Worldwide Women’s Association Recognizes Desiré Bennett
Desiré Bennett Advances Community-Centered Change Through Participatory Design, Women’s Empowerment, and Justice
National Social Innovation Leader, Consultant, and Writer Continues to Champion Equity, Connection, and Collective Power
Desiré Bennett, a nationally respected community connector, strategic consultant, and equity advocate, continues to shape the future of participatory leadership and community-centered design through her work at the intersection of women’s empowerment, racial justice, and economic equity. Bennett currently serves as Director of Participatory Design, Connection + Culture Building at a national nonprofit social innovation firm that uses design to address pressing community challenges, equip leaders, and inspire sustainable, people-powered change.
With a career grounded in collaboration and justice, Bennett is known for bringing communities, institutions, and decision-makers together to co-create solutions rooted in lived experience. Her work emphasizes participatory design as both a leadership philosophy and a practical tool for advancing equity and accountability across systems.
In addition to her professional role, Bennett has held numerous influential civic and advisory positions. She previously served as an Ambassador for the United State of Women, joining women nationwide in advancing gender equity at the local and national levels. Her extensive community leadership includes service on the City of Cincinnati’s Gender Equity Taskforce, the Citizen Complaint Authority Board, the Women’s Fund Leadership Council, the WCPO 9 News Community Advisory Board, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Community Advisory Committee. She is also a former Commissioner on the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls, where she played a key role in advancing economic and pay equity initiatives, and a former Vice President of the MLK Coalition, where she remains an active member.
Bennett’s leadership and impact have been widely recognized. She is a Leaders in Light Institute Fellow (2021–2022) and recipient of the University of Cincinnati Outstanding Alumnx Award (2018) for her dedicated professional and activist work on behalf of women and girls in the Cincinnati metropolitan region. Additional honors include the YWCA Rising Star Award (2016) and the Judith S. Trent Outstanding Graduate Research Award (2014).
An accomplished writer and thought leader, Bennett has authored hundreds of articles, op-eds, and book chapters addressing equity, leadership, community engagement, and justice. Her work has appeared in respected academic journals and national publications, including Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Forbes, The Cincinnati Enquirer, and publications from the University of Cincinnati Press. Her scholarship and public writing consistently elevate community voice, challenge inequitable systems, and offer actionable pathways toward shared power and collective liberation.
Bennett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a Certificate in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and a Master of Arts in Communication & Rhetoric from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a Certificate in Radio & Television Broadcasting from the Ohio Center for Broadcasting.
Through her consulting, writing, and leadership, Desiré Bennett continues to demonstrate that meaningful change happens when communities are not just consulted—but centered.
For more information, visit www.desirebennett.com
Career overview: https://desirebennett.com/career/
Worldwide Women’s Association Member Desiré Bennett is looking forward to networking with you.
