Panelist:

Kei Smith

Kei Smith is a student at DePaul University majoring in International Studies. She is a DePaul Labor Education Center Undergraduate Fellow, Social Transformation Research Collaborative Fellow, and Student Representative for the International Studies Department. Kei’s interest in labor rights and healthcare stem from the experiences of the medical professionals in her family, and she is deeply invested in building a healthcare system that is safe, equitable, and affordable. Kei plans to pursue a career that combines organizing work, advocacy, and research and hopes to continue her education in the field of public policy. 

Panelist:

Wesley Hogan

Wesley Hogan is Research Professor at the Franklin Humanities Institute and History at Duke University. She writes and teaches the history of youth social movements, human rights, documentary studies, and oral history. Her most recent book, On the Freedom Side, draws a portrait of young people organizing in the spirit of Ella Baker since 1960. In July 2021, her and Paul Ortiz’s co-edited, People Power: History, Organizing, and Larry Goodwyn’s Democratic Vision in the Twenty-First Century, came out from the University of Florida Press. Between 2003-2013, she taught at Virginia State University, where she worked with the Algebra Project and the Young People’s Project. From 2013-2021, she served as Director of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke. She co-facilitates a partnership between the SNCC Legacy Project and Duke that to date has raised $2.5 million to support The SNCC Digital Gateway, whose purpose is to bring the grassroots stories of the civil rights movement to a much wider public through a web portal, K12 initiative, and set of critical oral histories. Her current project centers the oral histories of reproductive health care providers in the post-Roe era. 

Panelist:

Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez

Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez is a Senior Advisor for Democracy Power Project, and an ABC news contributor. She was named “Hero of the New South” by Southern Living Magazine and has been featured on NPR, Vogue, The New York Times, Washington Post, MTV, USA Today, Univision, and several MSNBC shows, among others. Cristina most recently served as President of NextGen America, one of the leading national progressive youth voter mobilization organizations. Before joining NextGen, Cristina was the founder and Executive Director of Jolt — a Texas-wide organization that lifts up the voice, vote and issues impacting Latinos. Cristina began her social justice career when she co-founded Workers Defense Project (WDP), a workers’ rights organization with the mission to win  better working conditions for immigrant workers in Texas. Cristina is an author on issues of race, gender and immigration, and she is the co-author of “Presente! Latino Immigrant Voices in the Struggle for Racial Justice.” She was a 2020 U.S. Senate candidate and has taught at the LBJ Public Affairs School at the University of Texas at Austin. 

Moderator:

Professor Margaret Rung 

Professor of History
Director Center for New Deal Studies
Associate Chair, Humanities Department

Panelist:

Heidi Kitrosser

Panelist:

Jared Davidson

Jared Davidson is a seasoned litigator for Protect Democracy whose work focuses on creating a more representative and responsive democracy and also ensuring free and fair elections. He has significant experience leading complex civil litigation and class actions in federal and state courts across the country. Previously, Jared was a senior attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center where he led litigation and advocacy to reform America’s immigration and criminal law systems. Before SPLC, Jared served as a law clerk to the Honorable James L. Dennis of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and also worked as a litigation associate at Jenner & Block LLP.

Moderator:

Professor David Faris

Professor of Political Science

Panelist:

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones is the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project and a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. The book version of The 1619 Project as well as the 1619 Project children’s book, Born on the Water, were instant #1 New York Times bestsellers. Her 1619 Project is now a six-part docuseries on Hulu.  Hannah-Jones has spent her career investigating racial inequality and injustice, and her reporting has earned her the MacArthur Fellowship, known as the Genius grant, a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards and the National Magazine Award three times. She also serves as the Knight Chair of Race and Journalism at Howard University, where she founded the Center for Journalism & Democracy. Hannah-Jones is also the co-founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which seeks to increase the number of investigative reporters and editors of color, and in 2022 she opened the 1619 Freedom School, a free, afterschool literacy program in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. Hannah-Jones holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and African-American studies from the University of Notre Dame.  

Moderator:

Laura S. Washington 

Laura S. Washington is a contributing columnist for the Chicago Tribune and political analyst at ABC-7, Chicago’s ABC-owned station. She previously served as a long-time contributing columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. In 2015 and 2019 she served as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. Washington brings more than two award-winning decades of experience as a non-profit professional and multi-media journalist. She specializes in African American affairs, local and national politics, race and racism, and social justice. From 2003 to 2009 she served as the Ida B. Wells-Barnett University Professor at DePaul University and fellow at the DePaul Humanities Center. From 1990 to 2002, Washington served as editor and publisher of The Chicago Reporter, a nationally recognized investigative monthly specializing in racial issues and urban affairs. She has been a commentator on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio. In 1985 Washington was appointed deputy press secretary to Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago’s first African American mayor. She also served as a producer for the investigative unit at CBS-2/Chicago, correspondent for “Chicago Tonight” on WTTW-TV and previously wrote a contributing column for the Chicago Sun-Times. Washington earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from The Medill School at Northwestern University, where she has also taught and lectured. Her work has been honored with dozens of local and national awards, including two Chicago Emmys, the Peter Lisagor Award, the Studs Terkel Award for Community Journalism, and the Racial Justice Award from the YWCA. Washington is a founding inductee to the Medill School of Journalism Hall of Achievement. The Chicago Community Trust awarded her a Community Service Fellowship, for “exemplary service, commitment and leadership in individuals from the nonprofit sector.” In 2018, she was named an inaugural inductee to the Chicago Women’s Journalism Hall of Fame. Newsweek magazine named Washington one of the nation’s “100 People to Watch” in the 21st Century. Newsweek said: “her style of investigative journalism has made (the Reporter) a powerful and award-winning voice.” Washington is widely quoted and featured in the national media, including Time Magazine, the Associated Press, New York Times, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, PBS NewsHour, and the BBC. She is a frequent lecturer and moderator before local and national audiences. Her civic activities have included serving on the boards of The Field Museum, The Arts Club of Chicago, The Woods Fund, Block Club Chicago, Global Girl Media-Chicago, the Chicago Headline Club Foundation, and the Investigative Project on Race and Equity, among 

