Imagine and Act: NCG's 2024 Annual Conference

Aimee Allison is a writer, democratic innovator, and visionary champion of racial and gender justice. She is the Founder and President of She the People, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to an America redefined and inspired by women of color.

Renowned for her national efforts to build inclusive, multiracial coalitions, Allison organized and moderated the nation’s first presidential forum for women of color, attended by Presidential candidates and more than 1000 women from across the country, garnering major national press.

At She the People, Allison leverages media, research and analysis to show the power of the women of color electorate, increase voter engagement, and advocate for racial, economic and gender justice. In her writings in The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, and Essence Magazine, Allison has made the definitive case that women of color are the saving graces of our American democracy.

Her early experience growing up in a multiracial family and searching for belonging in mostly white communities honed her ability to build bridges with others often marginalized and dismissed. Her work is firmly grounded in finding shared history and a common vision to create new political and cultural pathways to change.

Allison holds a B.A. in History and M.A in Education from Stanford University. In the early 1990’s, Allison earned a rare honorable discharge from the U.S. Army as a conscientious objector, launching 30 years of efforts to build communities and launch campaigns grounded in love, justice, and belonging. She is at work on several groundbreaking media projects highlighting the legacy and history-making impact of women of color as the vanguards for multiracial solidarity and democracy.

And as she told Diablo Magazine recently, her belief in multiracial democracy [is] “my whole life’s work. … I have stepped into a very powerful legacy and will do my part to prepare the next generation.”

Fred Blackwell is CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the country. San Francisco Foundation works with donors, community leaders, and public and private partners to create thriving communities throughout the Bay Area. Since joining the foundation in 2014, Blackwell has renewed its commitment to social justice through an equity agenda focused on racial and economic inclusion.

Blackwell is a recognized community leader with a longstanding career in the Bay Area. Before joining the foundation, he served as interim city administrator for City of Oakland, where he previously served as assistant city administrator. He was executive director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and director of the SF Mayor’s Office of Community Development; he served as director of the Making Connections Initiative for the Annie E. Casey Foundation in the Lower San Antonio neighborhood of Oakland; he was a Multicultural Fellow in Neighborhood and Community Development at San Francisco Foundation; and he subsequently managed a multiyear comprehensive community initiative for San Francisco Foundation in West Oakland.

Blackwell serves on the board of Independent Sector, Bridgespan Group, and Dean’s advisory council for UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design. He previously served on the San Francisco Federal Reserve community advisory council, California Redevelopment Association, Urban Habitat Program, NCG, and LeaderSpring boards. He is a visiting professor in the City and Regional Planning Department at UC Berkeley. He holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning from UC Berkeley and Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies from Morehouse College.

Malkia Devich-Cyril is an activist, writer and public speaker on issues of digital rights, narrative power, Black liberation and collective grief. Devich-Cyril is also the founding and former Executive Director of MediaJustice — a national hub boldly advancing racial justice, rights and dignity in a digital age. After more than 10 years of organizational leadership, Devich-Cyril now serves as a Senior Fellow at MediaJustice and is a contributing writer to various publications including The Atlantic, Wired Magazine, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, Truthout and We Will Not Cancel Us — a book by adrienne maree brown, among others.

In 2002, Malkia Devich Cyril helped coin the term “Media Justice”, and in 2019 declared that one significant goal of the Media Justice movement was to “fight for a future where we are all connected, represented and free.”

For more than 20 years, Devich-Cyril has championed the media and technology rights of communities of color and other under-represented groups to demand and win equity in a digital age. Devich-Cyril remains a veteran leader in the movement for digital rights and freedom, and in the movement for Black lives.

Devich-Cyril is regularly a featured speaker on issues of media, technology, and race, and has appeared in publications like Politico, Motherboard, Essence Magazine, and three documentary films including the Oscar nominated 13TH, directed by Ava DuVernay. Devich-Cyril is a recipient of the 2012 Donald H. McGannon Award for work to advance the roles of women and people of color in the media reform movement, a 2013 Prime Movers fellow, winner of the 2015 Hugh Hefner 1st Amendment Award for framing net neutrality as a civil rights issue, winner of the 2016 Electronic Frontier Pioneer award, a YBCA 100 honoree, a 2017 Root 100 honoree, and a 2020 Good Morning America Black Inspiration honoree.

