An overview of the amazing voting champions you’ll be working with in Atlanta

Plus the lovely local vendors who will be supporting us!

Click each name below to learn more! Attendees include leaders at All Voting is Local, Amplify Georgia Collaborative, Appalachians for Appalachia, Arena, Atlanta Regional Commission, Center for Cultural Power, Cleveland VOTES, CoolCoolCool Productions, Cypress Fund, DC Vote, Deeds Not Words, Democrasexy, Fair Count, Fandom Forward, For Freedoms, Georgia Muslim Voter Project, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Gutsy Media, Harness, Leadership Matters Consulting, PA Youth Vote, People for the American Way, Public Wise, Southern Poverty Law Center, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Center for 21st Century Studies, Vote With Us, VoteRiders, and the Young Black Lawyers’ Organizing Coalition.

Attendees

Roula AbiSamra

Roula AbiSamra (she/they) serves as State Campaign Director with the Amplify Georgia Collaborative. Roula has family roots in Beirut, grew up in New Orleans, and lives in Atlanta. Direct service work in abortion care changed her life and led her to reproductive justice organizing. At Amplify, Roula supports partners in leading policy campaigns to expand abortion access. She also consults, trains, and facilitates for groups around the country (time permitting). Among other things, Roula identifies as queer, Arab, feminist, a Southerner, and an eldest daughter of immigrants.

Jeanine Abrams McLean

Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean (she/her) is the President at Fair Count, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, founded by Stacey Abrams. The goal of Fair Count is to ensure that every person in Georgia and the nation is seen, heard, and counted for a fair and accurate census and to building pathways to continued civic participation, including voter education and redistricting. Jeanine is a highly skilled researcher with over 20 years of experience designing, managing, and implementing population-based studies and projects. She is passionate about finding creative ways to tackle community-based issues using both strategic planning and innovative ideas.

Kelsye Adams

Kelsye Adams: Advocacy is her artistry. Kelsye (she/her/moette) has been an organizer since 2016 during her tenure in college. She first started as a finance intern for the Democratic Party of Virginia through her alma mater VCU. Kelsye later became Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s – The Way Ahead PAC – Finance Director. In 2019, she joined the very cultured organization Long Live GoGo as Executive Director here in Washington, DC. Long Live GoGo are the producers of Moechella, an artistic activism platform utilizing gogo music as the intersection of politics and culture. Amplifying the artistic activism platform, Kelsye collaborates with other local artists including Shaughn Cooper, Creative Director for National Singer Ari Lennox, to create various outlets to uplift voices across the spectrums of injustices. Kelsye serves on the Board of Directors for the U ST Neighborhood Association and is a board member for The Live Movement’s National/Howard chapter. Kelsye continued her studies focusing on nonprofits by completing the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program at Georgetown University in 2021. Kelsye was brought on as Program Director for DC Vote in January of 2022 advocating for equality here in DC and the city’s need for statehood. Kelsye plans to continue utilizing the culture with Long Live GoGo, DC Vote, CapitalBop and LegacyDC to create innovative pragmatic programming both locally and nationally to amplify the need for DC Statehood through the use of artistic activism. She believes the time is NOW for DC to become the 51st state of the United States and understands the culture will unite the people in this fight for racial justice.

Jessica Angima

Jessica Angima (she/her) is a first-generation Kenyan American organizer and social practice artist. She works to support and grow Arena training events. Prior to joining Arena in 2020, Jessica managed the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Management Fellowship, a project of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs aimed at developing a diverse pipeline of future arts leaders. During this time she also received over 400 hours of meditation instruction training and began providing community-engaged workshops and classes throughout New York City. With this background, Jessica centers the creative and relational in supporting the progressive movement. As Deputy Training Director, she helps Arena-trained staffers build thoughtful people-centered campaigns.

Krystal Barrett

Krystal Barrett (she/her) is a bi-racial artist and activist from Orlando, Florida. With a decade-long background in higher education, Krystal began her career in social change with the Peace and Justice Institute at Valencia College. She has been a member of the League of Women Voters since 2013, and is passionate about all things voting, community, and mental health advocacy. In 2016, Krystal launched her small business, Peace Petals through which she has organized donation-based art giveaways supporting various non-profits. Krystal joined the Center for Artistic Activism in February 2022 and currently serves as the Programs Coordinator.

