WRITING, Reporting AND PRODUCING

Willis' writing and producing consistently center African American history, culture and perspectives, and also explore contemporary issues that impact all members of our society. A few examples of her recent work:

Awards and Recognition

• Most recently, in June 2023, Samantha and her former VPM News Focal Point colleagues won an Emmy award for Best Public Affairs Program (Single Program) for Focal Point’s eighth episode, on mental health; Willis was editorial producer for the show and produced an interview between Focal Point host Angie Miles and Congressman Bobby C. Scott featured in that episode.

• In May 2023, Willis was nominated for a Capital Emmy Award for Best Historical/Cultural Long Form Content for “Hanover church anchors historic Black community of Brown Grove,” a short documentary Willis produced and reported with Martin Montgomery, director of photography/editor, which debuted on VPM News Focal Point in February 2022.

• In April 2023, Willis won First Place Best Light Feature in the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards for “Rev. Cora’s Gospel,” a short documentary she reported and produced with Martin Montgomery, director of photography/editor.

• in September 2022, VPM News Focal Point won first place in the News & Public Affairs category of the 54th Annual Public Media Awards, and the Black Churches of Virginia Series, which Willis reported and produced, was a finalist in the Cultural Feature category of the same contest.

• In April 2021, her reporting and columns on COVID-19 and the sweeping racial reckonings of 2020 earned Willis a second place award from the Virginia Press Association.

• Willis earned a Virginia Press Association first place award in April 2020 for specialty arts writing, for her feature story on a University of Richmond photo exhibition in which city residents shared their lived experiences during the Civl Rights Era.

• In August 2019, Willis was presented with a Community Healer Award in the Spirit of Toni Morrison for excellence in journalism and creative writing at the Valuing Black Lives Summit at Virginia Union University.

• In April 2019, her feature article about Brook Field Park, where Arthur Ashe first discovered and honed his love for tennis, helped Richmond Magazine win the Award for Journalistic Integrity and Community Service from the Virginia Press Association; it is the highest award the organization bestows.

• Willis has presented her work at conferences of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), World Information Architecture Day, and the University of Michigan's School of Environment & Sustainability.

The Unmasking Series

PubLic Speaking + Community Service

A longtime advocate for racial justice, Willis was active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and held leadership roles at the county, state and national levels of the organization throughout her high school and college years. In 2007, she traveled to Italy as part of a delegation of NAACP leaders, civil rights activists, and faith leaders; she helped lead non-violent conflict resolution workshops with youth there. Since starting her professional career, Willis has volunteered her time, energy and resources to a variety of groups including:

•Richmond Times-Dispatch Community Advisory Board

•Rosel Schewel Fund Committee, Virginia Humanities

•Black History Mystery Advisory Committee, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia

•The Podium Foundation

•Girls for a Change

•Afrikana Independent Film Festival

•The Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University

•Richmond Young Writers

• Fire, Flour, Fork Festival

•Library of Virginia

•Habitat for Humanity

•The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University

•Richmond HER

•BLK RVA campaign, Richmond Region Tourism

• The Association for the Study for African American Life and History (ASALH)

•Virginia Press Association

•Richmond User Experience

•The Virginia Folklife Program;

•RVA Critical Arts Writing Program

Children’s Book: The Little Adventures of Bella & DJ: Travels in Virginia

In 2011, Willis’ first book was published, “The Little Adventures of Bella & DJ: Travels in Virginia,” illustrated by Kelly Cleary. In this colorful story geared towards young readers ages 5 to 10, two dogs travel to five different cities across the state, learning fun facts about each location along the way. On a limited book tour, Willis presented her story to students at five public schools in the Richmond region. Read the book for free below:

Family & Personal Life

A graduate of Hanover County Public Schools, Willis studied English and Creative Writing at Radford University. She is a member of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, and currently serves on the Richmond Times-Dispatch Community Advisory Board, the Rosel Schewel Fund Committee (Virginia Humanities), and the Black History Mystery Advisory Committee (Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia). Willis, a lifelong gospel musician and singer at the historic Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Doswell, lives in Hanover County, Virginia with her husband Jamaal and three sons David, Darius and Jamaal II.