TROUBLEMAKERS FOR LIBERATION
‘Troublemakers for Liberation’ is a core program of The Gathering for Justice that provides a 6-month paid fellowship opportunity to dynamic young leaders who demonstrate a commitment to the liberation of Black, Indigenous or otherwise marginalized communities. Troublemakers for Liberation provides hands-on organizing experience, mentorship, training and extensive network access to all program participants. Fellows experience and are prepared to share the teachings of our movement school: Justice University, engage young people in their local communities, train their peers in our organizing model, and work with Justice League volunteer organizers to launch sustainable campaigns, systems change initiatives and rapid response actions.
In homage to the leadership of John Lewis, Ella Baker, Bayard Rustin and the work initiated by our elders in the Civil Rights and Black Liberation Movements, Troublemakers for Liberation explicitly invests in expanding the capacity of young people people of color in the United States
2021 FELLOWS
AMA RUSSELL
Ama is a young lady of great distinction who demonstrates excellence in leadership, academics, service, and character. She is a youth activist and community organizer from Detroit who strives to liberate her people.
ASHLEY MONTERROSA
Ashley Monterrosa, a San Francisco native, is the youngest sister of Sean Monterrosa. Since the tragic loss of her brother, she now carries on the legacy her brother left behind and has emerged as a social justice warrior.
EMILY NICHOLS
Emily Nichols is a rising junior at Stanford University studying Science, Technology, Society, and African American Studies. She is very passionate about public service, performing arts, advocacy, and finding ways to utilize those avenues for community empowerment.
GABRIELLE BATTLE
Gabrielle Battle is currently a junior at Duke University, majoring in public policy. She is deeply passionate about racial justice and has worked to advocate for marginalized communities both in her hometown of Oakland, California, and as a student at Duke.
KARLA STERRETT
Karla is an 18-year-old Afro-Latina advocating for social justice and educating youth on voter suppression and civic engagement. She is passionate about reclaiming deserved space for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.
LUCIA FLORES
Lucia is a high school student at Marble Hill High School for International Studies. They believe in the power of photography, art, and advocacy to advance social justice issues; and their dedication to this work is inspired by the late Audre Lorde.
MICHELLE MONTERROSA
Michelle Monterrosa, is the eldest sister of her brother Sean Monterrosa. Since her brother’s tragic death on June 2nd 2020, she has been putting her body on the line to bring justice and awareness to her brother's case nationally.
MICHELLE OLIVAS
Michelle is a Chicana and Filipina that was born and raised in Stockton, CA. She is currently studying at San Joaquin Delta College majoring in Sociology. Michelle has always had a love for her community which drives her activism and organizing.
MYLES HOLLINGSWORTH
Myles Hollingsworth, born and raised in Freeport, Long Island New York, is a social activist, organizer, and community leader. Acknowledging the injustices that plague the community by living through them, he has committed his efforts to combating communal problems.
TALEAVIA COLE
Taleavia Cole is a Jackson State Graduate with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice Hoping to Study Criminal Law. She is a community leader, Artist, Poet, and a Child of God fighting for Justice for ThEE ThrEE (Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson Jr, and Antonio Gonzales).
TANIA SALCEDA
Tania Salceda is a student from Oxnard, CA attending UC Berkeley double majoring in Political Science and Chicanx Studies. She is passionate about fighting for equity and fair representation in her community and for other low-income students like herself.
TERRI HUGHES
Terri Hughes became an undergraduate student at Weber State University. She is majoring in Social Work and has a minor in Family Studies, She is currently the President of Weber State University’s NAACP Youth and College chapter and serves as an advisor for the Harambee Youth Council initiative
TRENTON DEVORE
Trenton DeVore is a 20 year old rebel from the Pueblo of Walatowa who’s currently seeking a BA in Indigenous Liberal Arts for Tribal Law. As an MC, creator and liberator; he is grounded in building relationships with love to spark creation while removing the preprogrammed ideals of self.
VIKRAMADITYA JOSHI
Vik Joshi is a first-year doctoral student in the Philosophy and Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is from Mumbai, India, and has served as an academic advisor in the Bard Prison Initiative. He is currently studying the work of B.R Ambedkar.
XAVIER KENT
Xavier Kent is from Marrero, Louisiana. He is rising junior at LSU majoring in marketing. Xavier is involved in LSU’s Student Government as the Chief of College Councils. He also serves as the Political Action Chair for Louisiana's NAACP Youth and College Division.
YASMIN ABDELSALAM
Yasmin Abdelsalam is an Egyptian-American Muslim, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about mental health and a variety of social justice issues. In high school she led initiatives with NYCLU’s Teen Activist Project to raise awareness about social ills.