Anne Basting

Anne Basting (she/her) is a writer, artist and advocate for the power of creativity to transform our lives. She is Professor of English at UW Milwaukee, where she directs the Center for 21st Century Studies. Basting is Founder of TimeSlips.org, which trains, inspires, and supports caregivers to infuse creativity into care. Her writing and large-scale public performances have helped shape an international movement to extend creative and meaningful expression from childhood, where it is expected, through late life, where it has been too long withheld. Basting’s writing and artistic collaborations have been recognized by several awards. She regularly collaborates with producer/writer/director Maureen Towey.

Hibah Berhanu

Hibah Berhanu (she/her) is cultivating a non-partisan political home for Georgia Muslims through GAMVP’s Community Conversations and Membership Development programs. She is currently planning the Muslim Civic Leadership Luncheon for spiritual leadership in Metro-Atlanta and a two-day organizing program, Mobilize 4 Muslims: Summer Organizing School. Her work includes story and data collection from community members, event planning for numerous programs, managing and developing volunteers, digital organizing for GAMVP campaigns, and more. Her favorite parts about working at GAMVP are her team and visiting new masjids around Georgia. Hibah first began organizing as a student at the University of Virginia where she earned her BA in Politics, concentration in American Government, and minor in Sociology.

Rebecca Bray

Rebecca Bray (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Center for Artistic Activism. She’s an artist, activist, educator and designer, with a background in museums, tech and environmental advocacy.

Becky Bullard

Becky Bullard (she/her) spent most of her career as a communications strategist and copywriter for big brands. But after the 2016 election she decided to use her advertising skills to sell democracy instead of doodads. As co-host of The Rabble Texas politics podcast, she interviewed notable folks and emceed events for Supermajority, the Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Democrats, the Texas Observer, and others. Her creative work was recognized by Women Communicators of Austin and featured in a Richard Linklater-produced documentary called THE PUSHBACK. Then in 2021, Becky created Democrasexy, making civic education appealing and producing sold-out edutainment and power-building events like Y’allentines Day and Texorcism.

Allison Coffman

Allison Coffman (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Amplify Georgia Collaborative, serves on the board of Access Reproductive Care Southeast and chairs the City of Atlanta’s Reproductive Justice Commission. Her approach to reproductive justice has been shaped by her upbringing in a matriarchal, latina household, work to expand abortion access locally and globally, and her newest venture into parenting.

Rebecca Crawford Muñoz

Rebecca Crawford Muñoz (she/her) is a writer, storyteller and facilitator who thrives most in the in-between spaces. Born with an insatiable curiosity and trained in public health, she’s worked around the world to flip power structures that hold communities back from social change, including at the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), UNESCO, the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Profamilia, Global Health Strategies and a practicum at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Rebecca bridges art and social justice advocacy as a flint to spark the creativity necessary to achieve the world(s) we’ve only yet dreamt of. ¡Vamos pa’lante!

Andrew Dinwiddie

Andrew Dinwiddie (he/him) was born in Atlanta, raised in the Labor Movement, and educated in experimental theater. As Chief of Staff of NGP and NGPAF 2020-2022, he shepherded strategic projects and culture-forward organizing for the nation’s dopest civil rights organization. With Times Square Arts 2016-2020, he curated and engaged the public around interdisciplinary public art works. From 2004-2017 he was co-everything of the beloved CATCH Performance Series. Andrew has additionally worked at BRIC, MoMA Film, New York Live Arts, Rooftop Films, WNYC; as a Contributing Editor for the Movement Research Performance Journal; and as a nationally touring show maker and performer. He lives and works with his family in Brooklyn, NY and Austin, TX.

