Women's March Oakland 2020

Speakers
& performers.

 
 
Abril FonsecaAbril Fonseca is a student activist and artist. She is serving her second year as CEO of Berkeley International High School Leadership, managing the program’s overall flow and implementing new curriculum and initiatives to better the co…

Abril Fonseca

Abril Fonseca is a student activist and artist. She is serving her second year as CEO of Berkeley International High School Leadership, managing the program’s overall flow and implementing new curriculum and initiatives to better the community. She also works with Women’s March Oakland and Latinos Unidos, a club that raises awareness about issues and successes in the Latinx community and empowers students who identify as Latinx. Abril is a daughter of immigrant parents, and most of her artwork revolves around immigrant rights.

Aimee AllisonAimee Allison is the founder and president of She the People, a national network of women of color. She hosted the nation’s first presidential forum for women of color in 2019 and leads national efforts to build inclusive, multiracial c…

Aimee Allison

Aimee Allison is the founder and president of She the People, a national network of women of color. She hosted the nation’s first presidential forum for women of color in 2019 and leads national efforts to build inclusive, multiracial coalitions led by women of color. She has appeared in hundreds of media outlets including Politico, The New York Times and PBS. Aimee Allison holds a BA and MA from Stanford University.

Alvina WongAlvina Wong is the Campaign and Organizing Director at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, where she fights the displacement of low-income and working-class Asian immigrants and refugees while building their leadership to fight for e…

Alvina Wong

Alvina Wong is the Campaign and Organizing Director at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, where she fights the displacement of low-income and working-class Asian immigrants and refugees while building their leadership to fight for environmental justice. Leading her team in intergenerational organizing toward community governance and power at the neighborhood, city and regional levels, she has headed campaigns to stop evictions of SRO tenants and win major community benefits. Alvina began organizing in the Chinese immigrant community as an Eva Lowe Fellow at the Chinese Progressive Association in San Francisco, and spent 8 years developing and organizing young people around education access and youth incarceration issues.

Barbara LeeBarbara Lee has been the US Representative for California’s 9th congressional district (now the 13th) since 1998. She serves on the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee, which oversees all federal government spending. In 1990…

Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee has been the US Representative for California’s 9th congressional district (now the 13th) since 1998. She serves on the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee, which oversees all federal government spending. In 1990, Barbara was elected to the California State Assembly, where she served until 1996 when she was elected to the State Senate. Barbara was a strong advocate for women in the legislature, where she authored and passed the first California Violence Against Women Act. On September 15, 2001, amidst enormous pressure, Congresswoman Lee stood firm in casting her dissenting vote to granting President George W. Bush authority to start military actions – anywhere. A UC Berkeley and Mills College alumna, Barbara has long advocated for legislative action to end poverty. In 2013, she became chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity, which crafts and advances legislation to lift millions of American families out of poverty and into the middle class.

 
Be SteadwellBe Steadwell is a singer-songwriter from Washington DC. Be calls her music QUEER POP, a blend of soul, a cappella and folk. Her film “Vow of Silence” received awards at festivals around the world, including Black Star, QWOCMAP and Fringe…

Be Steadwell

Be Steadwell is a singer-songwriter from Washington DC. Be calls her music QUEER POP, a blend of soul, a cappella and folk. Her film “Vow of Silence” received awards at festivals around the world, including Black Star, QWOCMAP and Fringe Fest UK, and was featured in Issa Rae’s Short Film Sundays Series in 2018. In 2017, Be sang at the Women's March on the National Mall behind Maxwell and Janelle Monae in Toshi Reagon's Big Lovely Band. In May 2018, she released her studio album "Queer Love Songs", and this year she composed the music for Ailey II dance company's "The Gone". In her latest work, “A Letter to My Ex”, Be tells stories of love, loss and intimacy through a collage of music, movement and film.

Daijah ConerlyDaijah Conerly is a student activist. She is Associated Student Body Vice President at Berkeley High, a board member on her city’s Youth Commission, and part of Youth and Government where she advocates for minorities of any kind, espec…

Daijah Conerly

Daijah Conerly is a student activist. She is Associated Student Body Vice President at Berkeley High, a board member on her city’s Youth Commission, and part of Youth and Government where she advocates for minorities of any kind, especially people of color and women.

Deyci Carrillo LopezDeyci Carrillo Lopez​ is the Detention Team Legal Assistant at Centro Legal de La Raza, where she works with attorneys to protect and advance the rights of detained immigrants through representation, advocacy and education. Prior…

Deyci Carrillo Lopez

Deyci Carrillo Lopez​ is the Detention Team Legal Assistant at Centro Legal de La Raza, where she works with attorneys to protect and advance the rights of detained immigrants through representation, advocacy and education. Prior to joining Centro Legal de la Raza, Deyci worked on mapping and advancing the immigration committee at AFSCME Local 3299, the largest union of University of California workers. She was also a legislative intern for Senator Kamala Harris. A recent graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Deyci helped establish a local chapter of IGNITE, an organization that trains young women to run for office.

