Congresswoman Deb Haaland represents New Mexico and was elected in the 2018 blue wave that swept many new faces and progressive women into the U.S. House of Representatives. Haaland is one of the first two Native American women to be elected to Congress. She grew up in a military family; her father was a 30-year combat Marine who was awarded the Silver Star Medal for saving six lives during Vietnam, and her mother is a Navy veteran who was a federal employee for 25 years in Indian education. She knows the sacrifices made by military families because her family moved throughout the country during her father’s military service; as a result, she attended 13 different public schools.
As a single mother, she volunteered at her daughter's pre-school to afford an early childhood education. Like many New Mexicans, she had to rely on food stamps at times as a single parent, has lived paycheck-to-paycheck, and struggled to put herself through college. Through hard work and determination, she earned degrees from the University of New Mexico and UNM Law School. Congresswoman Haaland and her daughter, who recently graduated from the University of New Mexico, are still paying off student loans.
For several years, she ran her own small business producing and canning Pueblo Salsa and later became the first Chairwoman elected to the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors, overseeing business operations of the second largest tribal gaming enterprise in New Mexico. She successfully advocated for the Laguna Development Corporation to create policies and commitments to earth-friendly business practices. Haaland is a former tribal administrator and has administered a local service provider for adults with developmental disabilities.
She is a 35th generation New Mexican who is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna and has Jemez Pueblo heritage. After running for New Mexico Lieutenant Governor in 2014, Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected to lead a State Party. She used her experience reaching out to communities who are often forgotten during the electoral process during the two Obama presidential campaigns. During her time as State Party Chair, she traveled to Standing Rock to stand side-by-side with the community to protect tribal sovereignty and vital natural resources.
Starting in 2016, Haaland has served as an Honorary Commander of Kirtland Air Force Base which gives her a better understanding of its missions and effects on New Mexico’s economy. After a lifetime of organizing communities to stand up for New Mexico families, Congresswoman Deb Haaland was elected as one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress. She serves in leadership roles as the 116th Congress Freshman Class Representative to the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, House Democratic Region VI Whip, and Deputy Whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Source: house.gov
You can follow this impressive woman on Twitter @RepDebHaaland and on Instagram @repdebhaaland
Lydia Chávez is the founder and executive editor of Mission Local
Lydia Chávez is the founder and executive editor of Mission Local, a popular news site covering the Mission District in San Francisco. "Local news for a global city" is its perfect slogan and its influence expands far beyond the neighborhood. Chávez and her team of talented journalists cover the arts, politics, business, health and diverse cultures that make the Mission the heart of the city. Chávez started as a reporter for the Albuquerque Tribune, later moving on to Time magazine, Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, where she served as El Salvador and South American bureau chief. She is also an emeritus professor at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
In 2005, ChÌÁvez and her students collaborated to publish Capitalism, God and A Good Cigar: Cuba Enters the Twenty-First Century (Duke University Press). And in 1998, ChÌÁvez published The Color Bind: California’s Battle Against Affirmative Action, which won the Leonard Silk Award (UC Press). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Art History and a master’s degree in Art History from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. Follow her on Twitter at @LydiaChavezZ. Photo source: MissionLocal.org
Aimee Allison is a leader, author, champion, and expert on women of color in politics
Aimee Allison is the Founder of She the People
Aimee Allison is the Founder of She the People, the national network elevating the political voice and power of women of color. By bringing together the most promising women of color candidates, strategists, and movement leaders, Ms. Allison is one of the primary architects for the electoral successes in 2018 that made it the “year of women of color in politics.” In September 2018, she convened the first She the People Summit to focus on women of color in politics to show that social justice can, in fact, become the law of the land. (Seismic Sisters was there and the wrote our very first article about it!) A democratic innovator and visionary, Ms. Allison has led forums and initiatives on race and gender at the Democratic National Convention and Politicon, among others.
In conjunction with her leadership of She the People, Ms. Allison is the former President of Democracy in Color, dedicated to empowering the multiracial progressive electorate through media, public conversations, research and analysis. She has led national efforts to build inclusive, multiracial coalitions, expand the electorate, and support leaders who advocate for a progressive future. A thought leader, speaker and writer, Ms. Allison's acclaimed podcast, “Democracy in Color,” has featured some of the best and brightest political leadership, including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Congressman Ted Lieu, and Senator Cory Booker.