Abdul Dosunmu

A civil rights lawyer and movement-builder, Abdul Dosunmu (he/him) is the Founder and Chief Strategist of the Young Black Lawyers’ Organizing Coalition (YBLOC), a network of young Black lawyers and law students who are working to protect and empower Black electoral voice. Formerly, Abdul was an appointee of President Barack Obama to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and served as a Senior Associate at Precision Strategies, a prominent political consultancy in Washington, D.C. Abdul received his B.A. from the University of Chicago and his J.D. from NYU School of Law. Abdul has been featured in media outlets such as The Dallas Morning News, CBS Evening News, BuzzFeed, NowThis, Univision, Gothamist, Roland Martin Unfiltered and the Chicago Tribune.

Lisa Jo Epstein

Lisa Jo Epstein (she/her) (Ph.D. UT Austin), Founding Executive & Artistic Director of Just Act, is a theatre director, educator, facilitator, and has been practicing Theatre of the Oppressed as a trainer & director for 30+ years. She believes there’s an artist within each of us and that we all have the capacity to flex the muscles of our imagination to build a just world. Lisa Jo’s approach to applied theatre and applied story give us the tools and courage to explore, deconstruct and reconstruct ourselves as change-makers and the world around us as just. With Just Act, Lisa Jo works at the intersection of theatre, social justice, anti-oppression facilitation, as well as arts-based community-led engagement. She is committed to using applied theatre and story to ignite critical thinking, refresh and strengthen our capacity to stand up for justice with curiosity, renewed compassion and emboldened courage to face seemingly intractable challenges and unite community members for collective action.

Miriam Fogelson

Miriam Fogelson (she/her) is a strategist, producer and organizer working at the intersection of culture change, movement building, and progressive politics. She is the President of Harness, and advisor to The Action Lab and The Carmack Collective.

Stacie Fugate

Stacie Fugate (she/her) is the Director of InVision Hazard and a research fellow for the Appalachians for Appalachia, which develops research and policy recommendations that center on justice, equity, resilience, and sustainability for Eastern Kentucky. Prior, Fugate worked for the University of Kentucky Student Government Association and was an AmeriCorp volunteer at the Housing Development Alliance. Fugate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Appalachian Studies and looks forward to continuing her work as an acitivist, organizer, and advocate for Eastern Kentucky.

Lana Goitia Paz

Lana Goitia Paz (she/her) is All Voting is Local’s Georgia Campaign Manager. Lana began her journey into organizing as a college student, advocating for undocumented students on her college campus. When her absentee ballot was rejected in 2018 due to Georgia’s signature match law, Lana dove headfirst into the world of voter rights. She was a plaintiff in multiple lawsuits against the signature match law and shared her story nationally to convey the law’s negative impact. Since then, Lana has worked in the voter rights space as an organizer at the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and as a political analyst at the New Georgia Project. Her previous experience has centered around poll worker recruitment, monitoring and working with local boards of elections, voter education, and legislative affairs. Lana has been featured in articles by Time Magazine, ABC News, Buzzfeed News, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and various local publications. Lana has a BS in political science from the University of North Georgia.

Jami Goldstein

As vice president of Marketing, Communications & Events, Jami Goldstein (she/her) brings over three decades of expertise in marketing, public relations and the nonprofit arts to the Greater Columbus Arts Council. In addition to overseeing marketing, public relations, branding and events at GCAC, she works to increase national awareness of the city’s abundant creative capital and cultural assets, overseeing the Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art community-wide marketing campaign and strengthening and expanding partnerships within and outside the community. She is currently leading the “Greater Columbus. Greater Art.” public art planning effort for central Ohio. She says one of the greatest joys of her job is connecting people who can do good work together.

Jenny Gottstein

Jenny Gottstein (she/they) is the creator of Vote With Us – a personal voting concierge service, and Beat! That! Heat! – a climate action game show. As a former experience designer in IDEO’s Play Lab, she led projects that leveraged play design to improve healthcare, transportation, education, circular economies and public policy. Prior to IDEO, she was the Director of Games at The Go Game, and the Director of Programming at the Millennial Trains Project. From voter education parties to Zombie Apocalypse Disaster Preparedness games, to circular economy festivals, to environmental stewardship roadtrip games, Jenny designs playful experiences to connect, inspire & delight. www.jennygottstein.com

Julie Hermelin

Julie Hermelin (she/her) is a seasoned creative producer, working at the intersection of entertainment, social impact, and politics. Her projects transform complicated ideas into engaging and emotional narratives to expand the cultural conversation.

