Our Speakers

Lorenzo Bellamy is the founder of the Bellamy Genn Group, LLC in Annapolis, MD. Before forming Bellamy Genn, Lorenzo was a Director and Legislative Counsel at a prominent law and government relations firm in Annapolis and before that was the legislative director for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. A UVa grad and Catholic University School of Law (Columbus School of Law), Lorenzo, married with two daughters, lives in Washington, DC. 

An innovative non-profit leader with more than 20 years of experience, Jay Brown serves as the Chief of Staff for the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality and liberation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. In this role, Brown works closely with HRC President Kelley Robinson and the organization’s dedicated staff and volunteer leadership to deliver on HRC’s mission.

Priscila currently serves as a Legislative & Political Representative for the Amalgamated Transit Union in Washington, D.C. She was previously the PAC Administrator for the Transportation Trades of the AFL-CIO having managed their political program and school bus portfolio. At ATU, Priscila works on transit funding, transit worker safety, and broader labor policy initiatives that help raise the quality of life for ATU's membership. 

Candidly Tiff is a Maryland-based grassroots political advocate and unapologetic truth-teller. She is deeply engaged in state and national politics, champions Democratic candidates, and uses her social media platform to break down civics and political strategy for everyday people

Krishana Davis is an award-winning digital strategist and Executive Vice President at Precision Strategies, where she leads high-impact political, advocacy, and multicultural communications campaigns. Originally from Baltimore, Krishana began her career as a journalist — serving as a writer for The Afro-American Newspapers and a staff writer for The Baltimore Sun — before transitioning into national communications and digital strategy work. Today, she helps organizations navigate the rapidly changing digital landscape, from voter persuasion and rapid response to creator ecosystems and narrative strategy.

As Executive Director, George brings decades of experience fighting for equity, opportunity, and dignity for working families. His leadership is rooted in the belief that those closest to the struggle are closest to the solution, and that immigrant communities must lead the fight for justice at every level.

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A proud Mexican, son of a bracero and labor activist, and grounded in a deep commitment and lived understanding of the communities CASA serves, George’s leadership spans from local organizing to advancing national strategies for immigrant justice. His work reflects the heart of CASA’s mission: building power, dignity, and belonging for all.

Angela Ferrell-Zabala serves as the first ever Executive Director of Moms Demand Action where she is responsible for leading and growing the largest grassroots network in the gun violence prevention space. Angela has been with the organization since 2019 leading its movement building work overseeing grassroots organizing, external, cultural and corporate engagement, and national partnerships and programming. 

As a lifelong organizer, Angela is passionate about movement building, uplifting and centering often marginalized voices, and empowering the next generation of leaders. She is a mother of four and a lover of music, art, dance and theater.

Darien Flowers is a seasoned fundraising strategist, political advisor, and founder of Flourish Strategies LLC - a boutique firm helping mission-driven organizations tap into new donor communities, scale operations, and tell their stories with purpose. He also serves as a Senior Advisor for Texas-based youth civic engagement nonprofit, the Cornerstone Project. 

Gabe is a veteran of Iraq where he was awarded a Bronze Star with a Valor, V-device, distinguishing himself in combat. During the Obama Administration, he served an International Government Affairs Fellow on the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future, as a Senior Advisor to the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan and as a Senior Advisor at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gabe is the former Vice Chair of the DNC's Veterans and Military Families Council and currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party.

The president of Arrowhead Strategies is Brittany Grimm. Brittany has worked with some of the top organizations in Democratic politics, including the DCCC (where she served as Deputy National Finance Director and managed a team of 25 raising $132 million), EMILY’s List, 314 Action, and with dozens of Members of Congress and candidates for federal and state office across the country. 

Brittani Haywood is a digital practitioner and fundraiser from Michigan with more than a decade of experience working with political campaigns, unions, advocacy groups, and national committees. 

Fatima Heyward is a social justice leader and public servant dedicated to equipping the next generation with the tools to advocate for their civil and human rights. In 2025, she made history as the first person from New Jersey, the first woman in a decade, and only the second Black woman ever elected President of the Young Democrats of America, building on her legacy as the first Black woman president of the New Jersey Young Democrats. Professionally, she serves as National Director of Corporate Partnerships at Teach For America, where she drives six to seven-figure corporate investments to benefit teachers and students nationwide.

Amber Hord is a Director and digital strategist at Bully Pulpit International, where she develops persuasion campaigns that shape public opinion and help clients navigate high-stakes reputational challenges. Previously, she led integrated public affairs campaigns for trade associations and advocacy groups, including grassroots efforts that generated large-scale action from the public and policymakers. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Regional Director for Chuck Schumer in her hometown of Rochester, New York.

Deterrian Jones is a digital strategist from Biloxi, Mississippi, and a graduate of the University of Mississippi. After graduating, he began his career at the White House in the Office of Digital Strategy, where his office focused on social content and creator partnerships. He then joined Governor Moore's campaign in August of last year as Partnerships Manager, where his work has focused on building out the Governor's creator program.

Jazz M. Lewis is the Director of State Government Relations at the University of Maryland, where he brings more than a decade of experience in state, federal, and national public policy. A Prince George’s County native and two-time UMD graduate, he has held senior roles in the Maryland General Assembly, on Capitol Hill with Congressman Steny Hoyer, and as Legislative Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. His career has focused on advancing economic opportunity, workforce development, community revitalization, and policies that support working families

Connor Lounsbury is a highly sought-after TV consultant whose focus on aggressive earned and paid media has earned him the title of "communications guru" per Maryland Matters. He has worked for Democratic stars like Governor Wes Moore and Senator Angela Alsobrooks, playing a key role in their historic campaigns. Now, he works as a Media Consultant at Middle Seat, a firm whose clients include AOC, Governor Moore, and more.

