Aber Kawas
Steering Committee Member, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Alisha Kohn
Co-Executive Director, Prisoners Brain Trust
Alma Salinas Guzman
Organizer, Alianza Agricola
Ashley Pallano
Founder, Westchester Justice for Families
Aber Kawas, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Aber Kawas is a Palestinian-American community organizer from Brooklyn, New York. After witnessing the effects of unjust War on Terror policies targeting close friends and family members, Aber has been organizing with the Arab and Muslim communities in New York City around issues such as police surveillance, racial profiling, and immigrant rights.
Alisha Kohn, Prisoners Brain Trust
Alisha Kohn is a community organizer and co-founder of the Prisoners’ Brain Trust, an inside-out-led organization advancing the leadership and voices of incarcerated people. She has spent over a decade working on criminal justice reform campaigns across New York State, including efforts to repeal the felony murder law and protect trans prisoners. Formerly incarcerated herself, Alisha draws on lived experience to inform her advocacy, policy work, and public education efforts. She is based in the Hudson Valley and remains deeply committed to building power with and for those most impacted by the carceral system.
Alma Salinas Guzman, Alianza Agricola
I’m a community organizer with Alianza Agrícola, dedicated to supporting and advocating for the immigrant community. I’m passionate about building relationships, creating spaces for education, and empowering others to take action. I love summer, warm weather, and taking care of plants. Family time is one of the things I value most.
Ashley Pallano, Westchester Justice for Families
Ashley Pallano is the founder of Westchester Justice for Families, a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting parental rights and keeping families together. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, she has led protests and rallies to demand accountability and justice while developing the Parent Empowerment and Advocacy Program to equip families with the tools to fight for reunification and systemic change. Ashley combines lived experience with strategic leadership to drive reform and amplify the voices of parents across Westchester and beyond.
Brandy Cooper
Reimagine Fellow, Hope585
Brittan Hardgers
Founder, Next Generation Men of Transition
Brittany McCoy
Managing Director of Policy, Bronx Defenders
Chase Louden
Food Access Program Director, Southside United – Los Sures
Brandy Cooper, Hope585
Brandy Cooper is a passionate advocate, who is committed to reimagining systems of care and accountability for families and communities. As Reimagine Fellow at HOPE585, she leads campaigns to transform child welfare practices, centering the voices of those most impacted. Brandy brings lived experience and a deep commitment to equity, healing, and community-rooted solutions. She is currently pursuing her J.D. at Syracuse University College of Law.
Brittan Hardgers, Next Generation Men of Transition
Brittan Hardgers is a nationally recognized advocate for the Trans Masculine community and a powerful voice in LGBTQ+ rights, centering Black, Brown, and migrant communities across New York State. In 2021, Brittan became the first openly Black Transgender candidate for City Council in Western New York (Rochester), championing justice, visibility, and safety for all.
In 2018, Brittan founded Next Generation Men of Transition (NGMT) to provide support, mutual aid, and advocacy for Trans Masculine individuals. The organization remains committed to uplifting those most impacted by injustice through housing, reentry, name change support, and emergency care.
As Director of Advocacy & Community Engagement at the New Pride Agenda, Brittan leads legislative work advancing protections like the New York Equal Rights Amendment (Prop-1), GIRDS, and the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), Good Cause Eviction, Daniel’s Law and many more.
Brittan is also the self-published author of the “Uniquely Made By You” Affirmation Journal, a guided reflection tool created to help readers affirm their resilience, process their past, and boldly claim their future.
They have spoken at Emory University, GEVA Theatre, and the Black Trans Advocacy Conference (2024 keynote), and produced the award-winning documentary “Remember Me Now” for Trans Day of Remembrance. Brittan also organizes annual Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Day of Remembrance events across Western New York.
Brittany McCoy, Bronx Defenders
Brittany McCoy is the Managing Director of Policy at The Bronx Defenders where she leads a holistic policy team that works across the criminal, family, immigration and civil legal systems to challenge criminalization, decarcerate communities and invest in those most directly impacted by systemic injustice. A proud Bronx native, Brittany brings over a decade of experience in government and legal advocacy. Her work is grounded in the belief that lived experience is expertise and that policy must be shaped by those that have been historically excluded from power.