With collaborations spanning film, politics, tech, and music, Julie is adept at building bridges between organizational strategy and creator talent. As a featured panelist at conferences as diverse as SXSW and the Naval War College’s “Women, Peace and Security conference,” Julie speaks about the cultural shifting power of impact filmmaking. Julie began her career with a decade-long stint as a music video director for MTV.

Agbo Ikor

Agbo Ikor (she/her) is the Policy and Advocacy Director at SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW. In her role, Agbo’s primary responsibility is running base led campaigns to pass positive legislation and defend against harmful legislation that impacts the Georgia political landscape. Though Agbo has found a theoretical home with Reproductive Justice, her initial introduction to organizing was through feminist issues like pay equity, sex discrimination, and civic engagement. Agbo organized around queer and trans issues, successfully campaigning for her university to provide gender neutral bathrooms for all students and facilitating political education for campus leaders in LGBTQIA issues.

Maria Javier

Maria Javier (she/her/siya) joined Public Wise in May 2020 to lead in-house communications and support organizing partners as a digital advisor. As Chief Information Officer, Maria is responsible for digital tools, website builds, data and analysis across Public Wise platforms. She works closely with the leadership team to ensure departments and initiatives have the digital infrastructure needed to meet their goals. Maria also leads the tech build for Public Wise’s campaign, the Insurrection Index, the largest and most comprehensive database of participants of the January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol.

Patricia Jerido

Patricia Jerido (she/her) has her feet on the ground, deeply rooted in social movements and grassroots activism, but her head is always looking up: noticing new developments in popular culture, social history, organizational theory, and then thinking about how these currents might be applied to the hard work of making the world a better place. Her combination of creativity and commitment is unbeatable.

Sylvester Johnson

Born and raised in Newnan, Georgia, Sylvester Johnson’s civic engagement began in high school when he worked with organizations such as the Special Olympics of Georgia. While attending Howard University, Sylvester (he/him) spent two years working in underserved communities as a Team Leader for Jumpstart AmeriCorps. After graduating, Sylvester returned to his home state and served as the Political Director for Carolyn Bourdeaux’s campaign for Congress in Georgia’s 7th Congressional district in 2018. Now as the National Volunteer Manager, Sylvester is applying his passion for civic engagement by helping further VoteRiders’ mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their right to vote. When he is not working, Sylvester enjoys cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles, thrifting, and playing with his dog, Mr. Boykins.

Rachel Gita Karp

Rachel Gita Karp (she/her) is the Program Director of Unstoppable Voters at the Center for Artistic Activism. Through Unstoppable Voters, Rachel supports bold, strategic, and ambitious organizations, people, and projects that protect the freedom to vote with creativity and innovation. She’s helped over 80 pro-voter groups and over 1,000 individuals with training, community-building, mentorship, and more. This work builds off of and feeds Rachel’s background making activist performances for voting and voters, reproductive freedom, and increased gender representation in US politics. www.c4aa.org/unstoppablevoters | www.rachelgitakarp.com

Mark Kendall

Mark Kendall (he/him) is an Atlanta comedian. He is honored to be a fellow for the Unstoppable Voters Fellowship this year with C4AA! Along with his production partner, Bill Worley, he is the co-founder of Cool Cool Cool Productions (coolcoolcoolpro.com), where they use comedy to encourage civic engagement. They’ve worked with clients like Fair Count, New Georgia Project, and Adult Swim. Last year, he was an artist fellow at Emory University as part of their Emory Arts and Social Justice Fellowship. His films have screened at the American Black Film Festival. He has toured nationally with his one person show, “The Magic Negro and Other Blackness” – a sketch show using satire to explore the representation of Black men in the media. He was the Readers Pick for Best Comedian in Creative Loafing Atlanta in 2019. While studying film at Northwestern University, he completed the Comedy Central Chris Rock Summer School Program, where he pitched jokes at “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” Follow him on Instagram @markkendallcomedy.

