Allana J. Barefield is the first hire and Digital Editorial Content Manager at BeyGOOD, where she has spent more than three years advancing impactful, community-centered storytelling and initiatives. She is a multimedia content strategist whose work explores the intersection of culture, sports, and community, with a focus on being a voice for the voiceless. She also highlights the power of social media in modern marketing as a tool for building communities, strengthening relationships, and driving meaningful conversations around doing GOOD. A background in journalism strengthens her storytelling in a fast-moving, video-first digital media world. It cuts through the world’s short attention span in hopes to create an emotional connection with the audience.

“The power of storytelling is how change can be ignited, people can be informed, and communities can be moved to action,” Barefield said.

She is a proud graduate of the illustrious Xavier University of Louisiana and a Mrs. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Homecoming Scholarship recipient. The scholarship served as a pipeline to then intern at Parkwood Entertainment. Allana has contributed to major outlets including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and ESPN’s Andscape. She gained national recognition from the National Association of Black Journalists for her work, being named Student Journalist of the Year in 2019. Each summer, she mentors high school students through the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), helping cultivate the next generation of leaders. Allana has also participated in prestigious programs including the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Program.

She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Relations at the University of Southern California. In her spare time, she enjoys attending poetry open mic events, spending time by the beach, and traveling. Overall, Allana’s journey reflects a full-circle moment of being a product of BeyGOOD’s impact and now contributing her work to the very nonprofit that helped shape her path.