Our 8th annual New Media BootCamp begins Sunday, June 8th. 43 participants from across the country will gather in DC for a life-changing week of training, campaigning, and community-building.
Meet this year's BootCamp class:
Jamila Brown
As a digital Blatina, I'm so grateful to social media for allowing me to connect with grassroots activists and movements around the world. I'm passionate about racial justice, gender justice, human rights and how equality can advance in digital spaces. Presently, I work as the Digital Engagement Manager for the global digital rights organization Access.
Erick Garcia
Undocumented/DACA Recipient and Computer Engineer. I live in Arizona and I don't plan to move from here.
Eduardo Saiz
Dreamer fighting for immigrants rights, social and economic justice for the immigrant community.
Juan Carlos Soriano
Juan, a Peruvian citizen, joined 350.org in 2011 and is the Latin American Coordinator. Juan coordinates regional campaigns, leads communications in Spanish, and organizes with our allies and volunteers. He also serves as a volunteer 'Next Generation' board member for Global Greengrants Fund. Juan is a strong advocate for grassroots work on social and environmental issues. When he is not helping build a movement to solve the climate crisis, he is either biking or playing soccer.
Tabatha Fulker
I work for ACF, Australia's largest environmental not for profit, running their digital engagement program. I worked for years as a professional journalist in daily print newsrooms until I saw an opportunity to combine environmental and social advocacy with my language, narrative and media skills, and I moved across into the not for profit sector.
Yasemin Ayarci
I am a recent college graduate from the George Washington University, where I majored in Political Science and minored in Women’s Studies and History. During my time in undergrad, I formed the largest progressive organization on campus and worked to engage GW students in the greater DC community and organize their power and ideas for change. My political interests revolve around labor issues and exploring the exploitation of labor within the workplace, household, and prison system. I am lover of chocolate chip cookies and try to keep an active lifestyle (cause of all the cookies).
Reuben Hayslett
Reuben earned his MFA in Creative Writing from Fairfield University. He's always been torn between his passion for telling stories and fighting for social/economic justice. At Working Families as the National Online Campaigns Manager, Reuben has finally found a happy medium.
Tiffany Dena Loftin
Born in Los Angeles raised in New Orleans. Banana Slug Alumni, former President of US Student Association, former PowerShift Coordinator, current DC Ambassador for the Dream Defenders and Digital Strategist for American Federation of Teachers.
Andrae McGary
In 2009, Andrae was elected to the Chattanooga City Council as the 8th District representative, becoming the youngest person ever to hold a local office in Chattanooga. In May 2010, Andrae became the first African-American full-time talk show radio host of “Live and Local” which airs on WGOW 102.3FM. After finishing his term on Council, Andrae launched the political consulting firm Black Jacket Agency 2013. He has received the National Association of Social Workers Public Official Award in 2009 in addition to being named in Chatter’s Magazine’s “20 Under 40” List in 2010.
Donya Khalili
I am the director of the SpendingWorks project of We the People, and organization dedicated to educating Americans about the vital role that the federal government plays in our lives and changing the messaging around government. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and Yale College, I was a member of the Booker for Senate policy team in 2013.
Natasha Smith
BA in political science from Columbia University. I went to law school at Wake Forest University. I've been involved in politics since I was a small child.
Ismael Melendez
Social media enthusiast. Computer science student at UTPA located in the Texas-Mexico border. Active in university and community organizations.
Tracy Silveria
I'm a native Californian, started photographing in junior high and decided to pursue photo journalism when I found out i could get paid for taking photos. Highlight of my journalism career was being a photo editor for the Los Angeles Times, until iIwas made redundant during one of the last rounds of layoffs in 2009. facing mid-life -- i've had to reinvent myself and expand my knowledge of graphics and web and all things new media. I currently work as a communications specialist for a union that represents public service workers in southern california. While I am still passionate about photography, and have learned that sometimes you have to be thankful to have worked in a career that you loved, but embrace the challenges of moving forward. I live with my Kiwi partner of 15 years and two three-year-old cats that think they own the house.
Audine Tayag
Hi, I'm Audine -- currently working on immigration reform campaign, former NOI fellow, and and D.C. transplant from LA.
Eartha Terrell
Amber Phillips
Amber J. Phillips, Manager, Campus Organizing, inspires and mobilizes young activists as they fight for sexual health awareness, LGBTQ rights, gender equality, and ending the stigma around abortion. Amber is a lead coordinator of on-the-ground efforts such as the 1 in 3 Week of Action, #Vision4SexEd and the 1 in 3 Week of Artivism and conducts trainings at national conferences. Amber supports dozens of sexual health and reproductive rights organizers throughout the year and has also influenced viral messaging content for Advocates’ Don’t Be Triched campaign and the 1 in 3 Campaign Valentines. Prior to joining Advocates, Amber trained organizers, developed leaders, and created civic engagement field plans for the Bus Project and Young People For. She attended Chatham College for Women in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she earned her Bachelor’s of Social Work and Cultural Studies with a concentration in African-American Studies.