Steve Lambert

Steve Lambert’s father, a former Franciscan monk, and mother, an ex-Dominican nun, imbued the values of dedication, study, poverty, and service to others – qualities which prepared him for life as an artist. Lambert (he/him) co-founded the Center for Artistic Activism in 2009 and co-authored “The Art of Activism: Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible.” As an artist, Lambert is known for large scale, public works that engage new audiences on difficult topics. His work has been shown internationally, from museums to Times Square, in four documentary films and two dozen books. He is an Associate Professor at SUNY Purchase. He dropped out of high school in 1993.

Aileen Loy

Aileen is a multi-media artist and performer based in Atlanta. She is Fair Count’s Volunteer Coordinator and was a Center for Artistic Activism Unstoppable Voters Fellow in 2022.

Monèt Noelle Marshall

Monèt Noelle Marshall (she/her) is an artist, cultural organizer and dreamer that calls Durham, NC home. She also has the distinct pleasure of supporting world-changing artists in the Carolinas as the Artistic Learning and Grantmaking Manager at Cypress Fund and The Grove. You can learn more about the fund at CypressFund.org and Monet’s personal work at MonetNoelleMarshall.com.

Sara Mortensen

Sara Mortensen (she/her) is an organizer from Southern California who approaches all of her work from a place of sincerity, curiosity, and unironic enthusiasm. Sara develops campaigns for Fandom Forward on a variety of issues – from climate change to queer rights to voting – all in the pursuit of helping the world become a little bit more kind, joyful, and just.

Janice Moynihan

Janice Moynihan (she/her) is interested in the ways that we create community: how we connect, share resources, and make change. She currently serves as a project manager with For Freedoms, an artist-led organization that models and increases creative civic engagement, discourse, and direct action. She’s worked with nonprofits at the national and regional level to facilitate interdisciplinary projects that address community needs. She received her M.S. in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute and her B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont.

Amanda Norris

Amanda Norris (she/her) is an arts and culture administrator with a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication and theater from Georgia College & State University. She specializes in bridging the gap between creativity and organization. Amanda has experience working with several organizations including The Bakery Atlanta, Living Walls, New Georgia Project, and more. She is passionate about community building, arts access, and cultural organizing.

Isabel Otero

Isabel Otero (she/her) is a public policy leader with more than thirteen years of experience in human and civil rights law and advocacy. Currently the Georgia Policy Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center, she effectively combines her communication skills, policy expertise, and a fierce determination to organize for racial justice with impacted communities in her home state. Isabel is originally from Puerto Rico but grew up in the Deep South and graduated from The University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs.

Alejandra G Ramirez

Alejandra G Ramirez (she/her/ella) is an Artist, Arts Educator, and Arts Administrator from Salinas, CA. An advocate for arts and cultural equity, she serves as Civic Engagement Manager at The Center for Cultural Power and as the Campaigns Manager at the Cultural Engagement Lab, CCP’s 501c(4) sister advocacy organization.

Andrea Reyes Sierra

Andrea Reyes Sierra (she/her/ella) is originally from the El Paso and CD. Juarez, CHIH, MX. borderland region. She earned her dual Bachelors in International Politics and Microbiology from the University of Texas at El Paso. Motivated by her passion for holding elected officials accountable, and her enthusiasm for using advocacy and outreach techniques as a tool for progressive change has led her to spearhead movements in the borderland region. She has previously served as the communications liaison for the Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee (DMSC), legal intern for Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, and co-founder to Education Not Deportation (END). Apart from movement work, her experience stems from having worked five political campaigns ranging in the local, state, and national levels. She has also worked three TX legislative sessions—under State Senator Jose Rodriguez, and Deeds Not Words. Her passion to effect change led her to accept a position with Deeds Not Words where she has been with for almost 5 years. During her time at Deeds, as the Political Director, and most recently the Acting Executive Director, she has gotten to work with young BIPOC change makers to create the policy solutions that reflect the values of our generation. Most specifically, by prioritizing policies that affect women of color, protect and expand the rights of young people, immigrants, the environment, and the LGBTQI community. Andrea deeply believes that it is important to have an understanding of the communities we serve, rather than parachuting a solution that is not reflective of the values of that community to create long lasting change and serve as a cultural paradigm that shapes future generations. She also believes not only in the importance of investing in women, trans and non-binary led organizations, but to do so while purposefully funding BIPOC organizations that are actively eradicating anti-blackness and investing in the leadership development of young BIPOC women.

