Scott earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Alabama A&M University (HBCU). He then continued his education and earned a Master of Arts in Social Justice from Marygrove College in Detroit, MI. Throughout his career, he has acquired extensive experience in leading, training, coaching, and developing teams, managing multi million dollar budgets, talent management and development, Labor and Community Organizing, nonprofit administration, and public policy, electoral campaigns, and advocacy. Scott has served as Chief of Staff and Political Director at the Services Employees International Union (SEIU Healthcare Michigan), Political Director at American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, and Special Projects Coordinator at the Wayne County Department of Health Department, and now Political and Policy Director at Detroit Action. Scott is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) and a Bold – Rockwood Organizational, Equity, and Inclusion Fellow (2020).

James is a Pontiac, MI native and dedicated family man, committed to positively impacting communities. Prior to joining Detroit Action, he worked in government at the Municipal, State and Federal level, most recently as Chief of Staff at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. Having worked in elected politics for the past several years, James saw that a few well organized, issue-educated, issue-impacted groups of people can make a real difference, and he wanted to be a part of that difference. While searching for a way to make an impact at the human level without bureaucratic hindrance, his conversations with Detroit Action members highlighted the value of ground level power building. James has seen coalitions in Michigan have a massive impact on elections and now with DA and groups like the Rent Is Too Damn High Coalition, he sees the opportunity to hold elected officials accountable and truly shape policy.

Will is an organizer and political strategist from Lansing, MI. He is thrilled to be joining Detroit Action to coordinate the MI Rent Is Too Damn High coalition. Before getting into tenant organizing, Will spent 10 years organizing youth and students around climate change. He was a founder and national Partnerships Director of Sunrise Movement, the group that put the Green New Deal on the agenda. In addition to his tenant organizing, Will hosts the Hegemonicon podcast at Convergence Magazine, and he is also a resident and board member of the Spartan Housing Cooperative. Will is here to build power and implement a progressive governing agenda for Michigan.

Bio Coming Soon!

Alex grew up in Southwest Detroit, after immigrating from Northern Mexico at the age of four, and continues to live in the good ol’ 48209. He started his career in economic development work but desired to be closer to everyday residents who were interested in driving change in the city. To that end, Alex started looking for work in more progressive spaces like the Detroit Justice Center. There, he found common goals with Detroit Action and took on the opportunity to continue supporting grassroots organizing while developing his technical data and research skills. Alex’s life joys include visiting places that have anything to do with food, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and urban gardens, and learning about the history of what brought others to Detroit and what makes a certain neighborhood home for someone. Through research supporting organizing, he hopes to empower those with the courage to speak truth to power and take on disinformation.

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Isaiah has immersed himself in field canvassing and organizing endeavors since 2012. Throughout his journey, Isaiah has had the honor of leading field programs across various states, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Kentucky. However, Michigan holds a special place in his heart. Since 2017, Isaiah has dedicated his efforts to running field and member programs in the state, contributing to significant legislative victories during his tenure as the Field Director for SEIU Michigan. Notable achievements include Michigan’s “triple blue” status and the election/re-election of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Now, at Detroit Action, Isaiah is eager to continue his mission of advancing Michigan’s growth, nurturing resilient communities, and expanding opportunities for the hardworking individuals who propel our neighborhoods forward.

Ja’Vay (she/her/Jai) has been a community organizer with Detroit Action since 2019. She was born in Detroit Michigan and grew up in Highland Park, graduating from Highland Park high school. She is a Mother of 3LW (3 little women) ages 16, 10, & 5 who she loves to life. Ja’Vay was introduced to Detroit Action at a Soup Kitchen meeting, seeking help to obtain a birth certificate. She so enjoyed the information presented by organizers that she instantly got involved and 4 years later is still organizing. A highlight for Ja’Vay is the win for abortion rights secured for Michigan in 2022, because she has daughters who can’t yet vote for their needs. She loves to write poetry & listen to music that changes her mood. Due to unjustified situations seen locally, Ja’Vay believes in building power within the community and seeing equity everywhere. She continues to envision a world where we have equity over equality and everyone can get along.

Alejandra became an organizer after four years of working in political mobilizing where she helped candidates get elected into office. After seeing firsthand that it takes much more than elections to make real lasting change in our community, she joined Detroit Action’s field team in 2021. As a child, Alejandra migrated to Detroit from the Texas-Mexico border, where she experienced state sanctioned violence, poverty and racism. When she moved to Detroit at 12 years old, it was unfortunate to see that she’d be experiencing and witnessing similar issues here. The parallels between the oppression faced by a majority hispanic population in Texas and the majority black population here in Detroit, made it clear that black and brown unity is more important now than it ever has been. The injustices that afflict us stem from the same root. Today, at Detroit Action, Alejandra believes that building power in our communities always begins with honest, and often difficult, dialogue with one another. Only through building real trust with one another will we achieve our vision for Detroit.