In the early 1990’s, Ms. Allison was one of the first women of color to be honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a conscientious objector and works today to support courageous, moral leadership. Aimee Allison holds a B.A. in history and M.A. in education from Stanford University. Author of Army of None, she has written for the New York Times, The Hill and ESSENCE Magazine. Follow her on Twitter @aimeeallison
Alice Wong. Photo credit: Eddie Hernandez Photography
Alice Wong, Founder of Disability Visibility Project, political activist and media maker
Alice Wong, Founder of Disability Visibility Project,
political activist and media maker
Alice Wong is a Bay Area activist, media maker, and consultant. She founded the Disability Visibility Project, an online community dedicated to creating, sharing and amplifying disability media and culture. Wong is also a co-partner in four projects: DisabledWriters.com with s.e. smith and Vilissa Thompson, a resource to help editors connect with disabled writers and journalists; #CripLit, a series of Twitter chats for disabled writers with novelist Nicola Griffith; #CripTheVote, a nonpartisan online movement encouraging the political participation of disabled people with co-partners Andrew Pulrang and Gregg Beratan; and Access Is Love with co-partners Mia Mingus and Sandy Ho, a campaign that aims to help build a world where accessibility is understood as an act of love instead of a burden or an afterthought.
Alice’s areas of interest are popular culture, media, politics, disability representation, Medicaid policies and programs, storytelling, social media, and activism. Her activism and work has been featured in the CNN original series United Shades of America (Season 3, Episode 4), WBUR, Wired, The Hill, Autostraddle, Werk It: The Podcast, WNYC, The Guardian, WAMU radio, Roll Call, WBUR radio, Al Jazeera, Teen Vogue, Bitch Media, Rewire, Vice, Esquire, CNET, and Buzzfeed.
For the latest news and updates, go to the In the News page and keep up with Alice Wong on Twitter: @SFdirewolf @DisVisibility Instagram: @disability_visibility and Email: DisabilityVisibilityProject@gmail.com
We have mad love and respect for Alice and you can learn more about her on our website at seismicsisters.com
Photo by Matt L. Wong
Carolyn Wysinger Author, Activist and Host of “The C-Dubb Show”
Carolyn Wysinger
Author, Activist and Host of “The C-Dubb Show”
Carolyn Wysinger has worked fiercely in the LGBTQ community for years, combining her media and political skills to great impact. As a blogger, she has written timely and insightful articles for sites such as Autostraddle, Everyday Feminism, Black Girl Dangerous and Media Diversified. Her first book, Knockturnal Emissions, was released in 2013 and has been listed on LGBTQ essential reading lists at several universities.
Her work has appeared in Sinister Wisdom Literary Journal, as well as anthologies Near Kin and Louisiana in Words. She has served on the executive boards of the NIA Gathering and the BUTCHVoices National Conference as well the steering committee for Black Lesbians United.
As an educator, Carolyn has taught English Literature as well as ASB Leadership. She was featured on Season 2 of HBO’s “Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas,” in USA Today for her work on Civil Rights, and in tech with social justice organizations like Color of Change.
Many people know her as a very big and very vocal LGBTQ social media personality and the host of “The C-Dubb Show.” Carolyn is currently serving her first term as Board President of San Francisco Pride. She also moderated this timely Commonwealth Club talk on May 29: “What Does Politics Demand of Black Women?” which was video-recorded is available for viewing. Follow Carolyn Wysinger @CDubbTheHost
Franceska Gamez : Muralist - Sculptor - Curator
Franceska Gamez
Muralist - Sculptor - Curator
“Franceska Gamez is a visual artist, born in Manila and raised in the Bay Area. Both cultures nurtured her identity and practice as the artist she is today. You can find her creating large-scale public murals, fully immersive installations, and detailed sculptures. Her work is characterized by an elegant blend of abstract and representational forms in which she tells stories, illuminating emotions that envelope them. Her practice in the arts has led to dynamic bouts in installation, carpentry, writing, curation, art conservation, and project management. Her mural work can be seen throughout California, the East Coast, overseas in Europe and Southeast Asia."
