Tanaka Shipp is originally from Byhalia, MS. She relocated to Denver, CO ten-years ago to pursue a career in the non-profit sector. Determined to make Denver her new home, Tanaka immediately became immersed in the community, working with local organizations such as the Leadership Foundation of Colorado, Annual Juneteenth Music Festival, The Denver Metro Chamber's Impact Denver Leader Foundation Program, and most recently as a Graduate of The Denver Foundation's executive Directors of Color Institute (EDCI). She was awarded The Urban Leadership Alumni of the Year Award 2017. Tanaka was also recognized/awarded by her peers as the Distinguished Graduate for ULFC’s 2013 co-hort. (The Class Who Re-Ignited The Flame)

Tanaka received her BA in Sociology from Jackson State University (JSU). While at JSU she was selected as the first student to study abroad in Taiwan after spending the previous summer in Beijing, China as a part of the first faculty-led study abroad program.

Tanaka is also the proud co-founder of Denver's first African American women's philanthropic giving circle, Sisterhood of Philanthropists Impacting Needs, SPIN. In this short time SPIN has donated/given back over $30,000 into Denver’s non-profit sector, with an intentional focus on small nonprofits who serve primarily African American women and girls specifically. In 2022, Tanaka founded a new organization called QueenShipp, a school aged curriculum created specifically to promote positive identity development and culturally diverse programming for all young women including queer, trans and non-binary identities. Having "come out" recently herself she understands firsthand the strength, vulnerability, and inevitable judgment that comes with this journey. She admits "I've personally witnessed my students' struggle with their identities at this age, many of whom who have no supportive adult they feel they can trust at school or at home." She decided she would no longer sit idly by, but rather lean into her own authentic self in an effort to support her students holistically.

In Tanaka’s spare time she loves grilling and cooking for friends, she also enjoys golfing, thrift store shopping, and mining for old Blues/R&B vinyl records on the weekends!