As the newly widowed spouse of comedian and editor Alana Devich-Cyril, who died following an intense two year battle with advanced cancer, Malkia Devich-Cyril now works to transform the public narrative on grief and equity in America.

As Co-Executive Director of Justice Funders, Dana Kawaoka-Chen partners and guides philanthropy in reimagining practices that advance a thriving and just world.  Dana leads with vision and is guided by relationships.  As a practitioner, Dana co-authored the “The Choir Book: A Framework for Social Justice Philanthropy,” and was a primary contributor to “Resonance: A Framework for Philanthropic Transformation.”  You can find her writing on a Just Transition for Philanthropy in Medium.

As founding Executive Director of Justice Funders, Dana grew the organization by aligning its strategy to the visions of movements working for racial, economic and social justice.  Dana’s leadership in facilitating a Just Transition for philanthropy by redistributing wealth, democratizing power and shifting economic control to communities has resulted in millions of philanthropic dollars being mobilized and aligned to build infrastructure for frontline communities to govern themselves.  For her work advocating for deeper investments in social movements and grassroots organizing, Dana was recognized by Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) in 2015 as one of twenty-five national “Leaders in Action.”

Dana has previously served in executive functions for two other non-profit organizations.  She has a Masters of Science degree in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco, Bachelor of Arts degrees in American Studies and Visual Art from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and Non-Profit Management Certification from San Jose State University.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Dana currently lives in San Jose with her family.

Daniel is working towards a world where socioeconomic demographics do not determine life outcomes and where all people have their needs met. A child of Chinese immigrant food service workers, Daniel grew up working class, acutely aware of the socioeconomic inequities he saw within his community. His lived experiences stewarded the morals that he holds close – justice, empathy, and a sense of humanity for all people.

As the Initiative Officer for the Democracy Frontlines Fund (DFF), Daniel manages all aspects of the Fund including grantmaking, donor organizing, curriculum development, and communications. He approaches his work with vulnerability, deep listening, and humor, and his favorite parts of his role are amplifying DFF’s movement partners and supporting funder allies to be and do better.

Previously, Daniel worked with Northern California Grantmakers, managing programs focused on advancing racial equity and leadership in the philanthropic community. Before NCG, he focused on health equity by supporting cross-sector collaboration among community developers and health practitioners at the Public Health Institute. He worked in asset building and economic development at Mission Asset Fund and led the expansion of the Lending Circles social loan program.

Daniel is an alumnus of Justice Funders’ Harmony Initiative and the Congressional Hunger Center’s Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship. He is a former steering committee member of the EPIP Bay Area chapter and the API Giving Project giving circle. Daniel holds a BS in Human Biology from UC San Diego (his hometown) and an MPH from Boston University.

Camille Llanes-Fontanilla is the Vice President of Silicon Valley Programs, responsible for the overarching vision and strategy for local giving across the Silicon Valley region. By developing trusted relationships with local nonprofits and uniting key stakeholders toward collective, community-centered action, the team will expand economic mobility for low-income individuals in the region.

Camille has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years, working in the issue areas of community development, education, and economic mobility. Prior to joining The Sobrato Organization, she served as the Executive Director of SOMOS Mayfair, working alongside community members to spur resident-led solutions in education, economic justice, and community development. During her tenure, Camille led sizable organizational growth; built deep community partnerships; and brought over $30M of investments into east San Jose. Camille serves on the Board of Trustees for The Health Trust; is an Advisory SPUR San Jose member; and is a founding member of the Si Se Puede Collective.

Camille was born and raised in east San Jose and continues to raise two young children there with her husband, Ryan. She has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree in Public Administration from San Jose State University.

Maurice Mitchell is a nationally recognized social movement strategist, a visionary leader in the Movement for Black Lives, and National Director of the Working Families Party.

