Squad
“A key aspect of my role at Creative Justice is to tell the stories of resilience, strength and potential of our young people, where I have the opportunity to uplift our people’s creativity and the vision of community care we all need and deserve. This makes a difference in creating and maintaining spaces where all of our youth—even the most marginalized and vilified—can be affirmed, supported and loved.”
Aaron Counts (AC) (he/him), Co-Founder & Curricular Coach
“At Creative Justice, I'm passionate about using art to support individuals dealing with various circumstances in life. It allows me to help co-create a space with young people that foster expression and healing. Through art, individuals can explore their emotions, experiences, and struggles in a various manners, which can be especially helpful for those who may find it difficult to articulate their feelings. I hope to empower individuals to process their life stories, build resilience, and find a sense of empowerment and self-discovery.”
Assata Lewis (she/her), BASE Program Director
“My practice is rooted in the notion that through art-making, creativity, and a dynamic therapeutic relationship you can begin to explore your understanding of your ideal self and its juxtaposition to your worldview. Through the alignment of how you believe others see you, how you wish to be seen by others, and how you see yourself you are capable of evolving and actualizing that optimum entity.”
Dalisha Phillips (she/her), HEAL Therapeutic Art Cultivator
“In my capacity as Director of the Creative Cafe, I am responsible for the development and implementation of the Creative Cafe Internship and well as maintaining the psychical space of the Cafe. The Cafe Internship provides youth with the skills and tools to become one of best baristas in town and be able to apply those skills anywhere in the world. The Creative Cafe offers a 3rd space for our shared communities to find each other and build together in person as we are.”
Daniel Bash (he/him), Creative Cafe Director
“At Creative Justice, I'm passionate about maintaining safe places for youth, as it allows me to provide the freedom to stop breath and connect with themselves and each other that I wish I had as a young person, addressing the need for slow personal moments within our community.”
Khalil (he/him), Creative Cafe Manager
"I am passionate about the power of story-telling and how it can help amplify both youth-perspective and the important work and tools around basic needs and community care that Creative Justice focuses on.”
Mira Kraft (she/her), Communications Director
“At Creative Justice I am passionate about facilitating spaces where youth and young adults can explore their creativity and cultivate healthier, deeper relationships with their self and each other.”
Nikkita Oliver (they/them), Executive Coaching Consultant
“I am really passionate about the Inside-Out work we are doing, where young people connect with our incarcerated loved ones from the cultural collective to talk about how to get free together & build a different, safer world.”
Rose Harriot-Sitthivong (she/her), Strategic Organizing Director
“At CJ, I’m passionate about connecting young people with nourishing, culturally appropriate, relevant and accessible health and wellness education, resources, and other connections that rooted in traditional ecological wisdom, the plant and natural world, liberatory land stewardship, as well as connecting them with briliant and inspiring creative entrepreneurial mentors and opportunities in the community. I love this role as it allows me to connect with young people where they are at, assisting them in developing their own understanding of wellness for themselves, their families, communities and the planet. We also get to explore together in community how our creativity can not only be a viable and fulfilling career path, but also an integral part of our collective healing and liberation. Because were able to bridge the gap of some of the unmet needs they may be experiencing under capitalism and white hegemony, we have the space to envision and work towards a liberated future that is safe, healthy and just for all life and the planet.”
Shelagh Brown (she/her), Health and Wellness Director
"At Creative Justice, I'm passionate about growing our program, as it allows me the ability to connect with new youth, addressing the lack of youth-led art programs within our community."
Travonna Thompson-Wiley (she/her), Community Support Director
“At Creative Justice, I'm passionate about supporting participants in feeling empowered to make informed decisions regarding their individual needs and navigating systems of oppression. I strive to do this through skill building with them via workshops, helping them access community based resources and understand their rights, as well as providing financial assistance, & overall one on one support. I feel especially passionate about hearing about participants lives, what brought them to CJ and where they hope to grow.”
Veronica Johanson-Faison (she/they), Community Care Director
Additional Roles
Our Youth Fellows, Cafe Interns and Youth Leadership Board Members play a HUGE role in guiding the growth and direction of Creative Justice. For confidentiality reasons we do not put photos of most youth participants on public platforms. Youth participants, Fellows, Youth Leadership Board members, Peer Mentor Artists, and Cafe Interns are the foundation of Creative Justice.
We also have the honor of building with our gifted Mentor Artists as well as Black Power Unlimited.