Kristopher Banks
I am a native of Detroit, MI. While at WMU I became extremely involved in campus life and became Homecoming Coordinator after only being at the university 4 months. Later I went on to serve in many capacities on campus including: student government, college democrats, pre-law society, and orientation student leader. I earned a BA in Public Relations from WMU in Spring of 2011. While at WMU I worked with the college democrats to assist with the Kalamazoo equal rights ordinance. In 2011, I interned with the Michigan Democratic Party and it further solidified my interest in working in Democratic politics and for progressive causes. I have a strong passion for Detroit, social equity, and access to quality education.
Priscilla Cheng
Priscilla Cheng currently works as the Communications Director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. She previously served as the Federation’s Economic Development Director and political organizer working on various policy and political campaigns to elect a voice for working families. She is an AmeriCorp alum and graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Born and raised in Los Angeles, she believes that no breadwinner should be destined to raise their family in poverty.When she’s not working, Priscilla loves basking on the beach, eating French fries, and planning her next adventure with friends.
Tejal Mankad
Tejal is a Community Advocate and Communications Associate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice -- Asian Law Caucus in the Criminal Justice Reform Program and Communications Team. Tejal is working on disentangling local law enforcement from ICE through providing policy implementation and advocacy support on the TRUST Act, reducing the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system on people of color through advocating alternatives to incarceration and policing, and increasing strategic communications capacities. Originally from East Coast, Tejal moved to the Bay Area one year ago after graduating from Smith College with a B.A. in Government and Film Studies.
Linda Benesch
Linda Benesch is currently the Communications Associate at Social Security Works, an organization fighting to protect and expand the Social Security system. In that capacity she helps to plan and implement SSW's social media strategy and assists in the production and promotion of The Zero Hour, the radio show that the organization sponsors. Before starting at SSW last October, she interned at a variety of progressive organizations including the Center for American Progress, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and the Alliance for Retired Americans.
Gabriella Landeros
Currently, Gabriella is a Digital Strategy Associate with New Partners, where she develops original digital content for various candidates and organizations. Recently, she was a Communications Associate with the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) and served as Deputy Communications Director and a Field Organizing Fellow for the Emanuel Pleitez mayoral campaign in Los Angeles. Her duties ranged from speech writing to managing digital media. Her past experiences include reporting for the Talk Radio News Service, KUCR 88.3 FM, News at UCR: The Virtual Newspaper and Uwire.com: The College Network. In addition, Gabriella is a freelance reporter for the Independent Voter Network and a contributing writer for Latinitas Magazine. Gabriella grew up in South El Monte, California and holds a B.A. in Media and Cultural Studies from the University of California, Riverside.
J.C. Kibbey
JC Kibbey is a public policy researcher with SEIU Local 1 and an active volunteer organizer with the Sierra Club. He recently completed his master's in public policy and administration from Northwestern University, and his thesis on climate change advocacy received the 2014 Distinguished Thesis Award. He likes acting, reading, coffee, and biking.
Jose Torres-Don
I live and work in Texas. I have been involved in organizing within the immigrant rights movement since 2008 while in college and helped with efforts to push the dream act in 2010. While living in North Carolina, I joined the NC DREAM Team and was involved in organizing to help stop individual deportations. I am originally from Mexico. I moved to the US at age four. I currently have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and am looking forward for the training so I can gain some good skills and hopefully find interesting and challenging ways to apply those.
Mary Jo Shannon
30 plus years in social change arena. Last 8 with AFT. I live in Seattle.
Richelle Flore
Richelle is a campaign director for the American Federation of Teachers, overseeing a city-wide adjunct organizing campaign in Philadelphia PA. She lives in Philly, enjoys cooking, avoiding driving when possible and cursing as much as possible.
Reese Rathjen
Reese Rathjen is an experienced organizer and political strategist who has led campaigns in both the Labor and LGBTQ movements. Reese discovered his passion for persuading moderates on issues of social and economic justice while growing up in rural Illinois. His experiences coming of age as a transgender person in a conservative, working class community drive him to meet people where they are and bring them along in his work. Reese is passionate about deepening the consciousness of and commitment to racial and economic justice in our social justice movements, and he is currently looking for opportunities to advance this mission in both the LGBTQ and Labor movements. Outside of organizing, Reese spends his time cooking, engineering new cocktail recipes, and building and refinishing furniture.
Anna Lopez
After earning my B.S. in Biological Sciences, I joined Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc.'s Education Department. After serving as an educator and coordinator for seven and a half years, I now serve as the affiliate's Community Engagement and Communications Manager. In this dual public affairs and education role, I support the implementation of strategic priorities in the areas of: grassroots advocacy, public policy, legislation, and voter and community education, as they relate to reproductive health care, sexual health and health care reform in Ventura County. I use various online supporter engagement tools to educate and mobilize activists and supporters about issues relating to delivery and access to reproductive health care services and comprehensive sexuality health education.
