With Martin Luther King, III

With Martin Luther King, III

With Rasheda Ali (Daughter of Muhammad Ali)

With Rasheda Ali (Daughter of Muhammad Ali)

With Rosalind Brewer and Sorority

With Rosalind Brewer and Sorority

With State Rep. Jamila Taylor

With State Rep. Jamila Taylor

With The Links, Incorporated

With The Links, Incorporated

With civil rights leader and U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young

With civil rights leader and U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young

With Bill Bellamy and Jessica Care Moore

With Bill Bellamy and Jessica Care Moore

With U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters

With U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters

With Mignon Clyburn and peers in Israel

With Mignon Clyburn and peers in Israel

With legendary artist Samella Lewis

With legendary artist Samella Lewis

With Valerie Jarrett, Hill Harper, and community partners

With Valerie Jarrett, Hill Harper, and community partners

With Smithsonian Curator Dr. Damion Thomas

With Smithsonian Curator Dr. Damion Thomas

With King County Executive Dow Constantine

With King County Executive Dow Constantine

With Wanda Herndon

With Wanda Herndon

With Jacqueline Hamer Flakes, the belated daughter of Fannie Lou Hamer

With Jacqueline Hamer Flakes, the belated daughter of Fannie Lou Hamer

With U.S. Ambassador Dr. Susan Rice

With U.S. Ambassador Dr. Susan Rice

With Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch and Sylvia Cyrus

With Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch and Sylvia Cyrus

With civil rights leader Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian

With civil rights leader Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian

With Bruce Turner, the descendant of Nat Turner

With Bruce Turner, the descendant of Nat Turner

With Wanda Herndon

With Wanda Herndon

With Governor Jay Inslee and Stacey Abrams

With Governor Jay Inslee and Stacey Abrams

With Dr. Constance Rice and Seattle Mayor Norman Rice

With Dr. Constance Rice and Seattle Mayor Norman Rice

 

Virtual Conversation with Cornel West, PhD

Author and activist Dr. Cornel West is former Harvard University Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University

 
61272344_402014137054360_6429981915205337088_o.jpg

“LaNesha has a warm, corporate professionalism with a passion for and commitment to people.”

- Crasha Townsend, PhD

At the Smithsonian Castle with Secretary Lonnie Bunch, the nation’s first African American Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution & Dr. Vedet Coleman-Robinson of the Association of African American Museums

A group of people are having a discussion around a wooden table in an office or conference room. One man in a gray suit appears to be speaking and gesturing with his hand while the others listen. The room has framed pictures, a painting, a sign that reads 'LONNIE G. BUNCH III,' and a mix of formal decor.
Group of four diverse adults standing outside in front of a brick building with arched windows, smiling and posing for a photo.
Three individuals, two women and one man, dressed in formal attire, smiling, and holding an award together in a room with a painting and chandelier in the background.
Three women and one man sitting around a round wooden table in a room, engaged in conversation. The women are on the left side, and the man is on the right. There are books on the table, a framed picture and a book on a stand in the center. The room has a wooden bookshelf with glass doors on the left, framed art and photographs on the wall and a closed wooden door on the right. Two women are smiling and laughing, one woman is listening attentively, and the man is speaking. The atmosphere appears friendly and professional.

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

~ Fannie Lou Hamer

Check out LaNesha’s media kit HERE. Learn about her trailblazing work in public history, educational justice, museum advocacy, and more.

A woman in glasses, wearing an orange patterned blazer, holding a microphone and a tablet, sitting in front of a beige background, smiling.
A woman wearing glasses and a blue T-shirt with the words "Black Future Co Op Fund" holds up a green scarf with the word "EGEID" on it during a sports event. She is smiling and surrounded by a crowd in a stadium.

Stand with Black Women

Read Black Enterprise story HERE.

Also, click HERE to learn more.

