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2025 Ukombozi Fellowship Application Update!New Due Date: December 20th, 2024
After an uptick in interest from collective members after recent events, we have decided to move the last day to apply for the 2025 fellowship to December 20th, 2024. We know that this work and collective building of community leaders will be essential moving forward and want to allow anyone else who wishes to be a part of this next cohort more time to apply. This fellowship is for anyone who is looking for a way to build and shift power in their community, with the skills, the knowledge, and the confidence needed to be an anti-racist leader. Ukombozi means to liberate oneself in Swahili and we are committed to doing this work despite the many efforts to silence our voices, you can be a part of this collective today by applying below.
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Final Info-Session: December 11th, 2024 @12pm CT
We have also decided to have one final info-session to answer any questions about the new schedule and encourage anyone who feels lost on what they can do in community these next few years. We are excited to speak with folks interested in this work so please share and spread the word to your community and with anyone you feel might benefit from being present.
Registration Link Below:
Registration Link Below:
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Marilyn (She/Her)Marilyn Allen is a recent graduate of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. Originally from North Carolina, she moved to West Texas to earn her Bachelor of Social Work at Abilene Christian University. Passionate about social justice, Marilyn has always sought out spaces dedicated to equity and inclusion. This commitment led her to pursue Macro Social Work, focusing on systemic change and anti-oppressive practices. Beyond her work in social justice, Marilyn spends her time working at The Swap HTX, a community initiative that promotes sustainable fashion, local collaboration, and creative self expression. Marilyn is thrilled to join the Ukombozi Fellowship and looks forward to deepening her understanding of the anti-racist lifestyle. What Liberation Means to Me: "To me, true liberation is when all individuals feel free to be who they are. Liberation calls for the inclusion and equity of all identities, ensuring a sense of comfort and belonging for everyone." |
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LaTasha (She/Her)I’m a social worker, organizer, and advocate who believes in the power of community to create real change. My work sits at the intersection of civic engagement, reproductive justice, and environmental justice—because I’ve seen firsthand how these systems impact BIPOC communities in ways that are too often overlooked. My passion for cultural humility and anti-racism isn’t just about theory; it comes from lived experiences and from walking alongside folks navigating barriers that shouldn’t exist in the first place. At the heart of what I do is a commitment to coalition-building, advocacy, and making sure our communities have the tools, resources, and power to shape their own futures. What Liberation Means to Me: "Liberation, to me, means living without fear—knowing that who I am is valued, affirmed, and celebrated. It’s about breaking down the systems that make basic needs like clean air, safe housing, healthcare." |
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Mariam (She/Her)I'm Mariam Falana, a junior at Rice University majoring in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience while pursuing a Certificate in Civic Leadership. My work spans multiple disciplines--I'm a student researcher studying emotion regulation in neuroscience and historical preservation in Brazoria County; a mentor, guiding students as a Peer Research Ambassador with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry; a community leader, working on equity-driven initiatives in arts education and civic engagement; and a performing artist, directing Rice'a Afro-dance team, AKOMA, and participating in outside dance teams and companies.
Whether through research, mentorship, advocacy, or movement, I'm passionate about exploring how storytelling, science, and community intersect to create meaningful impact. What Liberation Means to Me: "Liberation, to me, is the freedom to exist without survival being the driving force behind every choice. It's about having the space to pursue my passions, not just because I have to, but because I genuinely want to. True liberation means breaking free from the structures that force people into cycles of struggles and instead creating opportunities where fulfillment and joy are just as valid as security and stability. It's also a collective movement--one that requires dismantling the systemic barriers that keep communities from thriving on their own terms. While the path to liberation isn't always straightforward, every step taken toward authenticity, creativity, and self-determination is a powerful act of resistance." |
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DanielleDanielle Pierre Hixon, MPH, is a public health professional and PhD student in Health Education at the University of Cincinnati, where she is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Community-Engaged Research for Health. Her research focuses on women’s health equity, anti-racism, qualitative methods, and community-based participatory research (CBPR).
Danielle holds a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health from Fort Valley State University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Spelman College. She currently manages community health initiatives, working to improve health outcomes through collaboration, community partnerships, and a focus on health equity and holistic well-being. What Liberation Means to Me: "For me, liberation means the freedom to live authentically, unapologetically, and without the constraints of systemic oppression. It is about dismantling the structures that perpetuate inequity and creating a world where every individual, particularly Black women, can thrive. Liberation means having the power to define our own narratives, make choices about our lives, and access the resources we need to succeed without barriers rooted in racism, sexism, or other forms of oppression. It’s about healing, JOY, and collective empowerment." |
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AngelinaThe Honorable Angelina Nordstrom has been serving the LGBTQ community for a number of years. They are currently a graduate student at Roosevelt University in Chicago, studying for their Master's of Science in Human Resources Management.
