NATIONAL CO-CHAIRS
tamika d. mallory
Tamika D. Mallory is nationally recognized as a fiery and outspoken champion for social justice who has worked closely with the Obama Administration as an advocate for civil rights issues, equal rights for women, health care, gun violence, and police misconduct. Tamika has been publicly applauded as “a leader of tomorrow” by Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie B. Jarrett and was selected to serve on the transition committee of New York City Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio. She served as a national organizer for the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, which drew 300,000, as well as Justice or Else!, where she delivered a national address to over 700,000. A leading figure in the grassroots, community-based effort to stop gun violence in New York City, Tamika was instrumental in creating the NYC Crisis Management System, an official gun violence prevention program that awards nearly $20 million annually to innovative violence intervention organizations. After serving as National Action Network’s youngest Executive Director, Tamika founded Mallory Consulting, a strategic planning firm in New York City.
Contact: [email protected]
carmen perez
Carmen Perez has dedicated 20 years to advocating for many of today's important civil rights issues, including mass incarceration, gender equality, violence prevention, racial healing and community policing. As the Executive Director of The Gathering for Justice, a nonprofit founded by Harry Belafonte, Carmen has crossed the globe promoting peace through civil and human rights, building alternatives to incarceration and violence, and providing commentary and guidance for state and federal policy creation. Her work inside of juvenile detention centers and prisons in California and New York has provided cultural, spiritual and educational events as well as individual support to incarcerated youth. Carmen is the co-founder of Justice League NYC and founder of Justice League CA, two state-based task forces for advancing juvenile and criminal justice reform agenda. She has organized numerous national convenings, including Growing Up Locked Down conferences on juvenile justice, and the March2Justice, a 250 mile march which drew Congressional attention to key legislative reforms to confront the national crisis in police violence. A respected expert in the field of juvenile and criminal justice and system accountability, Carmen was invited to testify before the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and have been featured in numerous media outlets.
Contact: [email protected]
Linda sarsour
Linda Sarsour is an award-winning, Brooklyn-born Palestinian-American-Muslim racial justice and civil rights activist, community organizer, social media maverick, and mother of three. Linda has been at the forefront of major social justice campaigns both locally in New York City and nationally. She led the successful, progressive coalition to close New York public schools for the observance of two of Islam's most important holy days, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. In 2015, Linda was one of three women co-chairs of the March2Justice, an effort advised and chaired by legendary artist and activist Belafonte, leading almost 100 marchers through 5 states and 250 miles from Staten Island, NY to Washington, DC. Linda was invited to deliver an address before 700,000 people at the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March, and gained international media coverage. Linda is the Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York, co-founder of Muslims for Ferguson, and a member of Justice League NYC. She is most notably recognized for her focus on intersectional movement building.
Contact: [email protected]
BOB BLAND
Bob Bland is the CEO + Founder of Manufacture New York (MNY), a social enterprise that is rethinking the fashion ecosystem (design, development, distribution) and creating a new, vertically-integrated business model that will transform apparel & textile production for the 21st century. Their mission is to reawaken and rebuild America’s fashion industry, foster the next wave of businesses, and create a transparent, sustainable global supply chain. An international speaker + advocate for domestic manufacturing, ethical supply chains and design entrepreneurship education, Ms. Bland has presented Manufacture New York as a case study in Copenhagen, Seoul, Los Angeles, Raleigh, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and NYC. She has also been featured in two books, Sustainable Fashion: Past, Present & Future (2015), We Own the City (2014); the film “Making It In America: Empowering Global Fashion;” and multiple TV interviews including CNBC & CBS Evening News.
Contact: [email protected]
NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Vanessa Wruble, Director of operations
Vanessa Wruble has dedicated her life to producing socially relevant media, political organizing, and redefining the global narrative of modern African culture. Okayafrica, the company she started with Questlove (of The Roots), is now the largest media company focusing on the Continent. She previously worked as the first international correspondent at Al Gore’s Current TV, as a Communication Specialist for the United Nations, and as a journalist for several print magazines. Vanessa first arrived in Africa to work in humanitarian aid for an NGO in Sierra Leone, but quickly turned from neo-colonial development to deep emersion in the many, and unique, cultures overflowing on the continent. That lead her to the great honor of working with the family of Fela Kuti to re-release his music, assist in the production of Fela! on Broadway, and reignite the legacy of Fela as an anti-colonialist, political revolutionary in the collective global consciousness. Vanessa graduated Cum Laude from Williams College and holds Master’s Degrees from from The New School for Social Research in Psychology and from NYU in Interactive Media. Her current work with the Women's March on Washington is driven by a desire to right the imbalance of power, fight on behalf of all marginalized people, and to ensure the end of structural patriarchy.
