2023

Emnet Sisay (she/her) is a researcher based in Boston, MA with a background in biology, public policy, and epidemiology. She received her bachelor’s degrees from Hamilton College and a master’s in epidemiology from Harvard. Her interests include health data, disease risk, and data visualization. Through the Data x Power fellowship, she worked on mapping cardiovascular disease risk in the United States. Beyond her work, she enjoys photography.

Chase Philip is a Social Entrepreneur, Data and Technology Professional, and Social Science Researcher. A long-time changemaker in the movement space, his work primarily focuses on Voter Registration and Civic Engagement technology. Their most recent collaboration, “Howdy AI,” focuses on empowering movement professionals and grassroots organizations to use Generative AI tools through training and project-based consultancy. Bridging their backgrounds in experimental psychology, neuroscience, and international relations, Chase is enthusiastic about growing competency and confidence in technical methods with diverse audiences.

Sheila Quintana Aguilar is a writer and strategist. With 15 years of experience in social justice movements, she has held roles in communications, political strategy, organizing, and fundraising. 

Sheila co-led a historic campaign for sanctuary resulting in the first ever Congressional bill in defense of an immigrant family from Pennsylvania. She has supported dozens of non-profits and small businesses to develop strategy, infrastructure, and capacity. Sheila has helped clients raise over 2 million dollars to resource their work. She was a founding worker-owner of the Bonfire Media Collective and a founding member of the Movement for Migrant Leaders in Pennsylvania.

Wayne Shaw is a Data Director for the Tennessee Democratic Party and resides in the Nashville, TN, area. He was previously the Young Adults Chairperson for the Mobile, AL, NAACP Branch and Deputy Organizing Director for the Alabama Democrats.

Vivienne Maxwell (she/her) is a data analyst at the Climate Reality Project, where she evaluates the impacts of programs and supports several global and domestic campaigns. Vivienne is a proud Posse Scholar and earned her degree in statistical and data sciences from Smith College. Over the past 10 months, she has delved into an environmental justice research project through the re:power Data X Power Movement Tech fellowship, and through this work, she has found an amazing network of passionate data techies dedicated to progressive politics.

Mani Vinson, MHSA aka Mani!!! is an emerging digital content producer, activist scholar, and digital organizer passionate about Black and LGBTQ+ health, wellness, and JOY. With over 7 years of dynamic experience in health equity research and content production, Mani is dedicated to using storytelling as a catalyst for our collective liberation. What excited Mani the most about the Data x Power Fellowship was the opportunity to develop a data visualization project centered on anti and pro-transgender legislation, as well as connecting with other like-minded, creative Movement Data Practitioners and Technologists. Post fellowship, Mani intends to continue building their movement data skills, with the hope of expanding Project EquiTee to include all 50 states in the US. Mani is from the Midwest, is the oldest of 6 kids, and loves video games, funny movies, and their dog, Kane.

Jessy Lancaster is a data manager and aspiring analytics engineer, and has worked in the movement for 15 years. They live in Chicago with their partner and their two cats.

Farhad M. Choksy is a data practitioner with nearly a decade of experience working with local, state, and nationwide campaigns and progressive causes. Farhad currently works as a Partner Success Manager at Community Tech Alliance, where he supports clients and partners with their data infrastructure needs. Prior to that, Farhad was the Senior Data Manager at Leaders Ignitning Transformation, a statewide organization building political power for Black and Brown youth in Wisconsin. As a practicing Zoroastrian, Farhad strongly believes in building a world where each and every human being can live a life of joy and kindness. Outside of work, you can find Farhad experimenting with a new recipe or cooking technique, exploring the DC metro area, or glued in front of a new (or retro) video game.

Addison A. Evans is a data practitioner with eight years of experience working in progressive technology. They got their start in organizing working on a campaign for gender non-specific housing on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while they were a student. From there they went on to work on the campaign against Amendment 1 in NC and the fight against HB2. They eventually landed a job working at the North Carolina state table where they got introduced to progressive tech and fell in love with the idea of being able to use their technological skills for social change. More personally they are a Black, queer, agender, and disabled Unitarian Universalist socialist who believes in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. All people deserve bodily autonomy and it is their life’s work to help realize a world in which this is possible.

Ashley “Ash” Esposito (She/Her) is a seasoned database developer, analyst, and community organizer, with over a decade of tech industry experience. Notably, she automated statewide eligibility determinations for disability and long-term care while at the State of Maryland. Ash is a proud graduate of the University of Maryland Global Campus and has a Bachelor of Science in Software Development & Security. Ash has provided tech tools, campaign strategies, and communications support for state agencies, political campaigns, and nonprofits. Passionate about equity and inclusion, Ash centers on the experiences of marginalized communities, drawing from her background as an underrepresented individual. She advocates for accessibility, ethical data usage, participatory decision-making, and inclusive community engagement. She also serves as an elected At-Large Commissioner for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Daniel Garcia (He/Him) is the Data Manager for Florida Rising, he has been involved in non-profit work for the past 14 years fulfilling various roles throughout the years.  He started organizing in 2010 with the undocumented youth of the Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL) as a volunteer, and has found his calling within the non-profit space working to expand democracy through voter registration operations.  To date the campaigns he has been directly involved with has registered more than 250,000 voters in the state of Florida with another 5,000 in Illinois.  Daniel Garcia was previously undocumented and understood the importance of civic engagement, he gained citizenship in 2020 and has joined the data space with the goal of improving how marginalized communities are engaged to become more involved by sharing their lived experiences and through civic engagement in the capacity they are able to accomplish.