Isaiah Martin is a political content creator with over 4.6 million followers across all platforms. He regularly debates Trump supporters on cable news and nightly TikTok lives. As a new resident to the DMV, he’s excited to be involved!

Januari McKay is a coalition builder and community advocate whose leadership is forged by deep personal resilience, from overcoming housing insecurity during college to navigating complex systems as her grandmother's primary caregiver. Grounded by these real-world experiences, she brings an authentic, grounded perspective to organizational governance, labor dynamics, and fiscal stewardship. Driven by a lifelong commitment to systemic equity, she has spent her career bridging the gap between grassroots community needs and state-level policy. Her focus remains entirely on ensuring public systems work for the people they are meant to serve.

Michelle Ngwafon is a political strategist, technology leader, and nonprofit advocate with more than 14 years of experience driving campaigns, advocacy initiatives, and organizational growth. She currently serves as Vice President at Red Horse Strategies and most recently helped lead multi-state operations for the Harris presidential campaign. Michelle has held leadership roles in political technology, fundraising, and movement-building organizations, helping mission-driven groups leverage data, digital tools, and grassroots engagement to create lasting impact.

Josh Murphy is a commentator and civic advocate with a strong interest in public policy, democratic institutions, and civic engagement. He is known for his direct and unapologetic defense of liberal democracy, democratic institutions, and public accountability, with a focus on helping people understand the real-world impact of policy decisions and institutional change. His work and conversations often center on encouraging informed discussion and meaningful civic participation.

Brittany Packnett Cunningham is an internationally recognized strategist, organizer, and creative at the intersection of political power and lasting change. As the host and executive producer of the Webby Award-winning UNDISTRACTED podcast and a TED speaker with over 8 million views, she reaches millions with a message rooted in urgency, agency, and justice. Through her work as Chief Strategy Officer at the Children’s Defense Fund and Founder of Love & Power Works, Brittany translates bold political and cultural strategy into real-world impact.

Laurel Powell is Director of Communications at the Human Rights Campaign and a leader in the fight to give trans people a fair shot. For the last decade, she has worked in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country on campaigns that furthered LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and the right of all people to live joyful lives free from unlawful discrimination. She was recognized as part of PRWeek’s 2025 Pride in P.R. list and has regularly appeared as a public speaker and as an expert voice in national media outlets.

In Trey's 12 years at G.S. Proctor & Associates, he has emerged as a real asset in local, state and federal lobbying areas; 
particularly as it relates to areas of Energy, Utilities, Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Healthcare, Zoning and Permitting, and the many other client 
interests of G.S. Proctor. Trey has a strong commitment to community involvement and, in addition to contributing countless hours to community service efforts with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Heart of America, and the Alice Ferguson Foundation, he serves on the Board of Directors for the College of Southern Maryland Foundation, Bowie State University Board of Visitors and Foundation, Foundation for the Advancement in Music and Education, and Employ Prince George’s and formerly with Historic Sotterley and Leadership Prince George’s.

Delora Sanchez Ifekauche, Esq. is Principal and Director at Cornerstone Government Affairs and founding principal of the firm's Mid-Atlantic Office, which she helped launch and build into a regional hub serving clients across Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. A recognized leader in her field, Delora has been named a Top Lobbyist by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) and one of Maryland's 40 Most Powerful in Government & Lobbying. With nearly 20 years of experience representing highly regulated industries, she brings to this panel deep expertise in Maryland policy and a track record of turning complex regulatory landscapes into strategic wins for her clients.

Bianca Shah is a native Marylander who for the past five years, has served as National Youth Chair of South Asians for America, where she works to ensure the voices of South Asian youth are uplifted in this country’s political processes. While in college, she directed national youth outreach for South Asians for Harris is 2024 and South Asians for Biden in 2020, as well as served as a 2020 Biden Delegate and MD DNC roll-call representative. After getting her start in public service through internships for Congressman Cummings and Congressman Raskin, Bianca is now a student at Michigan Law School and is home this summer working for a Maryland Appellate Court Judge. 

Amber is a strategic digital communicator and narrative strategist who leverages culture, media, and storytelling to shape public conversation and inspire political action. 

As a digital strategist, she develops integrated campaigns across social, email, and SMS—crafting compelling messaging and audience strategies that drive engagement, mobilization, and long-term impact.

Nina Smith is president and lead strategist at PoliSol Public Affairs, Inc., providing media planning, branding, and strategy for a broad range of clients, organizations, and causes, including Stacey Abrams’s first and second gubernatorial runs, Fair Fight, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Movement for Black Lives, along with other candidates, causes, and campaigns, including award-winning influencer marketing campaigns. 

Brandon Tucker is a movement strategist and policy advocate with years of experience at the intersection of racial justice, economic equity, and democracy — across electoral campaigns, labor, and civil liberties and civil rights. He is currently Senior Director of Policy & Government Affairs at Color Of Change. Previously, he served as Policy Director for the ACLU of Tennessee and led national work on policing and capital punishment at ACLU National. A Fisk University graduate, Brandon's work is rooted in building durable power in Black communities.

Ashley Wilson is the position of Vice President of Revenue at NGP VAN. In this role, she provides invaluable support to various Democratic organizations, including but not limited to the DNC, DCCC, DSCC, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, EMILY’s LIST, Democratic Municipal Officials, Maryland Democratic Party, and various political campaigns. Her primary mission was to equip these entities with cutting-edge digital tools essential for effective organization, fundraising, and voter mobilization.

Ashley boasts a wealth of experience spanning from local to national levels in both political and issue campaigns. Her journey in political campaigns began in 2008 when she first engaged with the Obama for America campaign as a deputy field organizer. Prior to her tenure at NGP VAN, Ashley was a field organizer for Hillary For America in Syracuse, New York.