Paint With Words Portfolio

Imadé Nibokun Borha
My name is Imadé (ee-MAH-day).
Communications Professional, Award-Winning Writer & Mental Health Advocate

Imadé has experience in communications with a specialty in press outreach. She has worked on winning advocacy campaigns that resulted in press attention from the New York Times, USA Today, ABC News, Teen Vogue, and Huffington Post, among other outlets.

While at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Imadé was a project manager for a video featuring a high school student who was forced to cut off her hair beads to play a softball game. With the help of a PR agency, this video had over 100 media placements including Good Morning America, New York Times, and CNN. After two months, this attention pressured the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to allow hair beads in high school softball games across the country.

Specialties: Mental Health Advocacy & Speaking | Communications for Advocacy Campaigns / Press Releases | Op-eds | Narrative & Press Strategy | Press Strategy Training | Multimedia Project Manager (Videos, Reports, Toolkits, etc)
NYU Metro
Director of Campaign Communications

Savannah school district moves to help non-English-speaking families
(AJC Media Placement - Nov 2023)
Kids are in a mental health crisis. We need real resources – not culture wars.
(USA Today - March 2023)
Provided editing support
Racial violence can follow students into the classroom. Here’s how tenderness can make a difference.
(Chalkbeat - March 2023)
My Indigenous School in Los Angeles Affirmed My Identity and Changed My Life
(Teen Vogue - February 2023)
My Teacher Chose An Unthinkable Way To Teach Us About Slavery. I'm Still Haunted By It.
(HuffPost - Nov 2022)
Provided editing support
Southern Coalition for Social Justice
Contributing Writer/Producer in the role of Communications Advocate

Invest In Our Children, Invest In Our Youth: Ending Youth Criminalization in North Carolina (Youth Wellness Section)
(May 2022)
Sala Abdallah: Day In the Life
(April 2022)
Protect Your Crown: Bring the CROWN Act to Durham Public Schools
(March 2022)
Projection: Spoken Word Performance by Hausson Byrd
(Nov 2021)
NC High School Student and Father Demand Policies to End Hair Discrimination in Schools
(May 2021)
#LiberateToEducate in Durham Public Schools
(Feb 2021)
#LiberateToEducate Policy Platform (Mental Health Section)
(Jan 2021)
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Freelance Journalist

As a Black woman with mental illness, I fear dying by the police
(Oct 2020)
The Mighty
Freelance Journalist

#BuildABlackVision Mental Health Series
(July 2020)
'Cards Against Humanity' Writer Says He Was Forced Into a Psych Ward After Speaking Up About Racism
(July 2020)
I Can Never Be the Person I Was Before Having Treatment-Resistant Depression. And I Don’t Want to Be.
(May 2019)
Real Stories From the Other End of a 'Warm Line'
(April 2019)
Forbes
Freelance Contributor

This Is How Instagram’s IGTV Ads And Badges Could Impact Musicians
(June 2020)
Live Music’s New Normal: Drive-In Concerts Are Getting Weirder, And More Established
(June 2020)
Independent Music Venues Need Your Help To Survive The Pandemic
(June 2020)
Gaming And Skill Building Platforms Are The New Launching Pads For Independent Artists During The Pandemic
(June 2020)
Essence
Freelance Journalist

How To Find A Black Therapist Virtually
(May 2020)
BYP (Black Youth Project)
Freelance Journalist

The Five Signs of a Great (Virtual) Black Therapist
(April 2020)
Mental health treatment is a Black tradition, white people just took credit for it
(February 2020)
The Medium
Freelance Journalist

B.Slade Raised Me with Oak Park: 92105
(June 2019)
D awn Saved My Life
(February 2019)
Three Reasons Why It Can Be Harder for Black Women To Get Mental Health Treatment
(November 2018)
Bandcamp
Freelance Journalist

DAWN: The “Girl From The Nine” Becomes an Electro-Soul King
(January 2019)
The Outline
Freelance Journalist

W hen medication is essential to mental health: CBD Stigma
(July 2018)
Shondaland
Freelance Journalist

The Relatable Depression of 'Never Say Never'
(June 2018)
Frederick News-Post
Features Writer

Life lessons, from a young woman facing death
(June 2016)
Carved by Carver: Retro/Ricole reflects on the community that raised him
(May 2018)
Swiping Right: Tone' Jackson grows up fierce in Frederick
(March 2018)
West Virginia Jazz: Area players hone their musical craft from an early age
(Jan 2018)
Stories from the line: Frederick residents make meals and memories through Rescue Mission
(Jan 2018)
Rhiannon Giddens sings the black American history she uncovers
(Sept 2017)
Naughty By Nature Doesn't Hold Back at Flying Dog
(Sept 2017)
The Dish: Sunu Cuisine: Come for West African food, stay to argue whose jollof rice is better
(June 2017)

Mildred Muhammad releases new book on living as the D.C. Sniper's first target

(June 2017)
How Steven Dukes got his thumb back Winner of First-Place Medical/Science Reporting MDDC Press Association Award among mid-size papers
(May 2017)
Despite 20 years away from movies, Sinbad is still here
(April 2017)
Radical mercy: Anne Lamott on her new book 'Hallelujah Anyway'
(March 2017)
Harriet Levin Millan chronicles Sudanese 'Lost Boy' who became a found man Winner of 2017 Best of Show MDDC Press Association award for arts and entertainment reporting
(Jan 2017)
Jay Leno finds common ground with comedy
(November 2016)
The true story that inspired 'Hacksaw Ridge' - Winner of 2016 2nd place Finalist MDDC Press Association award for Entertainment Reporting among mid-size papers
(November 2016)
The Passion of Angélique Kidjo
(Sept 2016)
The chasm of race: 'All American Boys' stimulates conversations
(Sept 2016)
LA Weekly
Freelancer/Former Music Intern

Best of LA 2017 // Best Solo Artist: SZA
(October 2017)
How Hip-Hop Therapy Is Helping Young Rappers Improve Their Mental Health
(May 2017)
25 Years After the Riots: A Rapper Tries to Feed the Elderly and Finish His Album Amid the Chaos
(April 2017)
A Special Reunion Show Celebrates the Legacy of the Good Life Cafe Open Mic
(April 2017)
Christian Hip-Hop Still Isn't Quite Sure What to Make of Chance the Rapper
(March 2017)
R&B SINGER-SONGWRITER SIR IS PROUD TO REP INGLEWOOD’S THRIVING MUSIC SCENE
(March 2016)
Tunnel Rats: Controversial Christian Rap Collective Turns 20
(October 2013)
Montell Jordan Is Now A Megachurch Pastor
(May 2013)
Forth District
Freelancer

Christian Misogyny? 4 Decades Of Women Rappers Dismantling Sexism
(July 2016)
Gradient
Freelancer

‘Lemonade’ is a Love Letter To Dark-Skinned Women
(April 2016)
A Prince Comes Home
(April 2016)
WNYC
Soundcheck Intern

Why Aren’t Festivals Showcasing More Female Musicians?
(February 2015)
‘I Felt Like I Was Getting My Life Back’: After Brain Surgery, Leah Shapiro Reflects On Her Recovery
(May 2015)
Joy Ike: ‘I Do What I Need To Do To Survive’
(May 2015)
Interview: Andy Allo, On Her New EP, Cameroon, And Prince
(April 2015)
Christian Rap Pioneer Jurny Big On Being Revered And Forgotten
(March 2015)
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Don't be afraid to reach out.
Greensboro, NC
imade.borha@gmail.com
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