Amanda is a leader and advocate born and raised in Detroit and surrounding areas. As a foster child, she experienced firsthand the challenges and resilience that come with navigating the system. Amanda is proud to use her leadership skills to empower Black and Brown communities, believing in the power of representation and the importance of creating spaces where all individuals can thrive. After spending over a decade in New York City and the surrounding areas, she has developed a deep passion for supporting teams with a healthy workplace culture. Amanda also serves as the Michigan State Bill Director for the Workplace Psychological Safety Act. In addition to her professional work, she is a proud mother to her one-year-old daughter, who serves as a constant source of inspiration and motivation. She is committed to creating a better future for the Detroit community, her child, and for generations to come.

Chantel specializes in engaging people through social media to become volunteers, organizers, and revolutionaries in real life. With over 14 years of experience in organizing, she has worked on issues such as defunding the police, reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, domestic violence, and more. Motivated by the trials and tribulations of her environment, Chantel’s overall goal is to try and take some of the pain out of this world and help people find their voice and strength. Chantel also serves as a Precinct Delegate, 13th Congressional District Chairperson for the Progressive Caucus, Radio Show Host at 910 AM, Ambassador for the United State of Women, and a very happy mom of a toddler and bonus mom of a pre-teen.

Roberta (aka Ms. Revolutionary) is an Eastside Detroiter and artist with family roots in what’s formerly known in Detroit as Paradise Valley or the Black Bottom. She was inspired to support community needs by her great-grandmother, who also worked as an organizer, and local youth programs that provided education on the Civil Rights Movement and introduced her to Rosa Parks. Over the years, Roberta has taken on numerous community care roles, including delivering meals to seniors, caregiving for family and friends, and serving as a poll worker during elections. While she spends her free time mainly with family and friends, or making music to motivate her community, Roberta also aims to be a part of the change she wants to see in the city of Detroit, through organizing and artistry.

Martissa is a Detroit native, passionate about creating a future characterized by liberation and interdependence. They have years of experience in building operational systems for teams, project management and people management. She is fiercely committed to building communities of care and centers Black joy in all of her work. Martissa currently lives in old Cass Corridor with their partner and fur baby.

Jay is a life-long Michigander who is incredibly passionate about her homestate and the city of Detroit. Jay started her career working as a divorce attorney for women who are survivors of domestic violence, which ultimately led to a role in the progressive political sphere. She spent four years working on young voter turnout for NextGen Michigan and then two years working with America Votes, but always knew that turning voters out at election time was not enough. Young people constitute the largest voting bloc in Michigan, but instead of finding ways to help them harness their agency and their political power, the dominant narrative has been to denigrate them and frame them as uniformed and unserious. In this work, Jay wants to create pathways for Michigan’s youth to realize their true power and not just show up, but show the movement up. She is endlessly grateful to have the opportunity to work with Detroit Action.

Naadia is a born-and-raised Detroiter, spending most of her life on the Westside, but having lived all over the city. She first saw Detroit Action’s power at home through the work of her big sister, who was finding unique ways to affect her neighborhood. Naadia was already familiar with community work through joining protests and mentoring youth, but seeing Detroit Action’s values come to life through social justice, economic justice, and creating a political home for Black and Brown communities, made her want to do more. Most important in her life is family, both blood and found members, and the beauty of nature, especially animals. As a Field Organizer, Naadia seeks to uplift ambitious youths ready to take on the world, strengthen communities with necessary education, and see native Detroiters take the lead on what’s needed here in the city.

Timothy is the Operations Coordinator at Detroit Action, serving as lead on office management systems, administrative tasks, IT support, and logistics vital for the organization’s daily functioning. A proud Detroit native, he brings a passion for organizational development and a commitment to justice and equity to his role. A self-proclaimed citizen of the world, his interests include wall-climbing, expressing his creative side through the arts, exploring diverse cultures through food & travel, plus more. His global perspective fuels his dedication to building connections within and beyond his community. Timothy is not only proficient in managing the intricate details of daily operations at DA, but is also a staunch advocate for positive change. Proudly supporting initiatives that uplift and strengthen communities, he continues to be a driving force behind the organization’s mission.

Deepa Krishna is a seasoned operations and strategy professional with more than two decades of experience across the private, political, and non-profit sectors. Currently, she consults for clients across multiple missions including in political advocacy and community organizing, workforce development, public health equity, student rights legal defense, and EdTech venture capital. Deepa serves as a Commissioner for the City of West Hollywood on the Public Facilities, Recreation, and Infrastructure Commission, and previously served on the board of Equitas Academy Charter Schools for five years and held the roles of Board Vice Chair and Chair of the Resource Development Committee. holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Science in Information Systems from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Deepa’s work experience includes positions in politics and entertainment with Miramax, Zinc Collective, and WWE, to name a few. She resides in West Hollywood, CA with her rescue dog, Caliber, and tries to spend most of her free time in the mountains – especially in the Eastern Sierra.