Communications Institute
The Opportunity Agenda’s Communications Institute is an annual event that brings together diverse social justice leaders from around the nation for intensive communications skill-building and support. The Institute, which takes place in New York City, is a four-day residency that prepares the movement’s up-and-coming voices to cut through the noise with effective messages that will persuade and mobilize key audiences.
Rev. Vivian Nixon
Executive Director, College and Community FellowshipVivian Nixon is Executive Director of College and Community Fellowship (CCF), an organization committed to removing individual and structural barriers to higher education for women with criminal record histories and their families. She is currently a Columbia University Community Scholar and has received multiple honors, including the John Jay Medal...
Get To know Rev. VivianZachary Norris
Executive Director, Ella Baker Center for Human RightsZachary Norris is the Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, former director of our Books Not Bars campaign, a Harvard graduate, and an NYU-educated attorney. Prior to rejoining the Ella Baker Center, Zachary founded and co-directed Justice for Families, a national alliance of family-driven organizations working...
Get To know ZacharyMark O'Brien
Director of Opioid Overdose Prevention and Treatment, Baltimore City Health Department | Behavioral Health System BaltimoreMark O'Brien is the Baltimore City Director of Opioid Overdose Prevention and Treatment where he works to implement a multi-agency response to the opioid crisis and resulting overdose deaths. Prior to starting at BCHD and BSHB, Mark was a Senior Criminal Justice Policy Associate and Acting Director of Communications in...
Get To know MarkPriscilla Olivarez
Policy Attorney, Immigrant Legal Resource CenterPriscilla Olivarez is a Policy Attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) based in San Antonio, TX. Priscilla's other advocacy experience includes working abroad, providing legal support to survivors of human trafficking in the Philippines. Priscilla has also advocated on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and represented unaccompanied...
Get To know PriscillaVictor Palafox
Steering Committee Member/Organizer, Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice/Immigrant Youth Leadership Initiative of AlabamaVictor Palafox is a community organizer and aspiring History teacher based in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama with the Immigrant Youth Leadership Initiative of Alabama and a Steering Committee member with the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice. Born in Mexico City, he was raised in Alabama, has resided there ever...
Get To know VictorAndrea Panjwani
Co-Executive Director, Immigrant Defense ProjectAndrea serves as Co-Executive Director of the Immigrant Defense Project, an organization dedicated to protecting immigrants from deportation, detention, and separation from their families and communities through legislative and policy advocacy, impact litigation and training, and advising advocates and judges. Andrea previously served as legal director of African Services Committee,...
Get To know AndreaDennis Parker
Director of the Racial Justice Program, ACLUDennis Parker is the Director of the ACLU's Racial Justice Program, which seeks to create equal opportunities for communities of color through litigation, public education, organizing, and legislation. Prior to joining the ACLU, he was Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and...
Get To know DennisStevie Paz
Digital Organizer, NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe (CAFe) & CAFe ActionStevie Paz was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, about 100 miles away from the border. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice. She has been a New Mexico Comunidades en Accion y de Fe now for 6 years. Stevie believes that...
Get To know StevieOlivia Peña
Deputy Program Director, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s RightsOlivia Peña oversees the Harlingen, Houston, and San Antonio teams where staff are appointed as the independent Child Advocates for unaccompanied and separated children in immigration custody.
Get To know OliviaJessica Peñaranda
Special Projects Coordinator, Sex Workers Project/Urban Justice CenterJessica Peñaranda is the Special Projects Coordinator for the Sex Workers Project, providing direct services to sex workers and survivors of trafficking after arrest, documenting best practices, and conducting trainings with court personnel and service providers. Jessica has worked on issues relating to violence against marginalized communities for over eight...
Get To know Jessica