Meet the Team

Our team brings decades of combined experience in organizing, movement strategy, and institutional change. Together, we are building the relationships, knowledge, and infrastructure needed to advance racial justice across the District.

Iris Jacob

Iris Jacob (She/Her)

Campaign Director

Iris Jacob is a nationally recognized social justice consultant and facilitator who creates transformative experiences for organizations across the U.S. Iris is the founder of Social Justice Synergy, an organizational equity consulting firm that provides specialized support to ensure clients reach their goals of inclusion and justice. She has worked with dozens of organizations, including Black Feminist Future, The National Lawyers Guild, The Women’s March, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The National Center for Transgender Equality, The American Civil Liberties Union, Teaching for Change, Oxfam, and many more. Iris lives in Washington, DC, with her partner and three incredible children. In her free time, she can be found doing education organizing, interior design, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Samantha Paige Davis (She/They)

Organizer

Samantha Paige Davis (she/they) is an anti-racist organizer, trainer, speaker, mentor, and unyielding optimist. She believes that everyone has the innate ability to succeed, but they must be given the opportunity to do so. When she was just 25, Samantha founded The Black Swan Academy (BSA), to create a pipeline of Black youth leaders who are committed to transforming themselves and their communities through youth organizing and public policy. She has supported BSA’s youth-led advocacy work which has focused mostly on addressing intra-community violence, police violence, housing instability and education justice. Samantha’s work has been recognized by Essence Woke 100, Pittsburgh Public Schools, American University and the National Urban League.

Organizing Committee

  • Maria Gomez

    Maria Gomez (She/Her)

    Founder, Mary’s Center and Consultant

  • Dushaw Hockett

    Dushaw Hockett (He/Him)

    Founder and Executive Director, SPACEs

  • George Jones (He/Him)

    CEO, Bread for the City

  • BB Otero

    BB Otero (She/Her)

    President, Otero Strategy Group

  • Kimberly Perry

    Kimberly Perry

    Executive Director, DC Action

  • Erica Williams

    Executive Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute