our team
Finding Inspiration at Every Turn
Our Story
We are scholars brought together through the tenets of Applied Social Justice, representing a wide spectrum of expertise, including Social Policy, STEM, AI ethics and Governance, Arts and Culture, Healthcare, Media, Education, Faith Leadership, and Incarceration Reform. Our collective work spans institutions and communities, blending research, practice, and lived experience to confront systemic inequities from multiple angles. What unites us is a shared commitment to advancing justice through interdisciplinary collaboration, structural analysis, and community-rooted solutions that move beyond theory into transformative action.
Meet The team
Discover the people behind the mission—click a headshot to learn more.
Cortez Watson Jr.
MEd, LSMA, MA
Cortez Watson Jr. is an education leader and strategist dedicated to advancing equity, evaluating impact, and building programs that empower Black youth, families, and communities through his work at the Black Star Project.
Rev. Damon Smith
MDIV
Rev. Damon Smith is a faith leader, advocate, and community builder committed to justice, equity, and collective healing through spiritual leadership and public engagement.
Denise Zubizarreta is an interdisciplinary strategist, artist, and scholar working at the intersection of arts, journalism, and emerging technology to build more equitable systems and challenge entrenched power.
Juanita Marquez is an educator and advocate advancing mental health, trans rights, and anti-racist, human-centered approaches to education and community care.
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Dr. Quanice Floyd is a liberation worker and cultural strategist whose scholarship and practice center arts, culture, and collective liberation as tools for systemic transformation.
Tess Hernandez is a STEM equity advocate committed to creating inclusive pathways in science and technology through education, mentorship, and systemic change.