Essence McDowell Author

Mariame Kaba is an organizer, educator and curator who is active in movements for racial, gender, and transformative justice. She is the founder and director of Project NIA, a grassroots organization with a vision to end youth incarceration. She is the author of We Do This ‘Til We Free Us as well as the children’s books, Missing Daddy and See You Soon. Kaba is the recipient of the Cultural Freedom Prize from Lannan Foundation. Essence McDowell is a communications strategist and organizer. She utilizes media, digital design and communications technologies to amplify the work of community institutions and justice-based organizations. Essence has worked with numerous national and local entities including Illinois Humanities Council, Chicago Torture Justice Memorials, Incite National, the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Teachers Union. She is currently collaborating with organizers in Chicago to develop a resource hub for a national Black Women's Organizing Coalition.