Meet Our Team

Tsedey is the Director of Just Communities at the Partnership for Southern Equity. Originally from Ethiopia, Tsedey’s experiences immigrating to the U.S. and growing up in Memphis, TN, have shaped and informed her 20-year career advancing racial equity in community and economic development. She started her career as a community organizer for the National Voting Rights Institute and the 7th St. Community Improvement Initiative in Oakland, CA. After completing her graduate studies in urban policy analysis and nonprofit management, Tsedey worked at PolicyLink and at the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy in NYC before becoming the Vice President of Community LIFT in Memphis, TN. More recently, she has moved into economic development and philanthropic advising, working as the Manager of Community Affairs & Strategic Initiatives for Invest Atlanta, as an economic development advisor to Memphis Mayor Wharton, and a philanthropic advisor to the Estee Lauder Charitable Foundation, Waverley Street Foundation, and Gates Foundation. Tsedey currently serves on the City of Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission, the Atlanta BeltLine Public Arts Advisory, and raises funds for the African Diasporic Arts Museum of Atlanta.

Alayne serves as the Just Communities AP Program Manager, bringing over 30 years of experience in community-based programming and cross-sector collaboration. Her career spans multiple disciplines, grounded in a deep commitment to advancing equity and social impact.

At the core of Alayne’s work is a profound belief in the power of collective action to bring positive change. She leads with an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusivity, and a shared sense of responsibility for the well-being of all.

Alayne holds a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Sustainability and a bachelor’s degree in political science. To expand her impact, she also earned certifications in data analytics and data visualization tools, leveraging technology to amplify impact and social good.

Xavier Durant is a dedicated and driven individual passionate about promoting diversity and fostering community engagement.  He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Clark Atlanta University and is a recipient of multiple academic honors, including the Dean’s List and membership in Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society. Xavier has a proven track record in community activism and political awareness, having interned at the Georgia House of Representatives and volunteered with the Atlanta Food Bank and The People’s Uprising. His experience includes organizing events, conducting research, and building partnerships to drive grassroots initiatives. Xavier is eager to leverage his knowledge, skills, and commitment to contribute effectively to organizational goals that align with his passion for community engagement and social justice.

Suzanne Burnes brings more than 30 years of experience in sustainability, community development, and environmental justice to her role as director of the Just Growth Portfolio for the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE). Highlights of her accomplishments at PSE include: facilitation of the Atlanta Water Equity Task Force from 2018-2020, resulting in the Atlanta Water Equity Roadmap; leadership in the development, delivery, and adoption of Georgia’s first local government Equitable Growth and Inclusion Strategic Plan for the City of East Point in 2021; and leading the acquisition and evolution of EcoDistricts to form Just Communities, a new national framework for neighborhood-scale equitable, climate-resilient community development. Her career includes serving as an EPA and Department of Defense consultant on Superfund research, litigation support, and environmental compliance, and founding an Atlanta community development corporation. She led Georgia state government’s efforts to create public-private sustainability partnerships; served as executive director of local nonprofit Sustainable Atlanta; and founded Collective Wisdom Group, an Atlanta-based firm serving nonprofit, local government, higher education, and philanthropic clients. Through her practice, she notably advised local governments across the Southeastern US on their sustainability efforts, particularly around partnership development and integration of equity into their climate resilience and green infrastructure projects. Suzanne’s strengths are in building relationships among diverse voices for community and ecosystem benefit.

As a strategic partner to Just Communities, Humanity Communications Collective advances racial equity and regenerative development through clear messaging, authentic storytelling, and values-driven engagement. A boutique, woman-of-color-owned communications firm rooted in social justice and cultural competence, Humanity approaches every engagement as part of a larger communications ecosystem where strategy, digital outreach, and narrative work together to amplify impact and strengthen community connection.

Whether you’re a nonprofit focused on increasing access to green spaces or a family-owned manufacturing business or none of the above, getting traction on the web isn’t always easy. Consider us your guides in the webby wilderness. Our team has been helping organizations just like yours amplify their online impact for years, and we’re excited to help you, too.