Born and raised in New York to Caribbean working-class parents, Maurice began organizing as a teenager—and never stopped. As a high school student, he served as a leader for the Long Island Student Coalition for Peace and Justice. At Howard University, after a classmate was killed by police officers, Maurice led organizing efforts against police brutality and for divestment from private prisons. He went on to work as an organizer for the Long Island Progressive Coalition, downstate organizing director for Citizen Action of NY, and Director of the NY State Civic Engagement Table.

Two tragedies changed the course of Maurice’s life. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy destroyed his home in Long Beach, NY, and left him living in hotels for months. Eighteen months later, after Mike Brown was killed by police in Missouri, Maurice relocated to Ferguson to support organizers on the ground. Seeing the need for an anchor organization to provide strategic support and guidance to Movement for Black Lives activists across the country, he co-founded and managed Blackbird. Maurice was a key organizer of the Movement for Black Lives convention in Cleveland in 2015.

In 2018, Maurice took the helm of the Working Families Party as National Director where he is applying his passion and experience to make WFP the political home for a multi-racial working-class movement.

Mateo is one of the co-founders of the Movement Generation Justice & Ecology Project. He was born and grew up in La Paz, Bolivia. Since moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, he has worked in the labor, environmental justice and international solidarity movements.

Mateo is the son of Barbara, fortunate father of Hayden and Nilo, and blessed to be partnered with Effie.

He is a member of the Latin rock band Los Nadies. Mateo is also national co-chair of the Climate Justice Alliance, co-chair of the Justice Funders’ Board of Directors, and a board member of Grassroots International.

Rosa is a bilingual (Spanish) and bicultural organizer, educator, and development professional working at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. She is guided by her belief in "love for our people and rigor for our work." She is committed to building authentic relationships and leading with corazon (heart). Rosa is the Development Director at Forward Together where she is responsible for developing and implementing fundraising strategies grounded in LGBT and racial justice.

Rosa is the Co-Chair of the Board at the National Network of Abortion Funds and is committed to funding abortions and building power. She is an immigrant, queer cis-femme who loves naps and weightlifting as a somatic practice. Rosa is a twin Mami and finds parenting her greatest challenge, adventure and, most of all, blessing.

Regan is a donor-organizer, and the co-founder of the Kataly Foundation where she is currently serving as a board member.

Regan has a background in education and began working in philanthropy when she took a larger role at her family’s foundation, The Libra Foundation, in 2015, and where she is now board co-president and chair of the investment committee. She is inspired by the Just Transition movement, and by the principles of solidarity, taking leadership in organizing progressive wealth holders and philanthropists to be bolder and more transformative in pursuit of our collective liberation.

Regan works with her family and advisors to align the Libra Foundation’s and her personal assets with progressive and radical values through investment, philanthropy, and political giving. She is energized by the momentum that is building to shift private investment and philanthropy towards a frame of racial equity and economic justice, using an intentional reparations lens. The founding of the Kataly Foundation in 2018 was a manifestation of her effort to move along that continuum of alignment.

Regan also serves on the boards of Global Greengrants Fund and Way To Win.

Regan lives in San Francisco where her greatest joys are spending time with her family, cooking for friends, and hiking and swimming around the Bay.

From a young age, maisha (she/her) has been hungry for total transformation. As a Black woman, she has experienced and witnessed how insidious systems of oppression are a part of all our daily lives, and this fact has guided her commitment to building power and self-determination in marginalized communities. maisha’s political journey began around her family’s kitchen table, where she was encouraged to question the world and what could be done to change it.

Ending the criminalization of Black and Brown communities, terminating police brutality, and moving society from punishment to healing, are the core tenets of the portfolio maisha oversees as a senior program officer. In partnership with grassroots organizations led by communities of color and aligned funders, she is working to collaboratively reshape criminal justice funding. 

maisha has a BA in African American Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University and an MFA in Poetry from Mills College. Most recently, she was a multicultural fellow at the San Francisco Foundation. maisha’s previous roles have included programs director at EastSide Arts Alliance, advancing intersectional approaches to cultural strategy and place-based equity, and communications director and family advocacy coordinator for Prisoners with Children, helping families advocate for policies on behalf of their incarcerated loved ones. maisha is on the steering committee for Funders for Justice, the core team of Freedom Funders, an advisor to the Center for Political Education, a board member for Causa Justa: Just Cause and an alumna of Justice Funders’ Harmony Initiative.