Featured in Broadcast Media

[Click on each image to watch the video]

On KIRO 7 discussing NAAM’s award-winning Juneteenth Week programming

On KIRO 7 discussing MLK60, the 60th Anniversary of Dr. King’s 1961 visit to Seattle

On King5 discussing the “triumphant return” of the Northwest African American Museum

Yahoo News - ABC23 TV

King5 TV

Onward & Upward Web Series

King5 TV

Alpha Graphics

TV64

Fox13 TV

King5 TV

Congressman Adam Smith TV

Q13 TV

WNBA Seattle Storm

The Everygrey

Discussing museum exhibitions

Discussing museum exhibitions

Fox13 TV

 

Seattle Medium TV

 

Town Hall Seattle TV

Q13 TV

Northwest Now

American Black Journal

Group of diverse smiling people at an indoor event, with banners and tables in the background.
Woman speaking on stage at a B.O.I.L.D. event, wearing glasses, a red jacket, and a black and white striped dress, holding a microphone.
Three people standing together, smiling at the camera at an event with badges around their necks. Two men are on either side of a woman in the middle. The man on the left is wearing a gray suit, yellow tie, and dress shoes. The woman in the middle is

Featured in Print Media

[Click on each image to read the news article]

The Puget Sound Business Journal named LaNesha McCoy (DeBardelaben) and 12 other women leaders as 2022 Women of Influence.

Click here to read the published article.

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Seattle Times

New leader brings passion, growth to Northwest African American Museum

New leader brings passion, growth to Northwest African American Museum

The Evergrey

Meet the museum leader who helps Seattle celebrate Black history

Meet the museum leader who helps Seattle celebrate Black history

Detroit News

Crain’s Detroit

 

Media Highlights

LaNesha discusses the role of museums within communities and museum experiences upon identity development.

 

Media Highlights

Community engagement is at the heart of museum practice.

“We ask about the road ahead from those who have come before.”
— South African proverb
 

Media Highlights

LaNesha discusses the learning opportunities within museum exhibitions in these three news segments.

 
 
“Education, connection, and self-discovery are at the center of Black museology. Black museums are like mirrors - they help us see who we are and who we can be.”
— LaNesha McCoy (DeBardelaben)

Media Highlights

LaNesha discusses the history of the museum and its relevance to community.

“Smooths seas don’t make skillful sailors.”
— African proverb
Click HERE to go to NPR interview, then click on blue audio button to listen to LaNesha’s Juneteenth discussion.

Click HERE to go to NPR interview, then click on blue audio button to listen to LaNesha’s Juneteenth discussion. Click HERE and HERE as well as HERE to watch news segments about the Juneteenth programming.

 
“For museums, the choice is either resilience or irrelevance. When museums see themselves not only as serving their community but AS their community, they will undoubtedly be resolute, fortitudinous, adaptive, and unrelenting, despite the challenges they face.”
— LaNesha McCoy (DeBardelaben)
Four individuals posing for a photo at a conference or event, with name tags and a backdrop displaying the Association of American Museums logo.
Two women, one with dark hair and glasses and the other with curly gray hair and glasses, smiling for a selfie indoors. A green plant is partially visible in front of the woman with dark hair. The woman with gray hair is wearing a blue and orange pat
Two women smiling, wearing white sorority jerseys with red Greek letters, standing in front of a black scoreboard with yellow and white text.
A woman sitting by a window, wearing a floral dress and a necklace, smiling at the camera.

“Your work is to change the world.”

~ James Baldwin

Podcast Highlights

Click here to listen to LaNesha and the African American Cultural Ensemble choir she created on KNKX
Click here to visit LaNesha's episode on Inspired Design podcast
Click here to visit LaNesha's episode on KNKX

Latest News

  • The American Alliance of Museums presented LaNesha McCoy (DeBardelaben) with its 2026 Museum Impact Award for her career-long commitment to impacting society through museums. Congratulations to all 2026 honorees.