Zion Sykes

Zion Sykes (he/him) is a rising Junior at the Pennsylvania State University majoring in International Politics, Chinese, and Global & International Studies. He values community activism/empowerment, compassion and ingenuity. He currently serves on the advisory board of PA Youth Vote, an organization that he believes is a champion of students + democracy.

Rio Tazewell

Rio Tazewell (he/him) is a coalition organizer and campaign strategist with more than 15 years of experience working at the local, state and federal level to build awareness and foster engagement for progressive reforms. Primarily working in the democracy space, he has run national campaigns in collaboration with world-renowned artists and creatives, including the 2020 Enough of Trump campaign which featured the works of Shepard Fairey, Carrie Mae Weems, Hank Willis Thomas, Beverly McIver, Ed Ruscha and many others. He is based in Washington, DC where he lives with his wife and daughter.

Roshani Thakore

Roshani Thakore (she/her) leads all of Atlanta Regional Commision’s arts and culture initiatives including integrating arts and culture into long-range planning efforts and designing innovative and inclusive engagement practices that center under-represented voices in planning. She leads efforts to strengthen the connection between planning professionals, community-based organizations, and artists/arts organizations. Roshani is also a socially-engaged artist using art to broaden an understanding of place, uncover histories, elevate voices, and expand a sense of belonging, with the hope of reconstructing power. She uses her positionality and power to complicate, leverage, and advocate with people who have been marginalized to transform systems of oppression through political and community education and acts of resistance.

Jessica Tully

Jessica Tully (she/they) is a social practice artist. Her mediagenic rock operas, distributed actions, and speculative housewares remix core themes of the precariat including voter protection, intersectional feminisms, re-enfranchisement, fair wage, and water as a spiritual technology. Her work can be experienced within a community-building framework at major museums and cultural institutions. She co-founded UMA Productions and Herstory – an all-womxn Hip-Hop production company and art collective. She was a member of Rock the Vote’s staff that invented voter registration online. In 2020, she was a collaborating artist in the first cohort of C4AA’s Unstoppable Voters, with #ProjectYourVote, where she led the casting, relational aesthetics, and distribution of a suite of projection videos in 14 states.

Robin Turner

Robin Turner (she/her) is an educator, organizer and humanitarian. In her leadership roles, she exhibits her commitment to racial equity, engaging directly impacted individuals and demonstrating cultural proficiency. Robin’s strategic planning work has a focus on social equity and social justice movements. Robin works locally, statewide, and nationally to empower and mobilize leaders to create the change that they want to see. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education. She has achieved certificates in Chemical Dependency Counseling, Lead Contracting and is a Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood Ambassador. She is an experienced civic affiliate, currently President of the American Civil Liberties Union Smart Justice Advisory Board. Robin is passionate about building personal and professional connections with like-minded individuals while leveraging networks. It is exhibited in her work in Cuyahoga County. Robin lives in an intergenerational urban Cleveland home with her mother, children, grandchildren, and their dogs – Pepper and Rose.

Edith Valle

Edith Valle (she/her) is a graphic designer, illustrator and fine artist based in Austin Texas. She studied graphic design at St. Edward’s University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design degree. As Art Director at Deeds Not Words, she launched the organizations first Artist in Residency program with a focus on art and activism. Through this program Edith provides mentorship to young artists and guides them in creating art that centers their narratives. As a strong believer in education and the power of telling your own story, Edith launched The Galvanizer, a zine by young people for young people. While Edith provides all creative direction for the Galvanizer and handles the printing and design for each issue, the young members of Deeds student chapters write and create the content. From using personal experience to educate people about the TX Lege to demystifying sex myths, The Galvanizer harnesses their power and allows them to take control of their own stories. As an artist herself, Edith is dedicated to making spaces for young artists to thrive and bring awareness to the arts’ essential role in shifting culture and making change.