others. 

Panelist:

Frederique Desrosiers 

Frederique Desrosiers is the Manager, Policy at Chicago Votes, contributing to civic engagement initiatives in the Chicago area. Their background reflects a strong focus on policy advocacy and community outreach, demonstrating versatile expertise across various sectors. At Chicago Votes, Frederique advances the #UnlockCivics Policy Platform, working at the intersection of organizing and advocacy to ensure access to civic rights. They manage legislative and coalition relationships, while also keeping Chicago Votes staff and advocates informed. Their experience in civic leadership and community development includes a Civic Reporting Fellowship at City Bureau, where they enhanced capabilities in reporting and community engagement. Earlier, as Chief of Staff in the Office of State Representative Lakesia Collins, Frederique managed office operations, led district outreach, and built relationships with community leaders. They also oversaw social media, produced content, and managed the office budget. In this role, they planned and executed community events and managed constituent cases, contributing to the representative’s legislative priorities. Prior to these roles, Frederique contributed to Amara as a Student Fellow, organizing volunteers and establishing contacts in local organizations. As an Intern at the Westside Justice Center, they ran social media, created infographics, and performed client intakes, supporting the organization’s mission to provide legal and social services. Their experience also includes a role as a Team Leader at Quantum Learning Network, where they led groups in activities for academic and personal development, providing guidance and mentorship. They also contributed to the City of Chicago as a Student Intern in the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, working on operations for Taste of Chicago and programming for JuiceBox. Earlier in their career, Frederique gained communications experience as a Communications Aid in the Student Trustee’s Office at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. They also held a specialist position at Apple and a hostess server role at Nando’s Peri-Peri. Chicago Votes is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building a more inclusive democracy by empowering young Chicagoans. The organization focuses on engaging and developing a new generation of leaders by making government and politics accessible to youth across the city. Through various initiatives, Chicago Votes aims to change laws and enhance the democratic experience for young people in Chicago and Illinois. Their mission includes making democracy enjoyable and fostering civic participation among the youth. 

Panelist:

Dr. Terri Anne Scott 

Dr. Terry Anne Scott is an award-winning historian, author, and speaker. She is the Director of the Institute for Common Power, an educational 501(c)3 branch of Common Power.  Dr. Scott is a former Professor of African American History and Chair of the Department of History at Hood College. She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sports History and a member of the Editorial Staff for the Journal of American History. Dr. Scott earned her doctorate in history from the University of Chicago, under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Cleveland Holt.  She was awarded a fellowship from the University’s Board of Trustees. She received a master’s degree with distinction from Southern Methodist University. Dr. Scott left her tenured position as an Associate Professor to become the Director of the Institute for Common Power in 2022. During her time at Hood College, she received numerous awards, including the college’s highest commendation for professors—the Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Scott has also taught at other universities, including the University of Maryland and the University of Washington, where she was nominated for a Distinguished Teaching Award and received the Outstanding University of Washington Woman Award. 

Panelist:

Dr. Rev. Otis Moss III

The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III is senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. He is a preacher, poet, activist, author and filmmaker with an eye toward justice and equality, as evidenced through the gospel of Jesus Christ. He founded The Unashamed Media Group, a justice centered, faith-based agency committed to producing and curating stories to inspire the heart and challenge the mind. His most recent book is Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World: Finding Hope in an Age of Despair (2015). In October 2020, Dr. Moss created Otis’ Dream, a short film about his grandfather’s unsuccessful attempt to vote in 1946. Dr. Moss preaches a theology of liberation rooted in a Black Spirituality of love and justice.  His passion for African American culture and history combined with a deep appreciation for jazz and hip hop, have culminated in a unique message of hope and healing through a jazz narrative on American democracy.  Most recently his messages have been featured on the Meditative Stories Podcast as well as On Being with Krista Tippett.  The COVID 19 pandemic provided a new opportunity to convey scriptural messages through a cinematic and sermonic lens.  The Unashamed Media Group has produced 5 short films/sermons using cinematic liturgy in 2020.  Dr. Moss is ordained in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ.  Dr. Moss was identified by the Baylor University George W. Truett Theological Seminary as one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English language in 2018.  He is married to Monica Brown Moss and they are the grateful parents of the amazing team of MK and Eli. 

Moderator:

Professor Gigi Davis

Dempsey Travis Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor of History