Speakers

Sherry Wolf: Sherry Wolf is the author of Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics and Theory of LGBT Liberation and is an associate editor of the International Socialist Review. Wolf, who is Jewish, is also a member of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network

Nada Elia: After a three-year stint as a war journalist, Nada Elia has taught at Purdue University, Tufts University, the University of Massachusetts, Brown University and most recently Washington State University. Elia is the author of Trances, Dances, and Vociferations:  Agency and Resistance in Africana Women’s Narratives, and is currently at work on a second book, focusing on global activism for Palestinian human rights. Elia was guest editor for a special issue of Radical Philosophy Review, focusing on the Second Intifada, and co-editor of The Color of Violence:  the INCITE! Anthology, as well The Revolution Will Not Be Funded:  Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex, which won the 2007 Gustavus Meyer Center Outstanding Book Award for Advancing Human Rights.

Christina Noriega: Christina Noriega is a journalism major at the University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Committee.

Jonathon Orta: Jonathon Orta is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Committee as well as the International Socialist Organization. He studies International Relation & Global Studies and Latin American Studies.

Sarah Emilia Garcia: Sarah studies anthropology at UT and is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Committee.

Pace Davis: Pace Davis recently spent 6 months working with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the West Bank. He was present in the West Bank from June until the end of November 2012, and witnessed the effects of Operation Pillar of Cloud on Palestinians residing in the West Bank and inside the state of Israel. He is an Austin native, and graduated from The University of Texas.

Ramon Mejia: Ramon Mejia is a member of ‘Iraq Veterans Against the War’ and is currently employed as a History Interpreter at the Alamo Historic Site. He enlisted into the U. S. Marine Corps in July 2001 out of economic necessity and would first learn about Islam during recruit training at MCRD San Diego upon learning of the attacks of Sept. 11th. In 2003, he was part of the invading forces in Iraq. As a result of his experience in Iraq, Mejia felt the need to learn more about the history of Islam, and what Islam signifies. He made his shahada (declaration of faith) on August 29, 2008. According to Mejia, Islam has encouraged him to investigate and engage in social and political issues and in late 2008, he took part in his first protest in response to the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Inspired by his favorite historian Howard Zinn, Mejia aspires to become a high school Social Studies teacher.

Tammie Danielsen: Tammie Danielsen, MHR, born in Cedar Falls Iowa and baptized at the Nazareth Lutheran Church has been a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Austin, TX for over 10 years. Prior to her time in Texas, Tammie studied at the University of Oklahoma where she earned both a BA in Political Science with a minor in Spanish and a MA in Human Relations. In addition, Tammie served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard as a Public Relations Representative for 12 years. Since moving to Texas, Tammie has been involved in peace and justice issues within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America(ELCA) and with local nonprofit organizations such as the Interfaith Community for Palestinian Rights (ICPR). Her interest and involvement in these peace and justice organizations/activities stemmed from a visit to Israel and Palestine in May 2005. Tammie participated in the EAPPI (Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel) program November 2011 2013.

Kymberlie Quong Charles: As an undergraduate student at Earlham College, Kymberlie spent a semester studying the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in Jerusalem, sparking an interest and commitment to working for justice in the region.  Following graduation she worked on the Israel-Palestine Peacebuilding Program at the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia, PA from 2002-2004.  While living in Philadelphia she helped to co-found Philly SUSTAIN (Stop US Tax-Funded Aid to Israel) and joined the national organizing body of the Palestine Solidarity Movement helping to coordinate three national PSM conferences.  Following her position with the AFSC, Kymberlie transitioned to a national coordinator position with the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation until 2007.  From 2002-2007 she was also involved in local and national anti-war organizing in Philly and DC as a  Steering Committee member of United for Peace and Justice.  She is currently a member of the national organizing collective of INCITE.

Kellee Coleman: Kellee Coleman was born and raised in Austin, Texas and has been involved in community change efforts. As a teenager she was a part of a community youth run talk show. In 2004 she joined another mama doing a radio show on KOOP addressing issues that affect poor women of color in the Austin region. Over 4 years Mamis of Color turned into Mamas of Color Rising, an organizating collective of mothers in Austin working to intervene and model a just world. Kellee is currently a coordinator of Vibrant Woman/Mama Sana prenatal clinic, a project of Mamas of Color Rising, which is to provide free pregnancy tests, holistic prenatal care, birth companion, midwife, and prenatal fitness and nutrition services to poor black and latina women in the Austin area. In 2012 Kellee joined the national collective on INCITE.