She is co-founder of 1810 Gallery and member of M5 Arts. Both organizations exist to advocate on behalf of working artists. She is a member of Trust Your Struggle, a collective of visual artists, educators, and cultural workers dedicated to social justice and community activism through art.
www.franceskagamez.comYou can also follow her work at @ewfrank
Dr. Sophia Yen: Physician at Stanford Children’s Hospital, Co-founder of SheHeroes and Pandia Health
Sophia is an Attending Physician at Stanford Children’s Health – Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, the founder of Trust Women Silver Ribbon Campaign, Cofounder of SheHeroes and the Chief Executive Officer and Cofounder of Pandia Health whose mission is to make women’s lives easier by bringing affordable birth control to women wherever they have internet and a mailbox.
Sophia has more than 20 years of experience in medicine and serves as a clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Stanford Medical School. She graduated from MIT, UCSF Medical School, and UC Berkeley with an MPH in Maternal Child Health. Sophia enjoys educating the public and other physicians about birth control, acne, weight management and other adolescent health issues. Dr. Yen lives in Sunnyvale and is the mom to two daughters.
Alexandria Noel Butler: Founder of Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech Creator of Unfiltered By Lexi B
Alexandria Noel Butler
Founder of Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech
Creator of Unfiltered By Lexi B
Born to a household of proud Black American parents of Southern heritage, Lexi B never knew exactly what she wanted to do but always knew that it would involve supporting Black women. In 2011 she graduated from Stanford University and started working as an Engineering Program Manager at NetApp. Lexi B was the only Black woman in her new college graduate program and the only Black woman in almost every project she managed. “It is difficult to learn your day job and succeed when there is no one that shares your identity in any capacity.”
In 2017, Lexi B founded Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech, a solidarity community for Black women in the tech industry, to fill her own need for understanding and visibility. The online community has over 5,600 members, partners with prominent tech companies to produce unique experiences, and produces an annual holiday gift guide for members to shop Black businesses during the winter holiday season. In her own words “Sista Circle: BWiT is the literal manifestation of revolution. I was tired of being the only one and I knew that we were out there. I just wanted us to know that we are our own s(heroes).”
When she is not community building or program managing for companies such as NetApp, Airbnb, and Facebook, she is keynote speaking about the importance of building a strong career foundation in the early stages of your professional growth. Lexi B has many passions and supports diverse endeavors, but there is one common thread - freedom fighting. “If it doesn’t smell like coconut oil and freedom fighting, I am not involved.”
Kim Christensen: Founder and Creative Force Behind Seismic Sisters Magazine
Meet Kim Christensen, the founder and creative force behind Seismic Sisters magazine, providing a fresh jolt of feminism for the San Francisco Bay Area. Kim has combined her love of journalism, politics and feminism to create a fresh new media platform. The result is Seismic Sisters, her brainchild and new business. Kim is part of a new wave of women who are building the infrastructure we need to shift power and make progress – to move our country forward, not backward. New media is a vital need and Seismic Sisters intends to be a player.
Kaylah Williams: Campaign Manager
Kaylah Williams – Campaign Manager
As a young campaign manager and flight attendant, Kaylah Williams’ career is taking off! After celebrating recent wins as Campaign Manager for Chesa Boudin for District Attorney and Alison Collins for School Board, she is now Campaign Lead for the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA. Williams volunteered for her first campaign at the age of 15, and since then she's been hooked. From high school to university she was active in local elections, voter registration drives, and student government organizations.
Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana and a Louisiana State University alumnus, Williams became a flight attendant in 2015 and moved the Bay Area. While working as a flight attendant, she got involved in local politics as a Paid Canvasser for Jane Kim for State Senate and Volunteer Director for Jane Kim for Mayor. She has been active in San Francisco's labor community, volunteering and interning with Unite HERE Local 2. Williams founded the San Francisco chapter of AfroSocialist and Socialists of Color Caucus. She is also on the executive board of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club.