Contact: [email protected]
CASSADY FENDLAY, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
Cassady Fendlay is a freelance communications strategist who specializes in generating earned media for social justice causes. She draws on a background of progressive advocacy and labor organizing in her work with major nonprofits, foundations and public figures. In 2015, she volunteered as head of communications for the March2Justice, a mobilization that led around 100 marchers over 250 miles from Staten Island, NY, to Washington, DC to uplift three pieces of criminal justice reform legislation. At 34, Cassady has lived in five different cities, earned Ivy League honors, founded two leadership groups, started her own business, taught herself Spanish, travelled in three continents, and she’s only getting started.
Contact: [email protected]
JANAYE INGRAM, HEAD OF LOGISTICS
Called an “impressive leader who plays an important role in our progress toward the mountaintop,” by First Lady Michelle Obama, Janaye Ingram has spent her career empowering people and creating change for marginalized communities. She has engaged communities throughout the United States and internationally on issues like civil rights, voting rights & democracy, health care, education, economic empowerment, women's rights and activism. Janaye currently works as a consultant in Washington, DC and previously served as the National Executive Director of the civil rights organization National Action Network (NAN). Prior to her work with NAN, she held positions with nonprofits and corporations in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Through her work, she has become a sought after speaker and media commentator and has been the recipient of various awards and honors for her work. She is a National Board Member for the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) and a Leader with 20/20 Leaders of America.
Contact: [email protected]
BREANNE BUTLER, GLOBAL CO-COORDINATOR
Breanne is a chef in New York City, and the CEO of by Breanne, a fashion and food concept that specializes in candy jewelry. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Breanne received a scholarship to attend Macomb Culinary Institute during her senior year in high school, and graduated from the program at just 20 years old. She moved to New York City in 2011 and began working at the Michelin-starred Rouge Tomate, and became their Pastry Sous Chef 18 months later. She then became the Executive Pastry Chef at Facebook NY, becoming widely known in the company for her innovative and unique desserts. When Breanne isn’t in her kitchen, she loves to put stamps in her passport, traveling from South Africa to France to expand her food knowledge. She loves to advocate for women and diversity in the restaurant industry, and has mentored many cooks throughout their careers. She has been able to use her strength and experience in organizing kitchens to help organize almost 400 marches around the world.
Contact: [email protected]
Evvie Harmon, Global Co-Coordinator
Evvie Harmon is a native South Carolinian and currently resides in Greenville, SC. She is a co-founder of the Women’s March on Washington and Global co-coordinator. Evvie comes from a long line of strong women that are very active in their communities. She Graduated from the College of Charleston with a B.A. in Theatre Performance. While attending college, Evvie organized her state for Join the Impact in 2008 (protest against the passing of Prop 8 in California). Currently, she works as a yoga instructor in Easley, SC. Her hope is to continue working with the Women’s March network for many years to come.
Contact: [email protected]
EMMA COLLUM, STATE CO-COORDINATOR
Emma Collum, Esq. is a graduate of State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in Public Policy, and of City University of New York Law School with a J.D. She is a Hudson Valley New York native and resides in South Florida. Emma’s legal background in New York City Court’s was dedicated to representing tenants, domestic violence survivors, union workers, and environmental policy. Her legal experience working with under-represented communities as well as her time in both New York State and New York City politics has inspired her interest in Grassroots Movements. Currently, Emma actively practices law as an In-House Attorney and volunteers for women and children organizations in her South Florida community. She is thrilled to be a part of this incredible movement.
Contact: [email protected]
MRINALINI CHAKRABORTY, STATE CO-COORDINATOR
Mrinalini is a doctoral student of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She immigrated to the U.S. from India, eight years ago to attend Knox College on an academic scholarship. She has been politically active throughout her adult life and refuses to be a bystander as the rights and safety of immigrants, men and women of color, the LGBTQIA community, and other minorities are threatened. She is marching to give a voice to these concerns and to those who cannot march with her. She envisions the Women’s March on Washington as a galvanizing force for women throughout the nation, and hopes to return home to Chicago to continue leading initiatives in women’s and immigrant rights advocacy.
Contact: [email protected]
Ginny Suss, Producer
Ginny Suss is the Vice President of Okayplayer.com and the President and co-founder of Okayafrica.com, two music and culture based media companies. She has worked for The Roots (the house band for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon) in various capacities including Tour Management, for the past 13 years. As a video producer, Ginny oversees Okayplayer + Okayafrica's original video content, and created and produced many original series, including Okay Acoustic, the animated Storyville, Player Xchange, The Roots Of, in addition to creative agency video work. With expertise in event production, Ginny has helped to produce annual events such as The Roots Picnic, the Okayplayer Holiday Jams featuring The Roots, in addition to Okayplayer's SXSW events, annual partnerships with Summerstage, Lincoln Center Out Of Doors, Okayafrica's launch at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park and more. She's also known for her photography, especially of live musicians and music events. She earned her BA from Williams College where she studied Political Theory and Art History.
