TOKEYA C. GRAHAM is a tenured Associate English Professor at Monroe Community College’s Downtown Campus where she teaches Composition, Literature, and Creative Writing courses. She is actively involved in campus life, including her role as advisor for the award-winning student club: Black Student Union at Downtown Campus. Graham also serves at the Secretary for the African American Affinity Group (3AG). Additionally, she is the recipient of several work-related awards and honors, including the prestigious NISOD award which celebrates excellence in community college faculty and staff.
Graham’s scholarship and activism focus on Black Studies; Creative Writing; Women’s Issues; Literature and Language; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She is a well-respected anti-bias/anti-racism educator who elevates the voices of the underrepresented and the underserved. She has been a featured speaker at many educational institutions, including St. John Fisher College, Alfred State College, Genesee Community College, and St. Bonaventure University. Graham is an equity and inclusion strategist who works with area K – 12 school faculty and staff to develop culturally competence in teaching materials. She is currently the Curriculum Coordinator for East EPO’s Step to College Program. Additionally, she is a sought-after mistress of ceremony and program facilitator. Events/programs include the Women and Girls Empowerment conferences, MJS Productions and the James Baldwin’s America Reading and Discussion series, HumanitiesNY.
Graham is the founder/owner of Soulstainable Living, a whole-person (mind, body, and spirit) wellness movement which includes a weekly radio program that airs on WAYO LP 104.3 FM on Mondays at 5:00 p.m. EST and rebroadcasts on Jazz90.1 WGMC FM on Sundays at 7:00 a.m. EST. Her philanthropic endeavor Charity ROCs is a community-giving initiative which connects people in need with resources. Graham is the founder of We All Write, a groundbreaking collective of award-winning Black women educators, creatives, and activists. Graham is a published author whose work appears in many different formats, from the page to the stage.
Graham is a committed community volunteer who donates time and resources to many organizations and programs. She currently serves as Literary Curator for The Avenue Blackbox Theatre where she chairs the “Second Sunday Storytime” event. Graham has served on the Board of Directors for Writers and Books and Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley where she also chaired the Voices of Experience and After School Literacy Program for many years. Graham has also volunteered with Action for a Better Community’s Project YOU and Boy Scout Cub and Pack Troop 293.
She has won many awards for her community work, including 2020 Social Activist Award, The Reentry & Community Development Center; 2020 Raymond L. Graves Social Justice Award, Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School Black Student Caucus; 2019 Professional Women’s Award, The Rochester Genesee Valley Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc.; 2019 Arts award, Rochester Chapter of the Links, Inc.; 2019 Women of Excellence award, Rochester Business Journal; 2019 Leadership award, Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley; and a BreakThru Magazine “Inspiring Award.” Graham was also a 2017 ATHENA Young Professional award finalist.
Tokeya C. Graham is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational Administration from the University of Rochester. She holds degrees from Monroe Community College, SUNY Brockport, and the University of Rochester. She also holds a Diversity and Inclusion certificate from Cornell. A Rochester, NY native, she is married with three children.