Liz Hosmer
Hi! My name is Liz and I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I recently graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelors of Science in Human Services and a minor in American Studies. I am currently a Public Affairs Specialist at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. While working in Public Affairs I have had the opportunity to do grassroots work for local campaigns in LA, as well as out of state. I was fortunate enough to travel to Texas last summer for the Stand with Texas Women campaign, a movement started after Senator Wendy Davis stood for 11 hours to filibuster a harmful bill in the Texas legislature that would, if fully implemented, shut down all but 5 abortion providers in the entire state of Texas. I also do community outreach, communications, and social media work (among many other things) for Planned Parenthood LA, and in my free time I volunteer for OC Cavy Haven, a guinea pig rescue organization (guinea pigs need rescuing too). I have a passion for social justice, live music, ice cream, and all things Harry Potter, and I cannot wait to learn everything I can at BootCamp!
Annie Cromwell
I'm 24 and have been working in communications and new media for a little over a year. I've just begun at Advocates for Youth this month Prior to this, I worked at the Consumer Federation of America, working as a Communications Associate, responsible for social media, email communications, blogging/blogger outreach, and website maintenance.
Anay Bickham
I am from Phoenix Arizona, with southern roots in Louisiana. I am passionate about increasing community organizing efforts among black people in the Southwest, particularly building a stronger relationship between U.S. black and black immigrants by also raising awareness on the mass incarceration and deportation of black people as well as ending the school to prison pipeline system. I am an academic for life and continue to follow a black feminist consciousness perspective.
Misha Cornelius
Misha is a graduate of the Political Science department at San Francisco State University (SFSU). On campus, Misha was dedicated to organizing students and faculty in her department, and served as the editor-in-chief of a student-run publication titled Politics by the Hour. In the early part of 2010, Misha joined BOP as one of the founding members. Her passion for journalism and story telling led Misha to focus on developing the organization’s print communications by creating the Black Organizing Project’s Our Story newsletter, to document BOP news and events, as well as the captivating stories that BOP members and the community had to share. Today, Misha is inspired by the powerful role that journalism and mass-media have played in highlighting social movements throughout history, specifically during the civil-rights era, and aspires to empower Black communities by using old and new forms of media to share their stories.
Carlos Fernandez
I've lived in Chicago most of my 41 years. I started my career as an organizer about 14 years ago, at first on environmental justice issues. I started organizing charter schools with AFT 4 years ago. I love this work but also make time for some soccer and hiking.
Valerie Gurr-Ovalle
My name is Valeria Gurr-Ovalle I was born and raised in Chile and recently graduated with a masters degree in journalism and media studies. With nearly 5 years of experience in the field of Public Relations, I have built a very diverse list of skills and experiences ranging from digital and social media, community relations, strategy development, graphic design, news media, and small business marketing. I’ve demonstrated my expertise at large events such as the Latin Grammy Awards as a multi-lingual Social Media Coordinator, and at the Mayweather vs. Guerrero boxing as an assistant to an award-winning photographer for the Associated Press. Being fluent in both English and Spanish, I have extensive experience with editing and translating content in both languages. My passion lies in the field of Communication as I thrive on challenges that allow me to impact and influence different cultures.
Kevin Banatte
I was raised in south Florida. I studied black psychology at Florida A&M University. I'm dedicated to racial justice and the overall rights of all people. I'm most happy when my creativity is flourishing its way with life.
Calvin Kasulke
Calvin Kasulke is a writer, filmmaker, transsexual, and very powerful warlock. He has written for Buzzfeed and Vice.com, written and produced a musical and several local access TV shows, and manages new media for Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes.
Juliann Dinicola
Juliann DiNicola is a digital organizer at Freedom to Marry. Her past work was for GLSEN, Girls INC. and the YWCA. She loves her chihuahua, Brooklyn, the internet, and Bates Motel.
Karli Wallace
OFA Ohio 2008 field alum. Western Wisconsin organizer for Russ Feingold in 2010. Veteran of the labor uprising sparked by Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting Act 10 legislation and the recall elections that followed. Now, I'm a digital organizer working on issue advocacy campaigns for Democracy for America.
Chris Meacham
I'm from Portland, Oregon. I work for Compassion & Choices, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving care and expanding choice at the end of life. We are particularly geared towards, and known for, our efforts to extend the reach of death with dignity laws across the nation. I am a dog lover, a sports fan (go Trail Blazers), a foodie and former pro cook, a music addict, a progressive. I'm not married, no kids. I love to travel, especially to Hawaii. I'm a veteran. I'm just generally a nice, engaged and thoughtful person and I look forward to the challenge of Bootcamp!
Steven Pargett
Steven Pargett has served as the Communications Co-Director of Dream Defenders since 2012. Steven is a native of Los Angeles, California and currently resides to Miami, Florida. Since 2008, Steven has helped to organize youth voter turnout and civic engagement in Black and Brown and Millenial Communities in each election -- participating in each election as an independent working to build independent political power for communities who have insufficient voice in the current political environment. Steven is obsessed with bridging the gap between popular culture and the movement and subsequently popping the progressive bubble and is a complete nerd about the evolution of technology and theory on humanity.