Contact: [email protected]
Toshi Reagon, Music Director
Toshi Reagon is a talented, versatile singer, composer, musician, curator and producer with a profound ear for sonic Americana--from folk to funk, from blues to rock. While her expansive career has landed her comfortably in residence at Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House & Madison Square Garden, you can just as easily find Toshi turning out a music festival, intimate venue or local club. Toshi knows the power of song to focus, unite and mobilize people. Toshi’s current touring projects include “The Blues Project” A Collaboration by Dorrance Dance and Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely. Octavia E. Butler’sParable of the Sower The Opera. Celebrate The Great Women of Blues and Jazz”, Word* Rock* & Sword: A Festival exploration of Women's Lives- Year VII Sept. 2017 NYC www.toshireagon.com
PAOLA MENDOZA, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Paola Mendoza, was named one of Filmmaker Magazine 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Ms. Mendoza made her narrative directorial debut with ENTRE NOS, which had its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival where it was awarded Honorable Mention. Entre Nos went on to win over twenty awards at film festivals from around the world.
Ms. Mendoza is in development for her second feature film A PASO DE MANGLES, which she will direct in Colombia. Ms. Mendoza has written and directed several short films. Most recently she directed a short documentary series for Refinary29 about immigration, which was executive produced by America Ferrera. Her short, BROKEN TAIL LIGHT, currently has over 12 million views on Youtube. FREE LIKE THE BIRDS, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, and her documentary Z FOR ZENDAYA, staring Disney superstar Zendaya Coleman and her animated series, 11 Million Stories, about a dystopian future where mass deportation is law in the US was commissioned by Mark Zuckerberg’s foundation FDW.Us.
Ms. Mendoza began her career directing documentaries. Her feature documentaries AUTUMN’S EYES, and WITHOUT THE KING were embraced by the most prestigious film festivals around the world. Ms. Mendoza was a two-time nominee for the NALIP Estel Awards, given to Latino filmmakers that show extraordinary promise in the field of directing. She is a Tribeca All Access, Independent Film Week and Fast Track Alum. Ms. Mendoza’s novel, THE ONES WHO DON’T STAY, was published by Penguin Books in 2013.
Contact: [email protected]
ALYSSA KLEIN, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Alyssa Klein is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn, New York. Her favorite movie is Moonlight.
Contact: [email protected]
TING TING CHENG, Legal DIRECTOR
Ting Ting is a public defender in Brooklyn. She is originally from Shanghai. Her background is in music and human rights, she has spent her youth playing the oboe with various orchestras around the country, notably with the American Symphony Orchestra. Ting Ting’s human rights work has taken her all over the world. After law school, Ting Ting clerked at the Constitutional Court of South Africa for Justices Albie Sachs and Edwin Cameron. Following her clerkship, she was Senior Project Manager at the Incentives for Global Health, an international non-profit organization which uses medical innovation to increase research and development for neglected diseases for the global poor. Ting Ting was a 2009 Fulbright Scholar to South Africa, for which she received the Amy Biehl award.
Contact: [email protected]
TABITHA ST. BERNARD-JACOBS, Youth and Family Coordinator
Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs is a fashion activist who runs a zero waste clothing label. An advocate for fair and ethical labor for garment workers, Tabitha works with schools, conferences and non-profits to educate about the global effects of fast fashion on small manufacturing communities. She is a go-to speaker on zero waste in the fashion industry and methods of reducing waste for a fashion brand from the first step of sourcing fabric or designing to empowering the customer with knowledge to re-use packing materials. She has shown collections during New York Fashion Week and dressed women for the red carpet like Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and Danielle Brooks of Orange Is the New Black, to name a few. Her work has been exhibited at Princeton University and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Museum. She has written about how to deal with race relations as an interracial family for several other publications like The Stir and Huffington Post.
Contact: [email protected]
Caitlin Ryan, Volunteer Coordinator
Caitlin Ryan has served as a strategy consultant for Deloitte and Value for Good, where she focuses on issues of modern slavery and social impact. In 2016 she served as Deputy Operations Director for the Hillary Clinton campaign in Wisconsin. Caitlin holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. She is originally from Lindstrom, Minnesota. Connect with her on Twitter, @cryandc.