Chase Louden, Southside United - Los Sures
I earned an MS in Design and Urban Ecologies from the Parsons School of Design, New York, and a BA in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. I developed an interest in community planning with a focus on assisting in the creation of new forms of infrastructure, which includes working to make New York City more food-secure through researching food sovereignty, mutual aid and co-working with urban agriculture practitioners. I also have an interest in building a sustainable economy based on regionally available materials and circularity. I am the Food Access Program Director at Southside United. In my position, I focus on improving food equity in North Brooklyn, as well as working on various initiatives to build resilient communities, and organizing for the liberation of marginalized groups in New York, and across the globe.
Ericka Brewington
Client Advocate, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
Etsio Flores
Civil Rights & Immigration Organizer, Make the Road NY
Gwen Phagnasay Le
Youth Organizer, Minkwon Center for Community Action
Jibreel Jalloh
Founder, The Flossy Organization
Ericka Brewington, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
As an African American mother of four, I’ve personally experienced the profound impact of the family policing system. This journey ignited my passion to become an advocate for parents facing similar challenges. I actively contribute to systemic change through my involvement on the committee for the Maternal Health, Dignity & Consent Act and the steering committee for community engagement. My work is dedicated to empowering families and fostering a more just and equitable system.
Etsio Flores, Make the Road NY
Etsio Flores is a Civil Rights and Immigration Organizer with Make the Road New York. He educates and empowers the community against civil and humanitarian issues such as work place injustice or federal immigration enforcement, emphasizing the fear and challenges immigrant families face. Through “Know Your Rights” trainings and advocacy, he helps empower immigrant communities to protect themselves and understand their legal options. His work centers on building collective action to push for humane immigration policies and stronger community protections.
Gwen Phagnasay Le, Minkwon Center for Community Action
Gwen Phagnasay Le (she/they/he) is the Youth Organizer at the MinKwon Center for Community Action with roots in Fresno, California. In addition to coordinating and supervising all youth programming building at the center, they also co-lead the Queens Tenants’ Coalition (QTC), a grass-roots community space dedicated to building tenant power and upholding that housing is, in fact, a human right. By creating safe community spaces, embracing democratic making, and providing progressive political education and a dialectical materialist approach to understanding one’s place in the world, Gwen hopes to empower marginalized people to become empathetic and impactful leaders in their own communities.
Gwen is also a musician, filmmaker, and theatermaker who views art as a political process with a focus on highlighting the experiences of queer people of color; a researcher and advocate in the field of transitional justice and reparations; and a recent graduate from Stanford University with a degree in International Relations and Human Rights. Through their work, Gwen seeks to uphold the legacy of their Lao and Vietnamese ancestors in resisting the united systems that oppress us and building a more just and loving world.
Jibreel Jalloh, The Flossy Organization
Jibreel Jalloh is a grassroots organizer and the Founder of The Flossy, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit closing the advocacy gap through intergenerational civics training and community-led campaigns. Raised in Canarsie, Jibreel mobilized his neighbors to secure $1.6 million for gun violence prevention after the area was excluded from citywide safety programs. Through The Flossy, he leads targeted campaigns—like bringing ferry access and a community center to Canarsie—while equipping youth and elders alike with the skills to drive local policy change. His work builds a replicable model of neighborhood power rooted in listening, organizing, and action.
Julian Mangano
NY Policy Manager, American Farmland Trust
Kevin Duarte Chon
Grassroots Advocacy Specialist, Community Resource Center
Kiana Bierria-Anderson
Board Chair, Long Island Progressive Coalition
Marcus Johnson
Manager of Advocacy Programs & Initiatives, Independence Care System
Julian Mangano, American Farmland Trust
Julian Mangano, originally from Painesville, Ohio, began his journey in New York City working in youth programming and project management before discovering a deep connection to agriculture through community gardens in the Bronx. His passion for farming was cultivated through GrowNYC’s Farm Beginnings program and Farm School NYC, leading him to pursue farming full-time in 2016. Since then, Julian has actively contributed to numerous agricultural and food policy initiatives, serving on committees such as the New York Farm Service Agency State Committee, USDA Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers, National Young Farmers Coalition Land Advocacy Fellowship, and the Jefferson County Food Policy Council. He now serves as the New York Policy Manager for American Farmland Trust, where he works to advance policies that protect farmland and strengthen local food systems across the state.
Kevin Duarte Chon, Community Resource Center
Kevin arrived in the USA at age 5, coming from Guatemala with family in order to find opportunities and success. Kevin graduated from the New School in NYC as bachelor of History, and since 2009 has participated in justice and activism work. Currently Kevin is lwith the Community Resource Center in Mamaroneck, NY working as the Grassroots Advocacy Specialist in order to helping the local neighbors achieve visibility in Albany and individual empowerment.
