Meet Janaé (she/her) – Dr. Janaé Bonsu-Love is an accomplished activist researcher, advocate, and educator dedicated to advancing equity and social change. With extensive experience in intersectional research, she has led numerous mixed-method projects in nonprofit and movement-building spaces, focusing on race, gender, and criminalization. Her work bridges research and advocacy, with a commitment to producing actionable findings that support grassroots campaigns and build organizational capacity. Janaé’s movement-driven research is highlighted in her co-authored book, Imperial Policing: Weaponized Data in Carceral Chicago (University of Minnesota Press, 2024), which examines the global implications of imperial policing and abolition. Janaé’s leadership, research, and advocacy experience includes roles at the National Black Women’s Justice Institute (NBWJI) and Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100). She currently serves as an expert adviser to the Women’s Justice Commission at the Council on Criminal Justice and on the board of directors at mRelief, a nonprofit transforming access to social services.
Meet Priti (she/her) – Priti (pronounced “Pree-thee”) Nemani is a Policy Analyst with Building Movement Project, offering assistance with research, writing, and support of solidarity cohorts. Prior to joining BMP, Priti spent a decade as a private community lawyer serving families and small businesses in the areas of real estate, business law, and trust law, with a particular focus on providing affordable and accessible representation and supporting new businesses founded by entrepreneurs of color through pro bono offerings. Priti holds a Bachelor’s in Comparative Literature (Spanish/English) from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Washington University in St. Louis.
What drew you to BMP?
Janaé: I was drawn to BMP because of its commitment to bridging research and practice in ways that support movements for social change. BMP’s focus on leadership, organizational change, and movement building deeply resonates with my experience and values. I appreciate that BMP’s work is grounded in rigorous research and data-driven analysis and shaped by the lived experiences of nonprofit leaders and grassroots organizers. BMP’s focus on supporting organizations in becoming more equitable and effective change agents reflects my own approach to research—ensuring that findings don’t just sit in reports but actively influence the sector.
Priti: I am in awe of the myriad ways in which BMP supports both the process and substantive mission of nonprofits leading the way in social change. The rigor with which the BMP team approaches every task, from internal discussions to externally supporting our partners, is both inspiring and humbling. I appreciate how BMP does not back away from difficult conversations and instead approaches conflict as a means to generate positive change.
With no advance prep, what could you lead a 20-minute presentation or discussion about?
Janaé: I’m passionate about research that fuels action, so I could easily lead a discussion on participatory action research and how it can be used as a tool for power-building. I’d walk through how community members can be active participants in shaping research questions, analyzing data, and using findings to advocate for change on issues that impact them. I could also dive into how grassroots organizations can collect and leverage data to strengthen their organizing campaigns.
But if we’re stepping outside of my formal work, I could just as easily talk about food as medicine and the cultural power of Black/African diasporic culinary traditions–especially how I love transforming traditional soul food into nourishing, plant-forward meals.
Priti: Right now, I could give you a 20-minute briefing on policy updates impacting immigration enforcement, nonprofits, civil and constitutional rights, and foreign policy. Part of my work with BMP’s movement-building team is tracking the fast pace of current events and working with my colleagues to share news in an accessible way.
What gives you hope in challenging times?
Janaé: I find hope in my family, my community, and the small, everyday acts of care and resistance that remind me we’re in this together.
My son is a constant source of joy and motivation. Motherhood has deepened my commitment to justice, pushing me to think about what it truly means to build a world where he—and all our children—can thrive.
I also find hope in shared meals, laughter, and storytelling—how we nourish and sustain each other, even in difficult times. Cooking for loved ones, swapping recipes, and reclaiming traditions passed down through generations are all forms of resistance and connection.
And, of course, I find hope in the resilience of movements. Even when the political climate feels bleak, I see people organizing, building, and dreaming of new possibilities. That reminds me that transformation isn’t just possible—it’s already happening.
Priti: I find comfort in the question of “what more is possible.” Thinking about the creative, human-centered approaches to living in a non-extractive way seems more possible with the growth of solidarity economy models based on mutual aid and collective liberation. The work being done by some to create equitable housing or food security through listening to community and implementing innovative ideas gives me hope and also something to look forward to in our future.
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