About Maisha
Author. Educator. Music Minister. Transformational Leader.
Dr. Maisha Laini Grant is a mother, educator, ordained clergy, and cancer survivor whose life and work sit at the intersection of faith, resilience, and leadership. With over 25 years of experience as an educational leader, she currently serves as the Director of Education at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and previously as a teacher, principal, adjunct faculty, and Program Director at Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership. An accomplished musician and top graduate of Winthrop, Vanderbilt, and Harvard Universities, Dr. Grant is a published scholar focused on ethical leadership, equity, and overcoming systemic barriers.
Background
Rooted in her Gullah Geechee heritage and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Grant carries the legacy of her loved ones as a steward of the land once worked by her enslaved ancestors. She brings this deep sense of history, purpose, and faith into her music, offering both practical wisdom and spiritual guidance to those facing life's hardest seasons.
Cultural Arts
Dr. Grant has written, directed, and acted in several stage plays. She made her TV debut in the Lifetime television series, Army Wives in 2010. Maisha founded All God's Children Can Read, a literacy and equity firm. In 2024, she also launched Maisha's Melodies YouTube channel to share Gospel music, spiritual encouragement, and testimony to uplift and inspire. Her platform bridges storytelling, scripture, and song to reach a diverse, global audience.