Tanisha DaCosta

Who is Tanisha Franklin-DaCosta?

I am dynamic and fashionable with aspirations to be great while making the community great!

I gracefully and spiritually manage a career while being a wife, mother, daughter and sister. I am a teacher and a learner; a leader and a follower. I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. One thing I can NOT do is be all things to all people!

Time is a valuable teacher for me. It has taught me many lessons that I use to choose my next steps. I enjoy learning new things via tradional and/or non traditional measures. I have a Master's Degree in Business Administration, (MBA babyyy!!) I am an avid researcher as I believe one should know a little about a lot.

Due to my love of learning and teaching, I have enrolled in a PhD program to obtain a degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Law. I have always been intrigued by history, law and its corresponding politics. I will also be RELOCATING TO THE DC REGION!! (can you tell I'm excited). I want to be "in the thick of things" so to speak. I'd also be able to utilize my MBA degree in that region of the country. Upon retirement, I intend to utilize my PhD to teach on the college/university level. As I teach, I learn and thus my passion (to learn and teach) becomes perpetual.

Although, I have a serious and professional demeanor, I am very compassionate. I am dedicated to mitigating social change by any means necessary. I use my business savvy acumen to challenge non profit organizations to think strategically to achieve their ultimate goals...the vision. My passion to lead NPO organizations with social missions came from when I owned and operated a group family daycare in my home (while earning my undergrad degree). I learned during that time that the families needed more than childcare. 98% of my parents recieved a subsidy for childcare meaning they fell below the poverty level. I recognized the plights experienced by this demographic:

  • illiteracy,
  • drug abuse,
  • generational poverty,
  • lack of skills etc.

This list was disheartening. I found myself being a counselor, social worker, case manager and sometimes a shoulder to cry on. My husband, Mr. Nef, was the "daycare dad" because most of my children were products of single family homes.