Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice

Alina is a proud Houstonian who brings several years of donor organizing and progressive infrastructure-building experience to her role as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Texas Future Project.

Alonzo was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and is the son of an immigrant. He has several years of experience organizing around workers rights and immigrant rights. Alonzo believes in dedicating all of his organizing efforts with the goal of achieving collective liberation.

Ambalika is a campaign strategist and is currently the Senior Campaign Strategist for Reproductive Freedom at the ACLU. She led the “Shout Your Vote!” campaign at Planned Parenthood and established a communications hub in Harris County. Ambalika serves on the board of Bunnies on the Bayou.

I am a seasoned community organizer and dedicated advocate for social justice, with extensive experience in program management, policy advocacy, and community engagement. Currently, I serve as a Bail Fund Organizer at Faith in Texas, focusing on decarceration and immigration reform.

Caro is a community strategist with over 10 years working for equitable thriving communities through resourcing, trust-building, and collective action. Caro has led state and national programs and advises strategy to build grassroots power. She finds joy in Coahuiltecan foodways and timba.

Chas Moore is a renowned activist and leader of the Austin Justice Coalition, dedicated to systemic reform and social justice for marginalized communities.

Born and raised along the Texas-Mexico border, Dani Marrero Hi is a bilingual strategic communicator and community leader based in Mission, Texas. They have over a decade of experience leading issue-based, electoral, and narrative-shifting campaigns. #Puro956

Iman Bouzid is a Lead Organizer with the Texas Organizing Project. She is committed to building people power to empower renters to stand up against corporate slumlords and fight for stronger tenant protections.

Jose A. Palma Jimenez was born in Usulutan, El Salvador. Moved to the United Staes in 1998. He is a father of 4 kids and love to learn new things.

Juan Jose Martinez Guevara is a DACA recipient from Mexico that calls Texas home. He is the Texas Advocacy Manager at United We Dream & advocates for policy change to meet the needs of undocumented immigrant communities in Texas. Juan Jose believes in the abolition of all carceral systems & borders.

Kelle’ is the Executive Director of allgo, an organization he once volunteered with that celebrates and nurtures queer and trans folx of color through programming rooted in health and wellness, cultural arts, and social justice.

Kelly Ann Gonzalez is a first generation Mexican-American born and raised in the Westside of San Antonio, Texas. She is currently a Labor organizer for AFSCME Local 2021 organizing City of San Antonio Employees for safer working conditions and a live able wage.

I’ve been with Our Afrikan Family Org. for ten years. In my role as the director, I focus on building capacity, community engagement, and educating the community about political structure. I’m passionate about fair housing, environmental justice, and community engagement.

Khanay Turner, Esq. is a Fort Worth native and HBCU alum, who leads BJLI. Striving to be the voice of the voiceless, she has an extensive background in government, public relations, and civic engagement.”

Maria Reza is a communications strategist based in Austin, Texas working to bridge narratives around immigration and criminal justice. Maria is a proud big sister and avid baker.

I am Miriam Dorantes. Raised in a small rural town in South Texas, I have come to feel the symptoms of the inequities that I experienced as a child into my adulthood. Once I became aware of that, it’s gave me and has continue to give me the fire to organize.

Norma Herrera (she/her) has organized with grassroots coalitions to reduce the use of jails and police, stop border wall construction, and end immigration detention. She has a master’s degree in public policy and resides in the Rio Grande Valley with her dog Timmy.

Odus Evbagharu, a strategist with a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Houston, has extensive experience in political communications, strategic planning, and civic engagement, serving in various key roles within Texas political organizations

Pamela Young is the executive director and lead criminal justice organizer at United Fort Worth, and is committed to helping make Fort Worth into a city that is a great place to live for ALL — not just the wealthy… and especially for those who have been historically marginalized.

Priscilla is from the border in South Texas and is dedicated to fighting for her community and building systems to protect the rights of immigrants. She has her BA from UT Austin and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs.

I’m Rixi Castillo born and raised in Honduras were my parents cultivated most of my life with a sense of social justice, care and compassion amongst the community which led me to what I believe and now develop in a professional manner. I’m excited to be part of this fellowship.

Roberto is an organizer at the Texas Civil Rights Project, based in Austin, Texas and proudly from the Rio Grande Valley.

Rocío Fierro-Pérez is a Mexican, American, immigrant, queer woman from Austin, TX. As the Political Director for TFN, she directs the legislative, electoral and political strategy, across LGBTQ+ equality, voting rights, immigration, repro, education and other issues at the statewide and local level.

Samantha, a native Texan, has spent the past 5 years organizing in the Texas labor movement. As Deputy Director of Organizing at Texas Climate Jobs Project, she is leading organizing efforts at the intersection of climate and labor in rural, suburban, and urban areas across the state of Texas.

Serita Fontanesi is the Integrated Voter Engagement Director at URGE. She advocates for Black liberation by centering the experiences of Black womxn and femmes. In her spare time Serita hosts Not Ugly Pod, a weekly podcast featuring conversations to challenge how we think about beauty and ourselves.

An immigrant from Veracruz, Mexico, Tania Chavez Camacho is the President and Executive Director for La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) and its political arm, LUPE Votes. Chavez has stood up against the injustices of the borderlands by organizing in the Rio Grande Valley.

My name is Alexdenis Blanco. I study Psychology and hope to achieve a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. My focus is on mental health and helping people find a support system they may have not previously had access to as I believe a healthy mind can lead to a healthier environment. I hope one day to open a center for troubled youth to allow them the space to try new things and build new connections.

A history student at Hunter College, Amanda is interested in women’s history and feminist theory, especially as far as it can be applied to understanding and solving the contemporary issues women face. Working women have been particularly vulnerable to evolving (or, devolving) cultural and economic situations, a state of affairs which Amanda is keen on analyzing in order to find the best means of pursuing women’s liberation.

My name is Amari Xola Rasin, I am a upper level sophomore at BMCC majoring in Africana Studies. I am a Black Queer Trans man from Brooklyn with Haitian and Syrian ancestry. I am also an abolitionist and although I do not dream of labor in the sense of having a dream job. The struggle that drives me is helping political prisoners. It is for this reason that I would find it most fulfilling to become an international lawyer.

Anakaren is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology with a minor in Communications. Passionate about societal dynamics and their impact, her primary focus is on addressing social justice issues, particularly the intersection of climate change and its disproportionate effects on Black and Hispanic communities. Committed to leveraging her skills to tackle socioeconomic factors and health disparities, Anakaren aims to contribute meaningfully to positive change, advocating for resilience in these vulnerable communities.

Born and raised in Queens, NY, Ariana Gonzalez is currently a junior at Hunter College studying Sociology. She is passionate about the intersection of immigrant and worker’s rights. In her spare time, she enjoys reading political theory and traveling.

My name is Binetou Diop, currently a junior at the City College of New York studying International Studies with minors in Economics and Public Policy. My path has been shaped by my father’s early death and the different obstacles that my family has endured. Despite these challenges, I am motivated to embrace the possibilities that come my way in order to improve my family’s present circumstances. My academic interests and personal experiences inspire me to not only overcome hardship, but also to actively contribute to a better future for myself and people around me.

My name is Calum and I am currently a sophomore at the City College of New York majoring in Sociology and Political Science. I have a deep interest in understanding the socio-economic structures we live under and an even deeper interest in how to fix them. I am excited to learn and contribute my knowledge to this fellowship.

Native to Yonkers, NY and born to Puerto Rican-American and Ecuadorian parents, Elijah attends CCNY for Latin American Studies with a minor in Studio Art. Passionate about workers rights and immigrant rights, Elijah hopes to change the way many view these issues through education and art. On his own time, he enjoys playing basketball or walking around with a camera, with MIKE or bachata playing in his headphones.

