MANIKKA L. BOWMAN was raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana and is a product of the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the historically black Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, Bowman moved to Atlanta, Georgia to complete dual masters degrees in Divinity and Urban Policy from Columbia Theological Seminary and Georgia State University. During Bowman’s matriculation she traveled to 11 countries to deepen her understanding of the intersection of faith and public life. She has been an ordained clergywoman in the African Methodist Episcopal tradition for 15 years.
After completing her academic studies, Manikka moved to Cambridge in 2006. Since arriving, she has developed a resume that spans education, affordable housing, philanthropic giving, food security, worker justice, and public policy. Bowman’s extensive qualifications mirror many of the larger systems that play a fundamental role in access to educational opportunities. As a Fellow with the Boston Opportunity Agenda, Bowman worked with executive leadership at top public charities and many local foundations throughout the Hub. During her tenure, her goal was to ensure that all Boston residents have access to the education necessary for upward economic mobility, civic engagement, and lifelong learning.
Since moving to Cambridge, Ms. Bowman has been committed to service through her work as a Board member of the YWCA and The Cambridge Peace Commission. Manikka lives in North Cambridge with her daughter Zora and husband, Jeffrey Myers.