Vizyon: vision
Vizyon, is the Haitian Creole word for “vision”.
Kenyette Tisha Barnes, Founder & President
“When we speak, we are afraid that our words will not be heard nor accepted. But, when we do not speak we are still afraid; so it is better to speak understanding, we were never meant to survive.”—Audre Lorde
Kenyette Tisha “Tish” Barnes, is the “vision” for the inception of The Nia Vizyon Project.
In 2012 Nia Vizyon, LLC, a modest, boutique social justice lobbying firm in the Georgia General Assembly, was incorporated by Barnes because she recognized that there was a marked lack of diversity among lobbyists and political strategists, in the legislative space. Especially when most of the laws, which adversely impacted Black women, men, children, and other minority populations, often were drafted, lobbied, and enacted into law without a single representative from the targeted group. The intent of Nia Vizyon, LLC was to be in the room and serve as a skilled and strategic voice of inclusion, in a historically, non-representative space. In 2022, Nia Vizyon, LLC expanded in scope, re-branded and incorporated in Chicago, Illinois; as The Nia Vizyon Project.
Barnes is a career political strategist, registered federal & state lobbyist, activist, former epidemiologist, organizer, mother, the Co-Founder of the #MuteRKelly Movement. She is also an international organizer, human trafficking prevention expert, and has worked as a public speaker & lecturer.
Also known as the “Legislative Empress'', she has Federal & State lobbying and organizing experience on Capitol Hill, State Legislatures; and Canada, and the Caribbean. Her legislative work includes State & Federal lobbying and political organizing for electoral transparency, gender equity, electronic sexual harassment, (to include, “cyberflashing”, working to codify “revenge porn” laws, & cyberstalking) reproductive justice, criminal justice reform, HIV advocacy, anti-human trafficking, maternal mental health, special education and voter’s rights laws. Being in Illinois, according to Barnes, “places our legislative & organizing work, in the nexus of reproductive choice! Illinois is the epicenter of reproductive rights, in the midwest!”
In addition, Ms. Barnes’ emerging work in the judiciary includes de-codifying punitive juvenile court laws, and continuing education to judicial officers regarding “court-proxy abuse”: and managing high-conflict litigants in domestic relations proceedings.
Barnes has cultivated an extensive network of consultants and experts in campaign organizing, governmental affairs, jurisprudence & litigation, political strategy, and electoral politics, available to provide expert solutions, in an expansive progressive, legislative and political climate.
She has been a guest and commentator on ABC, BBC, BNC, CBC, CNN, & MSNBC; and featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Las Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, and several others.
Her academic credentials include Temple University, and The George Washington University.
She lives in Evanston, Illinois, and is the proud mother to 3 amazing humans (Rayne, Harper & Miles), nana to Altai; and human servant to her Turkish Angora cat, Lola Duchess.