Kiana Bierria-Anderson, Long Island Progressive Coalition
Kiana Bierria-Anderson is a lifelong activist and organizer fighting for economic, racial, and social justice. A lifelong resident from Long Island, she’s dedicated her career to building power for marginalized communities and challenging systems of oppression. She has a proven track record of success in both electoral and movement politics. Kiana has designed and implemented groundbreaking training programs focused on race and gender issues, helping candidates and organizations build resilience and authenticity in their campaigns.
Marcus Johnson, Independence Care System
Marcus D. Johnson is the Manager of Advocacy Programs and Initiatives at Independence Care System (ICS) and co-leader of the Civics League for Disability Rights (CLDR). With over 25 years of experience as a counselor, therapist, mediator, and advocate, he has dedicated his career to advancing the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Marcus also serves as a lecturer at Yale University, where he helps develop innovative technology to empower individuals with physical disabilities. His advocacy is shaped by lived experience, having sustained a spinal cord injury during his studies at The Juilliard School, and later earning multiple degrees from New York University and Fordham University. Recognized with the Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, Marcus continues to lead efforts to create equitable, accessible communities through collaboration, education, and direct action.
Melissa Olivar
Education & Organizing Coordinator, Association for Energy Affordability
Múle Herrera Cedillos
Community Advocate, Mixteca
Nabiha Nasir
Tenant Organizer, Chhaya CDC
Omar Saldivar
Welcoming Navigator & Organizer, Justice for Migrant Families
Melissa Olivar, Association for Energy Affordability
Melissa is committed to bringing more diverse voices, especially young people into climate discussions. Drawing on her language skills, she ensures communities from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds can access vital local information and advocate for a sustainable future. Her passion is rooted in her family’s experience with climate impacts in southern Mexico and early lessons in activism from her parents.
Múle Herrera Cedillos
Múle Herrera, is a queer Latina migrant originally from Veracruz, Mexico. Although she holds a degree in journalism, her commitment to her community led her to become a dedicated Community Advocate. She currently works at Mixteca Org, supporting and organizing alongside the Latinx community in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Nabiha Nasir, Chhaya CDC
Nabiha Nasir is a Tenant Organizer at Chhaya CDC. Prior to joining Chhaya, she worked on transportation advocacy and street safety initiatives in New York City. Driven by her passion for racial justice and its intersection with urban issues, she now organizes tenants to advocate for improved living conditions in their buildings and to push for broader housing reform across the city.
Omar Saldivar, Justice for Migrant Families
Hi everyone, my name is Omar Saldivar. I have been an organizer for close to two years now with my organization “Justice for Migrant Families” over in Buffalo WNY. I have learned a lot within this short time and look forward to learning more about the world of organizing.
There is a quote that I heard a while back that deeply moved me when I was still in high school and it goes – “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” – Fredrick Douglass
Tiffany Munroe
Trans Justice Manager, Caribbean Equality Project
Veronica Carrer
Reentry Recovery Advocate & Social Worker, New Hour
Tiffany Munroe, Caribbean Equality Project
Tiffany Jade Munroe (she/her) is a Black Trans woman from Guyana. After experiencing homelessness and years of emotional and physical violence, she emigrated to New York City when her parents abandoned her. As an immigrant and a Trans woman, Tiffany struggled to navigate and access healthcare and immigration services until she was connected with the Caribbean Equality Project (CEP).
Tiffany is the Caribbean Equality Project’s Trans Justice Coordinator, organizing trans-focused community events, programming, and actions. She supports the organization’s Food Justice program by volunteering at its monthly pop-up food pantries, which provide LGBTQ+ people, immigrant families, seniors, single-parent households, and HIV-impacted people with culturally-responsive groceries and fresh produce. When the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement collided, Tiffany amplified her advocacy for Black Trans rights, immigration reform, protections for asylum seekers, and civic engagement.
Tiffany’s advocacy for Trans women, sex workers, and gender-expansive people has been fearless. Her visibility at the 2020 Brooklyn Trans Liberation Rally and March was featured in The New York Times and Teen Vogue. She testified at the New York State Assembly hearing in 2021 to repeal the “Walking While Trans Ban.”
Veronica Carrer, New Hour for Women and Children - Long Island
Veronica is a proud single mother of two toddlers and a formerly incarcerated individual who recently graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University. She now serves as a recovery advocate and social worker, passionately supporting justice-impacted women, children, and families across Long Island. Her lived experience fuels her commitment to equity, healing, and systemic change.