Photo by Bethanie Hines

Meet Collette

Collette “Coco” Watson is a writer, musician, and communications strategist based in Phoenix, Arizona. She spent six years at J. Walter Thompson Company in New York, where she earned the American Advertising Federation’s 2013 MOSAIC Awards Grand Prize for Workforce Diversity Communications. She later served on the communications team at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), advocating at the intersection of racial justice and immigrant rights.

Creative Vision

Collette’s art explores healing Black futures through music, film, digital media, and community activations. Her voice is shaped by a loving, melodic, and matriarchal upbringing under the South Carolina sun.

Music Career

Her talents as a musician first drew national attention with her 2008 debut album Experience Collette. She went on to win the 2010 John Lennon International Songwriting Competition and was featured in GAP’s Born To Play concert series. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, she released the EP Coco By Request, earning a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year at SoulTracks.com.

Her music has been featured on:

  • MusicChoice TV

  • CentricTV.com

  • Okayplayer.com

  • SoulBounce.com

  • EBONY

  • VIBE Vixen

  • Rolling Out

  • BET+ series Breakups x Makeups

She has shared stages with artists including:

  • Rachelle Ferrell

  • Talib Kweli

  • MC Lyte

  • Jon B.

  • Dwele

  • Boyz II Men

  • Anthony David

  • Melanie Fiona

  • Amel Larrieux

  • Eric Roberson

  • Lauryn Hill

Education & Early Leadership

A graduate of Howard University, Collette majored in Radio/TV/Film Production and performed with the elite vocal jazz ensemble SAASY, directed by Egheosa Igbinoba, and go-go funk group Crossover Band. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Professional Communications Career

Alongside her music, Collette has built a thriving career in creative communications with roles at:

  • Maxim Communications Group

  • J. Walter Thompson Company NYC

  • Co-founder of Front To Back Communications, a boutique sports philanthropy firm

She has also served as communications chair for:

  • East Valley NAACP

  • Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals

  • Columbia Urban League Young Professionals

Media Reparations Work

From 2021 to 2023, Collette served as director of Media 2070, a media reparations project of the nonprofit advocacy group Free Press. Under her leadership, the project raised over $2.5 million and was featured in:

  • The New York Times

  • ESSENCE

  • Columbia Journalism Review

  • Editor & Publisher

  • Nieman Lab

During her tenure, she co-led the Juneteenth 2023 launch of Black Future Newsstand in Harlem and directed the award-winning short documentary Black in the Newsroom. The film has screened at universities and festivals nationwide, including:

  • Indie Film Fest

  • Urban Mediamakers Film Festival

  • Denton Black Film Festival

  • Chandler International Film Festival

  • Peachtree International Film Festival (Winner: Best Short Documentary)

  • Detroit Black Film Festival (Winner: Best Short Documentary)

Black River Life

Since 2016, Collette has served as co-founder and director of Black River Life, an Arizona-based creative studio illuminating the interconnectedness of the African Diaspora. As of 2025, the organization has emerged as a 501(c)(3) arts and media platform with collaborations including:

  • Phoenix Art Museum

  • Arizona State University Art Museum

  • Black Girl Brown Girl Collective

  • Cihuapactli Collective

  • Mass Liberation Arizona