  • The Western Area of The Links, Incorporated has named LaNesha DeBardelaben as one of their inaugural 2025 50 Under 50 women of achievement. Kudos to all 50 women for your service to communities.

  • The University of Washington Simpson Center for the Humanities has named LaNesha DeBardelaben a 2025-2026 Barclay Simpson Scholar. This prize honors public-facing scholarship in the humanities. Congratulations to all current and past Barclay Simpson Scholars.

  • U.S. Congressman Adam Smith (WA-9th District) bestowed LaNesha DeBardelaben with the 2024 Champion of Justice Award for her leadership in the arts, museums, education, affordable housing, and community development. Congressman Smith has been a longtime collaborator with DeBardelaben on this impactful work.

  • Seattle Reign professional women’s soccer team recognized LaNesha DeBardelaben as a Legend during their Juneteenth home game in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to community and in her industry. Thank you Seattle Reign and Starbucks for teaming up to recognize women like LaNesha leading in Washington State.

  • Edmonds College tapped LaNesha DeBardelaben to be its 2024 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Keynote Speaker. Thank you Edmonds College for uplifting the radical and revolutionary legacy of love that Dr. King and Coretta Scott King modeled.

  • LaNesha DeBardelaben has been named to the Top 50 Women of Washington for 2023 by Women We Admire. Congratulations LaNesha and all 50 women leaders who are making a difference though their influence and inspiration.

  • LaNesha DeBardelaben was ordained and installed as Assistant Pastor at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, a progressive, social justice-focused historic church in Seattle’s Central District. DeBardelaben now serves under her mentor and Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Robert L. Jeffrey, Sr.

  • LaNesha DeBardelaben and 12 other women leaders were honored with a 2022 Women of Influence award by the Puget Sound Business Journal. Click HERE to read about her award. Congratulations to all honorees.

  • For the past ten years, LaNesha DeBardelaben has been actively involved in strengthening the Association of African American Museums (AAAM), having served as the 18th National President of the AAAM Board of Directors. Click HERE to watch the 2022 presidential tribute video. Click HERE to watch LaNesha’s concluding State of the Association Address at the 2022 AAAM Conference held in Miami, Florida. Congratulations LaNesha and all past National Presidents of the Association of African American Museums for your tireless dedication to the Black museums field.

  • Seattle’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee presented LaNesha DeBardelaben with its Edwin T. Pratt Community Service Award for “embodying the highest spirit of dedication, integrity, and honorable service to our beloved community.” This award was presented on August 28, 2021 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park on the anniversary date of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Thank you MLK Commemoration Committee for recognizing all those who are dedicated to community.

Person wearing a black sweatshirt with white text that says "Empower Like Michelle," holding a book featuring Michelle Obama on the cover.

“We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.”

~ Ella Baker

Group of twelve diverse people standing outdoors in front of small colorful houses, smiling for the camera during daytime.
Group of diverse individuals at a protest or rally, standing outdoors, some wearing sunglasses and hats, with one person holding a sign.
A group of ten diverse people standing in the King County chambers representing King County Council and community holding a Black History proclamation in a green folder.
A group of five diverse people standing outdoors at a gathering or event, with a construction site or new building in the background. They are smiling and wearing name tags, and one person has a blue and white flag draped over their shoulder.
Group of diverse men and women gathered outdoors for a photo, smiling, with a construction site and a building design plan in the background.
People at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of new Hope family housing, wearing hard hats and holding shovels, with construction equipment, banners, and a modern apartment building in the background.
An award announcement graphic featuring a smiling woman with glasses. The text reads: "Congratulations 50-Under-50 2025 Honoree La Nesha DeBardelaben Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter". The background has white flowers and a logo of a chain link with a ma
A tribute to LaNesha DeBardelaben recognizing her as a 50-under-50 honoree. The image includes a paragraph describing her contributions as a nonprofit leader and civic figure. The logo of The Links, Incorporated is at the bottom right, featuring a gl