LaShawn Warren

LaShawn Warren (she/her) is a civil and human rights attorney with over 25 years of experience advocating progressive public policy at every level of government. She is currently Chief Policy Officer for the Southern Poverty Law Center and its lobbying arm, the SPLC Action Fund. LaShawn oversees the policy agendas of the organizations, which have a presence in several Deep South states and Washington, D.C. Her work advances policy on several fronts, including voting rights, decarceration of Black and Brown people, eradicating poverty and the dismantling of white nationalism and supremacy.

Jess Weldon

Jess Weldon leads the Training Team at Arena. Previously, Jess was the Programs Director at Battleground Texas, an organization building progressive power in Texas. During the 2020 Presidential Cycle, Jess worked at For Our Future as National Voter Contact Manager. During the primary, Jess was Bernie Sanders’ Campus and GOTV Director in New Hampshire, and later Bernie’s Field Director for Virginia and Ohio. Prior to political work, Jess was a high school teacher and cheer team coach. In addition to movement work, Jess enjoys being outside, eating snacks, spotting dogs, and The Internet.

Bill Worley

Bill Worley (he/him) is a comedian, writer, and filmmaker who’s been performing, directing and teaching comedy since 2008. He co-founded CoolCoolCool Productions in 2020, creating comedy videos advocating for progressive social issues and collaborating with folks like Fair Count, The New Georgia Project, and the EP of The Daily Show, Steve Bodow. His internet videos have garnered 100+ million views. In 2021, Bill and his business partner Mark Kendall’s CoolCoolCool sketches were named “Best reason to Laugh” by Atlanta Magazine. Bill also taught improv on VH1’s “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.” If only laughter grew hair on Bill’s bald head.


Local Vendors

Kamayan

AUTHENTIC FILIPINO COMFORT FOOD

Kamayan ATL started out with a hankering for Filipino food the way our nanay (mother) made them and a yearning to see our cuisine be embraced in Atlanta, the place we now call home.  

Our dishes focus on traditional flavors. We are family run and when you come to one of our restaurant, it’s like eating at our home. Let us feed you and allow us to share with you our beloved Philippines.”  

We’ll be getting lunch from Kamayan! Learn more at: kamayanatl.com.

Gorditas

🌈 Latinx owned 🇲🇽 Mexican street eats y más

We’ll also be getting lunch from Gorditas! Learn more at: www.instagram.com/gorditasatl.

Tanbrown Coffee

Tanbrown is a coffee roasting company created by two Asian Americans passionate about coffee and our community. It’s not complicated.

We were exhausted hearing ourselves talk about how tired we were within the coffee industry and decided, collaboratively, to create a space doing what we want to do with hopes that others join in being excited about cooking coffee and cultivating community. We source Asian coffee, almost exclusively and take pride in being able to connect to our product and have moments where we can flip the script of what specialty Asian coffee looks like, and in turn, be able to show that we are not a monolith—and neither is coffee.

Tanbrown will be keeping us caffeinated throughout our time together. Learn more at tanbrown.coffee.

CoolCoolCool Productions

A majority black-owned business based out of Atlanta, Georgia, we pride ourselves in being able to create supremely entertaining content while also addressing important issues. We’ve produced comedic content about everything from voting rights to systemic racism and even a silly take on April Fool’s Day. We serve global leaders in business, social justice, public health, arts, and entertainment.

CoolCoolCool Productions will be taking video on Wednesday and Thursday. Learn more at www.coolcoolcoolpro.com.

Stephanie Howard Photography

Atlanta-based, specializing in documentary family photography and day-in-the-life sessions for families and businesses.

Stephanie will be taking photos on Wednesday and Thursday. Learn more at www.stephaniehoward.com.

In-Kind Supporters

Blick Art Materials

BLICK Art Materials is one of the largest providers of art supplies within the U.S. with over 90,000 items available online, in its catalog, and at its retail locations. We are lucky to have their support during Making the Impossible Possible! Learn more at www.dickblick.com.

Learn more about the Making the Impossible Possible convening

Making the Impossible Possible is a partnership between the Center for Artistic Activism’s Unstoppable Voters program, Fair Count, The Bakery, Young Black Lawyers’ Organizing Coalition (YBLOC), Democrasexy, Arena, PA Youth Vote, and Just Act.