SAGASHUS T. LEVINGSTION

Sagashus T. Levingston was born in Chicago and raised in the area now called Bronzeville, but known before gentrification as the Low End. She is the cover girl for the January issue of BRAVA Magazine where she’s also celebrated as one of its 26 Women to Watch for 2017. An award-winning educator and social entrepreneur, Sagashus is recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Woman of Color by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, she is a PhD Candidate in the Department of English completing a dissertation titled Infamous Mothers: Bad Moms Doing Extraordinary Things. While her research focuses primarily on literature, it is informed by theory and criticism from rhetoric, motherhood studies and black feminism. This work inspired her coffee-table book, simply titled, Infamous Mothers. Frustrated about the scarcity of literature written about “infamous mothers” who make a difference in the public sphere, Sagashus was determined to gather stories of women she could quote in her dissertation. She wanted their words and their voices to be included in academic conversations. Infamous Mothers is a collection of stories about 20 women who did more than move from trial to triumph. They are changing the world in the work they do as counselors, doulas, professors, entrepreneurs, artists and so much more. Sagashus also sees the book as central the work does in her own social enterprise, Infamous Mothers, LLC where she delivers personal and professional development training, thought provoking talks, and other high quality products and services to women who mother from the margins of our society. She also delivers programming to the organizations and professionals that make an impact on these women’s lives.  Sagashus is  a proud, button-wearing member of the Doyenne Group, Inc. located in Madison, WI. She also sits on the WWBIC South Central Ambassadorial Advisory Committee. As the mother of six dynamic children—three boys and three girls, and partner of Tosumba–she and her family lives in Madison, WI.