Angelina was awarded the 30 Under 30 award by the Windy City Times in 2019 for their advocacy work, and the Esteem Award for Outstanding Transgender Person in 2020 for their work in the transgender community. They currently serve as a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Gender Pathways Initiative at Northwestern Medicine to improve healthcare access and the patient experience that trans patients receive. They are best known as a powerful lyricist, poet, public speaker, and writer. |
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GeorgiaGeorgia Rodriguez is a dedicated community organizer working to dismantle systemic racism and uplift BIPOC voices in the fight for equity and justice. Her work spans immigrant rights, reproductive justice, and community-driven policy change, all grounded in the belief that collective liberation is essential to achieving a just world.
Based in Texas, Georgia has worked with organizations such as Woori Juntos, We Testify, and Avow Texas, using storytelling, organizing, and strategic consulting to challenge oppressive structures. She recently co-led the launch of a groundbreaking Repro Care Kit pilot program in Houston, ensuring access to critical healthcare resources for those most impacted by systemic barriers. A lifelong learner, Georgia is continuously deepening her understanding of the intersections between abortion rights, immigration justice, and structural inequities to strengthen her impact. She is committed to anti-racist change work that redistributes power and builds transformative, community-led solutions. She continues to develop strategies that center BIPOC voices, reshape policies, and create sustainable, inclusive movements that challenge systemic oppression and advance true equity. |
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NadiaNadia Valliani is Director of Community Impact at Greater Houston Community Foundation where she leads the Foundation’s administration of high-impact community grants. Previously, Nadia held a research position at the Greater Houston Partnership where she analyzed and interpreted economic, demographic, and social data; conducted policy research; and supported the work of UpSkill Houston, an initiative to strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers in the region.
Nadia has a background in education and has held roles at Houston Independent School District and a California-based higher education research and policy organization, and has 10 years of experience leading programming, volunteer management, and fundraising at various nonprofit public charities. Nadia holds a master’s in public policy and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. She is a 2025 Ukombozi Fellow and volunteers as a Court Appointed Child Advocate. What Liberation Means to Me: "Liberation, to me, is being able to just be. To live one’s life free from the boundaries and restrictions and constraints imposed upon us and that we have imposed upon ourselves, like perfectionism and self-doubt or fear of rejection. Liberation involves dismantling the systemic barriers and oppressive structures that keep so many of us down (and reinforce our internal chains), so those in power can stay on top. And until each of us is liberated, none of us is liberated." |
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Dr. Michelle WattsDr. Michelle Watts is a humanities educator who is committed to using humanist literature to bring diverse groups of people together to find common ground. Over the years, Dr. Watts has taught a full range of students – from Kindergarten to graduate school- and delights in her students’ achievements and efforts to effect substantive change in the world around them.
She is a native Houstonian who was raised in a family committed to serving the community. Her first volunteer venture was to raise funds for “Jerry’s Kids,’ as part of the Labor Day Muscular. Dystrophy Telethon. Even though she was only able to raise a hundred dollars, the memories of knocking on doors and asking for support for a cause she believed in was her first step in a long line of community work. Michelle has come a long way since that day in September, but the one constant in her life and work, has been an unyielding commitment to working in solidarity with marginalized communities. Her interest in this work lead her to Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in English and Politics. Mount Holyoke was fertile ground for her interests an dactivism and while there, she began her lifelong journey with the theory and practice of Black feminism. Upon graduation, Michelle returned to Houston to study American Literature and Culture at Rice University, where she earned both a Master’s and Doctorate. While pursuing her graduate degrees, Michelle received the Erskine Peters Fellowship from the University of Notre Dame, which supported her work and also prepared her for Midwest winters. She went on to teach at Miami University in Oxford, OH and the University of Cincinnati. While at Miami, she was recognized as an Honored Professor for her ‘remarkable commitment to students.’ She has extensive experience in the public sector where she has worked to advance educational equity and social justice causes in youth-serving organizations. Michelle continues to actively research African American life and culture and received the 1905 Alumnae Fellowship from Mount Holyoke to research Black girlhood and civic engagement and recently published an article on children’s literature of the Harlem Renaissance. She has worked for Houston ISD and other nonprofits in the greater Houston area and is currently at work on a research project on African American children’s and young adult literature. |