Who We Are

WHO

The First Sins ~ The First Suffragists

Unerased was spurred by the 100th Anniversary  of women’s voting rights in 2020. That tumultuous year of unprecedented strife and challenges demonstrated  Black women’s continuous demands for our voice and our vote extend far beyond a 100-year observance.  Rewind four centuries when the first stolen Africans arrived on these shores, resisting the original cardinal sin of the nation we would inherit. Throughout history, Black women fought for power in governing our bodies, our voices and our choices. Unerased| Black Women Speak  is a tribute and celebration to the first warriors on whose path we follow.

Yesterday they carried the torch for all people stripped of the most fundamental forms of liberty. Today we pick up the baton, pledging to tell ourstory as it unfolds today. Through our lens of herstory, this space honors the sacrifices and triumphs of descendants of warriors, daughters of the enslaved and the future caretakers of our legacy.

Founding Sisters

Project Team/Advisors

Marisol Bello

Marisol Bello

Marisol Bello, Unerased Editorial Advisor, previously at USA TODAY now heads the Housing Narrative Lab. She has championed transformational narratives affecting marginalized communities around democracy, security and health engaging a network of storytellers most affected.

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JOVIDA HILL

Jovida Hill, Unerased Editorial Advisor, is executive director of the Philadelphia Commission for Women and advisor to the Mayor on issues of gender and inclusion. She is a former journalist and filmmaker.

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LLENDA JACKSON-LESLIE

Llenda Jackson-Leslie, Unerased Content Editor,  enjoys more than 20 years in communications and advocacy, specializing in public engagement and content management. She is also a senior communications associate with the National Partnership on Women and Families.

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MARIAH MCCLAIN

Mariah McClain, Unerased Editorial Advisor, helped launch Unerased social media campaigns. She currently commands a suite of skills in graphic design, research, integrated digital media and social media engagement at the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

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GWEN MCKINNEY

Gwen McKinney, Unerased Creator and Campaign Director, is founder of McKinney & Associates, the first Black woman-owned communications firm dedicated to race-centered national policy. That acumen is honed into Unerased public engagement, partnerships and storytelling by and about Black women. 

Nkechi Taifa

Nkechi Taifa

Nkechi Taifa, Unerased Editorial Advisor,  is a human rights attorney and nationally recognized commentator and author. Taifa has worked at the Open Society Foundations, Howard University School of Law, ACLU, and National Prison Project, advancing race equity.

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CAROLYN MALACHI

Carolyn Malachi is a Grammy-nominated artist, an audio producer and engineer, and a professor in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University. In addition to her award-winning creative work, Carolyn mixes records for independent artists and conducts research on the intersection of sound and blockchain technology.

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ALEX KAVOURAS

Alex Kavouras, Graphic Designer. The Owner of Alekos Designs is a Graphic Designer from Baltimore, MD. Alex has a degree in the Communication of the Digital Arts and over 15 years of experience. Alex loves what he does.

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LEVI PERRIN

Levi Perrin, SRP Webmaster and Content Coordinator, brings a passion for creative storytelling, progressive causes, grassroots change birthed from experience as a seventh generation South Carolinian. Levi comes to the initiative with experience in creative, digital media, and outreach and research.

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NICOLE HAYES

Nicole Hayes, Web Editor, is a published commentator on society and faith. She brings more than 14 years of public relations experience to her work in serving for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

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ALYSSA DAVIS

Alyssa Davis, Digital Media Coordinator, has a passion for creating meaningful content. She’s enthusiastic about volunteering and community outreach. She has a strong interest in addressing equality and equity related to systemic racism and how that looks in Black and Indigenous communities, especially in healthcare.

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Stephanie Renée

Stephanie Renée, Coordinating Producer, is a former on-air host and Program Director for WURD Radio in Philadelphia, as well as an accomplished recording artist and performer. She serves as the VibeMistress for her nonprofit arts education foundation Soul Sanctuary and is passionate about uplifting Black excellence through all forms of creative media.

Joia Nuri

Joia Jefferson Nuri 

Joia Jefferson Nuri, Unerased Digital Team Advisor, is an executive leadership coach with decades of experience in communications counsel, presentation training and strategy. Her career started in broadcast news as writer, producer and on-air talent.

Antoinette

Antoinette Minor 

Antoinette Minor, Digital Marketing Consultant, is the CEO of TYP Social Media Co. and is passionate about helping small businesses influence and inspire their audiences using social media. She resides in Philadelphia and enjoys creating content with her Chief Bark Officer, Maci.

McKinney & Associates, campaign and team director, is led by Gwen McKinney who established the first Black and woman-owned communications firm that expressly promotes racial justice public policy. For Unerased | Black Women Speak, McKinney continues marrying content and  narrative creation into a suite of integrated strategies aimed at social change

NEO Philanthropy is our fiscal agent. Launched in 1983 as Public Interest Projects (PIP), NEO is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to building strong social justice movements.As an intermediary, it bridges the gap that often exists between funders and organizations doing the work, through collaborative funds, fiscal sponsorships, donor services and capacity building.

FUNDERS

Initial funding for Suffrage. Race. Power was provided by the following organizations.

Donor Advised Anonymous Donors

Project Team/Advisors

SPONSORS

Initial funding for Suffrage. Race. Power. was provided by the following organizations.

“Anonymous” Women Donors
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