Attending the City College of New York, I am Heaven Peoples, a transfer student from Howard University. My academic journey, rooted in Psychology and Black Studies with a Community Change minor, has led me to propose Girls for Gender Equity’s first Youth Engagement Fellowship Project and participate in Sadie Nashe’s E.L.L.A initiative. Here, I focus on research to bridge resource gaps for Black girls, integrating wellness, psychological insights, and educational perspectives. My commitment extends to advocating for policies that empower Black girls in their educational and personal development journeys.

Hussam Mohammad is an undergraduate anthropology major at The City College of New York. Having fled Darfur as a child, his family experienced the challenges of displacement from Sudan, victimized by political persecution, exile and genocide. Today, his purpose is centered on aiding refugees, immigrants and anti-extractivism advocacy. “The arc of humanity is long but it bends towards justice” – Theodore Parker.

I’m a junior, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Political Science. As part of the immigrant community, I’m always advocating for immigrants rights, sharing my experience with others to let them know that nothing is impossible and they have the power to achieve their goals.

Mame Niang is SVP’s West African Member Organizer. She is a Senegalese born and bred. Mame is dedicated to helping street vendors in Fordham and Harlem, along with communities that require her assistance. Mame will graduate from John Jay College with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a minor in criminology in the spring.

My name is Mariame Traore and I am currently a lower senior student at Cuny, I am planning to further my education at the Cuny School of Medicine. My journey towards scholarly interests, shaped by my personal experiences, revolves around two interconnected passions: promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance within the Muslim community and advocating for women’s rights.

I am Mosammat Akter, born in Bangladesh and currently a Junior at Hunter College, pursuing a double major in Philosophy and Political Science. Growing up amidst a corrupt government sparked my interest in addressing systemic injustices, especially toward minorities. Beyond academics, I actively volunteer at nonprofits like Desis Rising Up and Moving and intern at the Manhattan Borough President’s office, where I work directly with communities. These experiences deepen my commitment to government work and empower me to pursue a future in law, where I aim to advocate for justice and improve lives.

I’m Naidelyn Castellanos, a first-generation American with immigrant roots. Raised by a single mother from a small town in the Dominican Republic, I’m the first granddaughter of a woman who inspired change through her sacrifices. I’m currently majoring in Business Administration with a minor in International Studies, I see this fellowship as a stepping stone to making a positive impact, mirroring the influence my grandmother had on my life. La Vida Es Difícil (Life is tough), but I believe our tool given in this world is our voices and knowledge. I’m eager to learn how to use them to make an impact.

Nicholas (Nick) Hetherington is living and loving his third life. In one of his previous lives, he was an actor/producer working in the New York Theatre scene and on various television shows including Nickelodeon’s Team Umizoomi, and HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. None of this, however, compares to the past two years at LaGuardia, and now at City College. Nick is looking forward to a future that is both unknown, and full of possibilities, but connected to the world of social and economic justice.

My name is Nusrat (she/her) and I am pursing a degree in Sociology and International Studies. I am excited to partake in this fellowship and see where it takes me. I am interested in connecting with diverse individuals and hear what stories they have to share.

My name is Rakshita Broota and I’m a first gen Indian American. Currently majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Business. I’ve loved advocating for social change since I was a child and will continue to do so. I have a special place in my heart for Immigrants and people who do not have the voice to stand up for themselves.

My name is Raky Sy and I’m the first generation of my family to attend college. I am majoring in political science and international relations. My life has been fueled by my passion for politics, public service, advocacy and my continent, Africa, which has been the driving force behind my unwavering commitment to creating positive change in my community. I aspire to work in foreign services. I want to be part of those who manage America’s political and economic relations with the African continent.

A first-generation college student, Samantha Rodrigues is a New York native passionate about activism and social justice in her local community. While studying political science at CUNY Baruch College, Samantha found her passion for activism while interning at the New York Civil Libitieres Union (NYCLU). As a former foster child, Samantha’s experiences have inspired her drive and passion to defend other vulnerable communities. She sees the beauty in people and wants to fight to keep it alive. Samantha hopes to empower fellow foster kids and build a better community for LGBTQ+ youth.

