By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

Voices Underground, a collaboration of Square Roots Collective, Lincoln University and Longwood Gardens, and one of the most influential agencies in sharing the message of racial healing in Chester County, took a bold step forward last week with the appointment of LaNisha Cassell as its executive director, following a nationwide search.

Cassell joins Voices Underground following a nearly nine-year tenure as executive director of the African America Museum of Iowa, where she oversaw operations, completed a $5 million capital campaign, and advanced the museum’s programming through a grand reopening earlier this year. Previously, Cassell was the executive director of the Marion Foundation and Alumni Association for 11 years. During her career, she has been extremely active in her community, serving on the Superintendent’s community cabinet of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, as a member of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Nonprofit Advisory Council, and on the Humanities Iowa board of directors.

In addition, Cassell was also a Rotarian with the Marion East Cedar Rapids club for more than five years. Among her many accolades, she was recently recognized as a 2024 Robert Chadima Visionary award recipient and was recognized by The Gazette in Cedar Rapids as a HER 2021 Woman of Achievement honoree, as well as a Corridor Business Journal Women of Influence recipient in 2020, Women’s Equality Coalition of Linn County as “Woman of the Year” in 2019 and by the Journal in 2012 as a “40 Under 40” honoree. A native of Washington, D.C., Cassell earned her B.S. in English from Frostburg State University and is currently pursuing her Master of Strategic Leadership from Mt. Mercy University.

“We are thrilled to welcome a dynamic non-profit leader to guide our organization during a pivotal time in our community,” said Brenda Allen, president of Lincoln University and Board Chair of Voices Underground. “Voices Underground has an ambitious agenda, including catalyzing the National Memorial to the Underground Railroad in our area, and we are delighted to welcome a leader with critical experience.”

“LaNisha brings the depth of knowledge and operational expertise to take our organization to the next level and our community can’t wait to welcome her,” said Marnie Conley, Chief Experience & Brand Officer at Longwood Gardens and a board member of Voices Underground.

Begun in 2019, Voices Underground promotes the nationally significant history of the Underground Railroad in our region through scholarly research, creative partnerships, public experiences, and historical memorialization. It is a collective collaboration of scholars who specialize in African American history and creatives who are driven by the conviction that true, transformative, and ongoing storytelling is foundational to the work of racial healing.

“The stories of the Underground Railroad in our region provide a unique opportunity for connecting people across differences,” said Mike Bontrager, Square Roots Collective Team Leader and a Voices Underground co-founder.

To learn more about Voices Underground, visit www.voicesunderground.com.