Kirsten West Savali
Contributing Editor
Kirsten West Savali is currently an executive producer at ESSENCE Magazine, most recently serving as the magazine’s senior editor of News & Politics. As both a writer and cultural critic, her commentary explores the intersections of race, social justice, feminism, and politics. She is the recipient of the Vernon Jarrett Medal for Journalistic Excellence which honors exemplary reporting on Black life in America and an NABJ Award for Journalistic Excellence. She was also named to EBONY Magazine’s ‘Power 100’ List, and was awarded a John Jay College of Criminal Justice/Harry Frank Guggenheim Fellowship for her work focusing on criminal justice.
Recognized as a “Black thought leader for a new generation,” West Savali is also a board member of Being Black at School, a national non-profit organization moving equity conversations into action to make schools safer for Black students.
She currently lives in Houston, Texas, with her three sons—Walker, Dash, and Reid—and two dogs, and she carries her late husband, Savali Savali III, in her heart with every breath she takes. You can find her on Twitter at @kwestsavali and Instagram at @KirstenWestSavali.
Rayven Wilson
Content Curator and Research
Rayven, a survivor and ally, is a young entrepreneur working as a freelance social media strategist and marketing manager. Born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Rayven went on to pursue International Business at Howard University’s School of Business and is now a recent graduate. Some of her clients have included but are not limited to Walking for Freedom: Venezuela, General Motors, Wikimedia, and United Strategies Group.
As her career begins to blossom, Rayven hopes to do more work for clientele who are also as passionate about the lives of black and queer people and the safety and health of survivors as she is. Her brand aims to support small businesses and organizations that are dedicated to the groundwork for the fight against sexual and gender-based violence as well as the fight towards true gender and racial equality.
Rebecca Litwin
Contributor
Becca is a licensed Social Worker based in Brooklyn who approaches her practice from a macro perspective, using a social work framework to think about systems-level change. A former Fellow with The ‘me too.’ Movement, Becca is currently working at Democracy Works, striving for a more equitable voting experience and democratic process for all. Her professional background includes teaching, program learning, and design, education reform efforts, political organizing at local and state levels, fighting for a world free from sexual violence, and reflecting on what it means to be accountable as a white person showing up for historically oppressed communities in her life and work.
Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts
Contributor
Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts is a writer, speaker, and educator whose work explores the intersection of culture and faith/spirituality. This author of 13 books is the host of the podcast, HeARTtalk with Tracey Michae’l, and often provides consulting services to churches, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Tracey is also the Founder and Chief Creative Officer at NewSeason Books and Media, an independent publishing and content creation company. She can be found online at traceymlewis.com.
Yolo Akili Robinson
Contributor
Yolo Akili Robinson is an award-winning writer, community activist, yoga teacher, counselor, healing justice worker, and the founder and executive director of BEAM (The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective). He has worked as a family intervention counselor, life coach, and trainer for various wellness and mental health initiatives addressing issues such as domestic violence, trauma, & HIV/AIDS for the past 15 years. In 2018, Yolo was awarded the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation “Health Equity Award” for his work addressing mental health in Black communities.
Zoë Johnson
Content Curator and Research
Zoë Johnson is a 22-year-old music journalist currently based in Brooklyn, NYC. She’s worked in her field since her undergraduate days at Pace University, holding internships at reputable outlets like Complex and Vibe Magazine—and in 2019, after graduating she landed a position at XXL Magazine. As a queer Black woman, she stands at a nexus of identity which makes her keenly aware of systems of abuse and injustice on every level—from federal, to state, to social. Her own experiences have informed her about the need for transparency and accountability. As such, she has always been and shall always remain a staunch advocate for sexual health, safety, and consensual comprehension between adults of all identities.