Sara Abu Touq is a passionate, committed Pre-Law student at Hunter College pursuing a career as a Civil Rights Attorney. She has experience in policy work and legal research from several internships, including the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and the Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Judicial Program. Sara intends to influence change within her community as her career progresses, combating issues such as discrimination, constitutional rights violations, and police brutality.

Tess is a sophomore currently pursuing her studies at The City College of New York. Majoring in political science and community change studies, Tess is deeply passionate about social change, justice, and community organizing. With a strong commitment to making a positive impact, she aspires to build a career in community organizing, leveraging her education and enthusiasm to drive meaningful change within her communities.

Urunne, a Queens native, is currently a junior at MHC/Hunter College majoring in biochemistry and theatre. She believes empowerment and visibility are imperative in social change and wants to explore the mediums we can use to accomplish this goal, whether they are conventional or more creative. She is particularly interested in examining the intersection between equitable healthcare and houselessness.

Veronica Berdychev is a sophomore at Hunter College, majoring in political science and economics. She is an intern at DNIS law firm, which allowed her to learn about immigration law. Her passion on immigrant rights stems from being the daughter of a Polish immigrant mother.

Victoria has been committed to youth organizing with a background in environmental, educational, and labor rights advocacy. As a person dedicated to improving and empowering people; she’s excited about the opportunity to develop her organizing skills for the betterment of our communities.

Yamilet Vasquez is a senior enrolled in the CUNY Baccalaureate Program for Interdisciplinary Studies. She is one of the first people in the country to get her BA in Human Rights/Community Innovation and Applied Public Interest Technology. As a standout Alum of the CUNY Research Scholars, she has earned 2 consecutive awards for best presentations and emerged as a finalist in a national digital video contest hosted by New America.

Allison Becha (she/they) is the Lead Organizer for United Campus Workers of Tennessee. She started out as a rank-and-file graduate student member in Knoxville. She has fought with campus workers for raises, an end to mandatory graduate fees, and against discrimination.

Anna Rojo Keene is a reproductive justice activist, organizing since 2011 in Arizona and serves on the Planned Parenthood Arizona Board of Directors. In 2021 she directed the public health equity campaign “Take YOUR Shot!/Vacunate Ya!” in South Tucson and Pima County, which received the USAging Innovation Award for Advocacy in 2022. In her current role of Public Policy Advocate for the Primavera Foundation, she leads housing justice advocacy efforts at the local and state level.

Benjamin is the director of Bozeman Tenants United, the city-wide union of poor and working-class tenants in Bozeman, MT & a founding union of the national Tenant Union Federation. Benjamin was born in Daegu, Korea & grew up in the mountains of Montana. They are a transracial international adoptee, an organizer obsessed with building multi-racial, working-class power, and an abolitionist dreaming and fighting for a world on the other side of racial capitalism.

Christopher Covington (he/they), is a multiracial, genderqueer person of color who challenges and deconstructs systems of oppression. They serve as Chair for the City of Long Beach Equity and Human Relations Commission, Vice President of the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach Board of Directors, and Campaigns and Advocacy Manager with the Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network.

Curtis Pomilia is a labor organizer with United Campus Workers who organizes wall-to-wall with students, staff and faculty throughout Kentucky’s higher education system. He is passionate about developing pathways into the labor movement for workers currently barred from the traditional unionization process. He was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

DeJuan, born and raised in Detroit, graduated from Ross Hill Academy in 2010 and majored in Communications and Media at Spring Arbor University. He studied Pastoral Ministry and serves as a minister for Faith Redemption Center. Post-graduation in 2015, he discovered his passion for organizing at the Race and Power Summit in Detroit. For the past eight years, he has led campaigns in Criminal Justice Reform, Water Equity, Transportation, and Voter Engagement. DeJuan is also a national trainer for the Gamaliel Network.