Contact: [email protected]
Tina Frank, Head of Digital Products
Tina Frank comes from a line of strong female progressive advocates. Her grandmother, Irene Geocaris, championed interscholastic women’s sports before Title IX, was a volunteer bus driver for disabled veterans after WWII, and fundraised for Planned Parenthood. Irene made family events out of attending speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and attending anti-Vietnam war marches. Tina’s mother, Connie, attended marches as young as 9 years old, including the April, 1971 Veterans against the Vietnam War march in DC. Connie will be marching again for the first time in 30 years in Chicago’s Sister March.
Today, Tina works as an Operations Supervisor for a visa sponsorship company, coordinating exchange programs for international college students traveling to the US. She works to foster an international community of peace and understanding through travel and the sharing of ideas, perspectives, and cultures. Tina is an avid world traveler herself and knows that travel of any distance is a powerful tool for expanding people’s world view, creating a deeper sense of empathy and understanding. Tina graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Psychology and Art Theory and Practice and currently resides in Denver, Colorado.
Contact: [email protected]
Jackson Hyland-Lipski, head of web development
Jackson Hyland-Lipski is a filmmaker living and working in New York City. He is currently the Executive Assistant to the Alive Inside Foundation, bringing memory and identity back to elders with dementia through music and empathy. The Foundation was created from the Sundance Award winning film 'Alive Inside', and Jackson helping direct, write, film, and edit his next film. In 2014, Jackson worked at Radical Media as Archival Assistant for Emmy Winning and Academy Award Nominated 'What Happened, Miss Simone?', a Netflix original documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. Jackson concurrently worked for the film's Producer Amy Hobby as Head of Development for Ms. Hobby's and Anne Hubbell's production company, Tangerine Entertainment, which produces films and other projects helmed by women. Jackson Hyland-Lipski is a graduate of Northeastern University, where he received a BA in Film and Philosophy with a minor in Writing. JacksonHL.com
Contact: [email protected]
Sam Frank, Head of Digital Operations and Data
Sam Frank, like his sister Tina, comes from a history of progressive organizers. Their grandfather, Angelo Geocaris, stood side-by-side with Chicago titans Harold Washington, Abner Mikva, and Newton Minow to fight the political patronage problems that plagued Chicago in the late 20th century. Today, Sam fuses technology with time tested organizing practices to help movements leverage digital tools to engage and drive action from their audiences. Inspired by the successful digital organizing efforts of the Bernie Sanders Campaign, Sam joined the Progressive Coders Network, a group of tech volunteers who built much of the campaign’s digital infrastructure. His technology nonprofit, Blue Boost, builds tools and advises progressive organizations on how to interact with the vast landscape of the internet to bring about positive change in the world.
Contact: Sam Frank's Website
Eisa Davis, Artistic Associate
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STRATEGIC ADVISORS
Meredith Shepherd
De'Ara Balenger
Jenna Arnold
Rachel Goldstein
Sarah Sophie Flicker
CAMPAIGN OPS
Mariam Ehrari
Lauren Besser
COMMUNICATIONS
Jamiah Adams
Danielle Kwateng
Alexis Kreig
Jasmine Partida
Hannah Rosenzweig
Denise Willard
Joy Cook
SOCIAL MEDIA
Eden Lewis
ShiShi Rose
Brooke Williams
Sophie Ellman-Golan
Stefanie Cruz
Daria Hall
Sarah Boison
Tonya Williams
Samantha Duberstein
Bridget Todd
Lisa Conn
Joe Wilson
David Bordow
Tom Watson
Kate Catherall
Conrad Amenta
WEBSITE DIGITAL STRATEGY
Electric Orange Creative
PARTNERSHIPS
Brea Baker
Amanda Shepherd
Tony Choi
OUTREACH
Heidi Solomon, Small Business
Uma Ramiah, Academic
Madison Thomas, University + College
Tee Hanible, Veteran Outreach
LOGISTICS
Allyson Carpenter
Nantasha Williams
Mike Dunn
Ianta Summers
LaMon Bland
Avery Jones
Stacey Lee
Melissa Mobley
Zach Helder
Stephanie Miliano
Kelli Farr
Rebecca Abou-Chedid
Mysonne Linen
PRODUCTION
Jasmine Blackmon, Production Manager
Peggy Dahlquist
Diana Ezrins
Nalini Jones
Jessi Olsen
Colleen Arnerich
Danielle DePalma
Sandra Restrepo
Melody Rabe
Karen Scott
Joanie Michele
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Reshma Saujani
Hayne Beattie Gray
Nicole Okumu
DISABILITY CAUCUS
Mia Ives-Rublee
Ted Jackson
INFLUENCERS ENGAGEMENT
Michelle Minguez
Daveen Trentman