TaShundia McGee
TaShundia McGee serves as Deputy Director at Renew Birmingham, a nonprofit organization established in 2022 to support underserved residents in the Ensley community of Birmingham, Alabama. She joined the organization in August 2022 as its first employee, stepping into the role of Executive Assistant and immediately contributing to the foundational development of the organization. Since then, she has advanced through multiple key roles, including Case Manager and Operations Manager, gaining comprehensive experience across all areas of nonprofit operations and community service delivery.
In her current role as Deputy Director, McGee plays a central part in organizational leadership, working closely with the Executive Director to oversee daily operations, program development, and strategic planning. She has been instrumental in shaping internal systems, policies, and workflows that continue to guide Renew Birmingham’s growth. She also supports external engagement efforts, including board meetings, funder relations, and organizational partnerships, while remaining actively involved in community events and direct service initiatives. Notably, she successfully secured a $100,000 grant through Navigate Affordable Housing to expand critical home repair and utility assistance programs serving vulnerable populations.
McGee holds a Juris Doctorate from Birmingham School of Law (2020) and a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of Alabama, with early academic training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Raised in Pratt City in a large single-parent household, she maintains deep personal ties to the community she now serves, which continues to inform her leadership approach and commitment to equity-driven work. In addition to her nonprofit leadership, she serves as a praise and worship leader at St. James Independent Methodist Church and Church for All People, reflecting her broader dedication to faith, service, and community uplift.
• Juris Doctorate
• University of Alabama - BA in American Studies
• Birmingham School of Law - JD
• Outstanding Supporter Award from local high school for providing pregame meals and support to basketball teams
• Praise and worship leader at St. James Independent Methodist Church
• Praise and worship leader at Church for All People
• Support for local high school athletics including providing pregame meals and scholarships
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my entire journey to get to where I am today. I grew up with a single mother who raised 8 children, and we lived in poverty. I was very fortunate to attend the Alabama School of Fine Arts in high school and earned a full scholarship to the University of Alabama, which my mother never would have been able to afford otherwise. My educational background, including my Juris Doctorate from Birmingham School of Law that I completed in 2020, has given me the knowledge and perspective to understand the political and social world and interact effectively with coworkers and clients. I'm also proud of my professional achievements, like securing a $100,000 grant through Navigate Affordable Housing for our critical home repair and rent and utility assistance programs. What really drives me is my deep connection to this community - I'm from Pratt City, right next to Ensley, so I'm working amongst people who are my neighbors, people I know, and some are even family. I love being involved in the community I grew up in and serving as Deputy Director at Renew Birmingham over the past few years. The fact that I helped build this organization literally from the ground up and created the policies, procedures, and core values that are the backbone of how we operate - that's something I'm extremely proud of. I also serve as a praise and worship leader at two churches, which brings me joy and allows me to give back in another way.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that I can build a successful career in a field I genuinely love—one that brings me joy and allows me to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. This perspective has shaped how I approach my work and decisions, reminding me that professional success is not solely defined by title or compensation, but by purpose, fulfillment, and impact.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is that you truly can make a difference so stay the course and never give up. The work can be challenging and at times overwhelming, but consistency, resilience, and belief in your purpose will carry you further than you realize. Keep showing up, stay committed to your growth, and trust that your impact will unfold over time, even when progress feels slow.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity for me right now is building my personal brand and getting my name out there for networking purposes so that Renew Birmingham can get the exposure that it needs. My director emphasizes the importance of building my brand, particularly as I'm being prepared to eventually become the Executive Director and face of the organization. I'm not really huge on social media, so this is an opportunity for me to step out and dip my toe in the pool when it comes to presenting myself to the professional world. We're doing important work in one of the most underserved communities in Birmingham, providing critical home repair, rent and utility assistance, workforce development, and other vital programs. Getting more visibility and networking connections will help us expand our reach and impact even more people in our community who desperately need these services.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are being able to work hard to make a difference in my community and being a mom to my daughter, who is about to graduate from college this week. I'm deeply committed to serving the community I grew up in - working in Ensley, which is right next to my hometown of Pratt City, feels like coming to my backyard to do meaningful work. I believe strongly that the best way to bring change and revitalization to a community is to have the people themselves be the driving force of that change, so everything we do at Renew Birmingham is designed to bring people together to engage with one another and share ideas on how to improve the community. Outside of work, I love baking and often bake for others during the holidays and special occasions. I'm passionate about singing and music, both listening and performing, which is why I serve as praise and worship leader at two different churches. I'm also an avid reader. Being a supportive mom has been one of my greatest joys - whether it was cheerleading, choir, or whatever my daughter was involved in, I was always there in the crowd.