Gabriela Fernandez is a dedicated community organizer whose journey began with a passion for social justice and community empowerment.

Kate Rubin (she/her) is the organizing director/co-executive director of Be:Seattle, a grassroots non-profit organization focused on housing justice.

Katy (she/her) is an abolitionist immigration organizer based in Houston, TX. In her role as Texas Regional Organizer at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, she works with coalitions in Houston and San Antonio to build local campaigns that decrease deportation, policing, and incarceration and invest in social services that address the root causes of community needs.

Autism mom and grassroots organizer featured in NYT and CNN, awarded Essence Essential Hero Award 2020. Rank and file worker now organizing for better pay and safety in stores.

Originally from Texas, Kobi (he/they) now serves as the Coalition Director for VISIÓN, a group of environmental justice, public health, and frontline community-based organizations united to end neighborhood oil and gas extraction in California. Kobi enjoys reading, writing, and learning languages in their free time.

Leo Seyij Allen (he/him) is a strategist and faith-based organizer working within progressive movements to advance gender, sexuality, and anti-carceral justice, particularly across the U.S. South. He currently works for the national reproductive justice organization Forward Together, serves as Board President at Transmission Ministry Collective, and is a founding member of the Faith Coalition to Stop Cop City. Leo Seyij is a proud alumnus of Howard University and Columbia Theological Seminary.

Lexi (they/them) is the Field Organizer at Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), supporting fieldwork and public engagement across campaigns. Lexi has a long history in the service industry, and completed a MA in Labor Studies from the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies (SLU) in 2020, where they concentrated on organizing in the food sector. Lexi is a 4th-generation born-and-raised New Yorker, a reader, a writer, a bartender & cook, an urban cyclist, and a Knicks fan forever.

Monse serves as the TX Organizer for United We Dream. When not working she loves to read, travel or be in nature with her family and friends

Nick Gee is a descendant of paper sons, native Texan, & theater enthusiast. Currently, he leads as an Advocacy Manager with Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), a civil rights-based organization in San Francisco’s Chinatown and founding partner of the Stop AAPI Hate coalition. As an advocate he addresses key policy issues to advance racial justice on language access, voting rights, and ending anti-Asian hate and discrimination. In addition, he has a background in faith rooted organizing.

Nora (he/him) is a black queer community organizer born and rooting in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Through his work with Virginia Organizing, Nora is helping tenants build sustainable communities that can advocate for progressive housing policies at the local and state levels. Outside of housing justice, Nora is deeply passionate about organizing around prison abolition, LGBTQIA+ rights, strategy-based storytelling, and transformative anti-colonial community building and engagement.

Olivia is a community organizer at the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) working with resident leaders in the District of Columbia around issues of public safety, the creation of affordable green housing, and tenant rights. They are dedicated to ensuring collective liberation from oppressive systems and building a world in which everyone has what they need.

Salma Mohamed has years of experience developing, implementing, and maintaining complex political projects through issue analysis/ research, public awareness raising, grassroots organizing, coalition-building, policy analysis, and direct policymaker influence. She hopes to make New York a better place for Arab Americans.

Sam (she/they) is an organizer with experience working on all things existential: nuclear weapons nonproliferation, combatting the climate crisis, and protecting human rights. They currently help run a leadership program that teaches underrepresented groups in Idaho how to serve on public boards and commissions so that the lowest level of government truly reflects the populations it serves. They strive to create spaces of belonging and work towards collective liberation.

Estefania Galvis, goes by Tefa she her, born and raised in Colombia she was forced to migrate at age 15 to Florida . She has been in the grass roots organizing movement since 2012 when she organized as a student in Tampa Florida and Jacksonville, across campaigns and issues from racial justice to electoral issues, she is also an IATSE and Campaign workers guild Union Card Holder and now National Worker Organizer Director at One Fair Wage.