Melannie Denise Cunningham is the heart and soul behind Purely Africa, embodying her life’s mission of empowerment, sustainability, and cultural celebration. Born in the Midwest and raised in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, she first traveled to the mother continent in 1995. A volunteer experience in South Africa on a McDonald’s project dismantled her socialized notions about the continent and ignited her dedication to fostering connections between Africans and African Americans. Melannie promotes mutual understanding and collaborative wealth-building, with her influence now extending across South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. She focuses on initiatives involving education, tourism, trade, women and youth development, real estate, and well-being.
Cunningham’s career spans decades of transformative roles in federal, state and local government, academia, grassroots activism, broadcast production and entrepreneurship. She is Principal at The Cunningham Network, a consulting and coaching firm that specializes in anti-racist community building. TCN provides services to businesses, groups, and individuals who want to improve intercultural relationships and eliminate racism in their workplaces, communities and lives. TCN further offers intercultural development coaching, strategic talent searches, and leads conversations on race and systemic oppression, while also facilitating educational tourism trips and business deals in Africa.
In 2018, Melannie received the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize for her work in racial reconciliation. This accolade led her to Oslo, Norway, where she attended the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and later produced a documentary “Peace Queen” about the experience which won a Northwest Regional Emmy Award. Her community service includes board roles at Northwest Harvest, Tacoma Sister Cities Association and T.U.P.A.C. (Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center)., And, she is most proud of her 43 years of membership in the illustrious sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Melannie holds a B.A. in General Studies from Washington State University, a Certificate of Training in Broadcast Production Technology from Bates Technical College, an M.B.A. with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from Pacific Lutheran University, and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Development and also at Fielding, exemplifying her lifelong dedication to learning and leadership.
Melannie is committed to mental and physical wellness. She actively engages in spaces and activities that promote physical and mental well-being She most enjoys spending time with her family and playing any golf course she can find!