Emma's RevolutionEmma's Revolution is the award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries and Sandy O whose songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, covered by Holly Near and praised by Pete Seeger. "I Believe Her”, the duo’s powerful video in support o…

Emma's Revolution

Emma's Revolution is the award-winning activist duo of Pat Humphries and Sandy O whose songs have been sung for the Dalai Lama, covered by Holly Near and praised by Pete Seeger. "I Believe Her”, the duo’s powerful video in support of survivors, was heralded by The Daily Kos and KPFA Radio and shared heavily on social media. Emma’s Revolution has performed at concerts and mass demonstrations across the country, including Women’s March Oakland 2018 and 2019, Poor People’s Campaign National Demonstration DC, and SF #FamiliesBelongTogether Rally. Featured on NPR's “All Things Considered” and Pacifica's “Democracy Now”, Emma’s Revolution’s music has been sung around the world.

 
Esperanza FonsecaEsperanza Fonseca is the National Deputy Organizing Director with United for Respect, where she coordinates retail and service workers across the nation who are fighting to make Walmart and other major corporations pay their fair sh…

Esperanza Fonseca

Esperanza Fonseca is the National Deputy Organizing Director with United for Respect, where she coordinates retail and service workers across the nation who are fighting to make Walmart and other major corporations pay their fair share and treat workers with dignity. Based in Oakland, she is a recent graduate of the Women's Policy Institute, where she spearheaded the Access to Safe Food Choices and Food Security Act of 2019, which created a statewide Restaurant Meals Program that vastly increases access to hot and prepared food by CalFresh recipients who are homeless, elderly or disabled.

Kira GalbraithBorn and raised in Berkeley, Kira Galbraith is dedicated to ensuring that tomorrow’s voters have a seat at the table today. After planning a March for Our Lives walkout, she cofounded Bay Area Student Activists, which now encompasses 3…

Kira Galbraith

Born and raised in Berkeley, Kira Galbraith is dedicated to ensuring that tomorrow’s voters have a seat at the table today. After planning a March for Our Lives walkout, she cofounded Bay Area Student Activists, which now encompasses 30 different schools across the region. A senior at Berkeley High, Kira is Youth Lead for Women’s March Oakland and Co-President of her school’s Amnesty International chapter.

LaNiece Jones (MC)A proud graduate of Oakland public schools, LaNiece Jones is Executive Director of the Peralta Colleges Foundation. Prior to this role, she spent more than 15 years working in sales and marketing roles at Businessland, Citicorp, IB…

LaNiece Jones (MC)

A proud graduate of Oakland public schools, LaNiece Jones is Executive Director of the Peralta Colleges Foundation. Prior to this role, she spent more than 15 years working in sales and marketing roles at Businessland, Citicorp, IBM and AT&T/Comcast. In 1991, the Oakland native founded lajones&associates, a PR and events firm that now specializes in organizational strategy, electoral campaigns and community organizing. Since 1995, LaNiece has served as BWOPA/TILE's Executive Director and President of BWOPA’s Oakland/Berkeley chapter. She is a member of the KQED Community Advisory Panel and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Xi Gamma Omega Chapter (Oakland). In April 2018, LaNiece received the Madame CJ Walker Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of the Bay Area.

Lexie TeschLexie Tesch is a senior at Berkeley High School, where she serves as Associated Student Body President. Her spark for civic engagement began in 8th grade when she took a Generation Citizen class and helped pass a resolution to fund a year…

Lexie Tesch

Lexie Tesch is a senior at Berkeley High School, where she serves as Associated Student Body President. Her spark for civic engagement began in 8th grade when she took a Generation Citizen class and helped pass a resolution to fund a year-round shelter for homeless youth in Berkeley. Since then, Lexie has worked with Generation Citizen on their Student Board and now their National Board. She is determined to find solutions to homelessness not only in Berkeley, but also around the country and the world. In the future Lexie plans on becoming a member of Congress and educating youth on civic engagement to help build a stronger, more representative nation.

 
Maiya Lanae (DJ Mai Girl)DJ Mai Girl started her love affair with music the first time she heard Stevie Wonder. She plays festivals, fundraisers, weddings, clubs and shows all over the San Francisco and South Bay areas. She consistently plays one St…

Maiya Lanae (DJ Mai Girl)

DJ Mai Girl started her love affair with music the first time she heard Stevie Wonder. She plays festivals, fundraisers, weddings, clubs and shows all over the San Francisco and South Bay areas. She consistently plays one Stevie or Prince song every set to remind herself why she started DJing in the first place. Her unique blend of genres and hand-picked selections keep people moving all night.