Jazmin joined Common Counsel Foundation in 2017 and is the Director of Strategic Initiatives focused on Housing Justice. In her role, Jazmin oversees the Fund for an Inclusive California and the Community Ownership for Community Power Fund.  She is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the initiatives, fundraising, and program development. With over 15 years of experience in housing justice, immigrant rights, and social justice movements, Jazmin has successfully organized funders and raised over $25M to support base-building and community-ownership organizations across California.

Before joining CCF, Jazmin spearheaded the development and launch of the San Francisco Foundation’s inaugural Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building, bolstering grassroots organizations at the forefront of racial and economic justice in the Bay Area. Additionally, Jazmin worked across the Foundation’s departments to increase resources for immigrant and youth-led grassroots organizations. Other previous roles include Policy Manager at Immigrants Rising, formerly known as Educators for Fair Consideration, and Policy Advocate at Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network. Under her direction, E4FC developed its first policy platform and created a leadership team of undocumented youth who successfully led a statewide policy campaign to make career licenses accessible to all Californians regardless of immigration status.

Her dedication to social justice is deeply rooted in her family’s immigration journey to the United States. Jazmin grew up in Boyle Heights and graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Economy.

Currently, she is the co-chair of the San Joaquin Valley Funders Collaborative.

Michael D. Tubbs was making history. In 2016, he was elected Mayor of Stockton at 26- years-old. He was the city’s first African-American Mayor and the youngest Mayor of any major city in American history. As Mayor, Tubbs was lauded for his leadership and innovation. He raised over 20 million dollars to create the Stockton Scholars, a universal scholarship and mentorship program for Stockton students. Additionally, he piloted the first mayor- led guaranteed income pilot in the country. Currently, he is the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility and Opportunity; the Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI); and the Founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC).

Under his leadership, Stockton was named an “All-America City” in 2017 and 2018 by the National Civic League. The city saw a 40% drop in homicides in 2018 and 2019, led the state of California in the decline of officer-involved shootings in 2019, and was named the second most fiscally healthy city in California. Additionally, it was recognized as one of the most fiscally healthy cities in the nation and was featured in an HBO documentary film, “Stockton on My Mind.” Tubbs has been named a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics and The MIT Media Lab, a member of Fortune’s Top 40 under 40, a Forbes 30 under 30 All-Star Alumni, the “Most Valuable Mayor” by The Nation, the 2019 New Frontier Award Winner from the JFK Library, and the 2021 Civic Leadership Award winner from The King Center. Prior to his tenure as Mayor, Tubbs served as a Councilmember for the City of Stockton District 6, a high school educator, and a fellow for the Stanford Design School and the Emerson Collective. On November 16, 2021, Tubbs released “The Deeper The Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home,” published by the Flatiron Books imprint, An Oprah Book. The book — which the LA Times describes as “intimate and insightful”—not only relates Tubbs’ story of growing up in poverty but lays his vision for leadership and policy that is more empathetic and responsive to people who are struggling.

James Woodson is the Executive Director and co-founder of the California Black Power Network where he leads strategy, fundraising, and organizational culture development for a growing team and ecosystem of over 40 Black-led organizations. James is a licensed attorney with over 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship and nearly 15 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector.

Previously, James served as the Redistricting Lead and Policy Director of the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub, a project of California Calls. James began at California Calls as an Organizing Coordinator, where he worked on the African American Civic Engagement Project, coordinating civic engagement programs and providing support to the founding cohort. He also served as Policy and Strategic Projects Manager where he managed work around the 2020 census, redistricting, and the Voters Choice Act (VCA). He is a former member of the California Secretary of State’s VCA Task Force and the Voters Choice Los Angeles Steering Committee.

Before moving to California, James served as the Director of Programs for the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, NJ and a Regional Field Organizer at Organizing For America and the NJ Health Care for America Now campaign. He served as co-Counsel for the New Jersey Congressional Redistricting Commission in 2011 and 2012. In addition, James was the Founding Director of the Friendship Development Corporation, where he led the effort to create an outreach center that provides food, clothing, and other services to thousands of low-income families in the Baltimore metropolitan area.