Mya WhitakerMya Whitaker​ is a counselor for Alameda County foster care youth and Program Director for the Bay Area Urban Debate League, a nonprofit that teaches policy debate to Oakland youth. From 2015 to 2017 she served as a commissioner for Oakl…

Mya Whitaker

Mya Whitaker​ is a counselor for Alameda County foster care youth and Program Director for the Bay Area Urban Debate League, a nonprofit that teaches policy debate to Oakland youth. From 2015 to 2017 she served as a commissioner for Oakland’s Citizens’ Police Review Board. In 2017, Mya was chosen by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf to help select the current Chief of Police, Anne Kirkpatrick. An alumna of Emerge California and IGNITE, Mya ran for Oakland City Council in East Oakland in 2018, becoming the youngest and first Black woman to run from the district she was raised in.

Osunfemi Wanbi NjeriHailing from Oakland, Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri is a neo soul-hip hop vocalist and songwriter. Heavily influenced by passionate, creative greats like Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, India Arie, Mary J. Blige and Tupac Shakur, Osunfemi dec…

Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri

Hailing from Oakland, Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri is a neo soul-hip hop vocalist and songwriter. Heavily influenced by passionate, creative greats like Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, India Arie, Mary J. Blige and Tupac Shakur, Osunfemi decided to channel music that uplifts, inspires and moves the people. With a name meaning "a warrior woman who sings the blessings of Osun", Osunfemi saw it as necessary to speak about her journey as a warrior on the June 2015 single release of "Warrior Woman" and the spring 2018 "Warrior Woman LP". Osunfemi also showcased her melodious hip-hop style in 2013 on her first album, “From Oakland With Love EP”, released under her previous name, Isoke Custom Designs.

Rebecca KaplanRebecca Kaplan was born in Ontario, Canada, and grew up living with a universal healthcare system. As an MIT undergraduate, she organized for women’s rights and reproductive freedom, LGBT equality, and the successful divestment of her …

Rebecca Kaplan

Rebecca Kaplan was born in Ontario, Canada, and grew up living with a universal healthcare system. As an MIT undergraduate, she organized for women’s rights and reproductive freedom, LGBT equality, and the successful divestment of her campus from apartheid-era South Africa. After obtaining her degree from Stanford Law School, Rebecca worked in Oakland as a tenant’s rights attorney and advocate, and helped pass just cause for eviction on the ballot. She served for over 7 years on the AC Transit Board of Directors, and currently serves on the Alameda County Transportation Commission. Elected in 2008 as Oakland’s citywide elected Councilmember, Rebecca was unanimously selected to be President of the Oakland City Council in January.

 
Rita Forte (MC)Rita Forte is Founder of The Olive Street Agency in Oakland, overseeing all offerings including merchandising, social media accounts, and talent management. From 2001 to 2011 she performed as a DJ/on-air personality, growing her brand…

Rita Forte (MC)

Rita Forte is Founder of The Olive Street Agency in Oakland, overseeing all offerings including merchandising, social media accounts, and talent management. From 2001 to 2011 she performed as a DJ/on-air personality, growing her brand through radio (106.1 KMEL, 102.3 KJLH, Sirius Satellite) and online. From 2013 to 2017, Rita directed marketing for The Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir. She is also Co-Founder of Women’s All B-Ball, a women's basketball organization.

Tammeil GilkersonTammeil Gilkerson is President of Laney College. One of 7 children, she grew up in Hayward and was the first in her family to graduate from college. Prior to her current role, Tammeil served as VP of Academic and Student Affairs at …

Tammeil Gilkerson

Tammeil Gilkerson is President of Laney College. One of 7 children, she grew up in Hayward and was the first in her family to graduate from college. Prior to her current role, Tammeil served as VP of Academic and Student Affairs at Contra Costa College and as the first Diversity, Inclusion and Innovation Officer for the Contra Costa Community College District. She has also served as VP of Academic Affairs at San José City College and Dean of Counseling and Matriculation at Evergreen Valley College. In addition to her work in community colleges, Tammeil served as the Academy and Education Policy Director at the Greenlining Institute and in positions at UC Berkeley’s Office of Student Life and the Early Academic Outreach Program.

Tatsumaki TaikoTatsumaki Taiko is a group of Bay Area percussionists dedicated to celebrating the rhythms of diversity through the sound of taiko.

Tatsumaki Taiko

Tatsumaki Taiko is a group of Bay Area percussionists dedicated to celebrating the rhythms of diversity through the sound of taiko.