Meet the Storytellers | September 4

Jasmine identifies as Black and White/Interracial and uses she/her pronouns.

Jasmine is originally a dancer, dance teacher, and actress from Tacoma, WA. After performing for Walt Disney World and Disney Live touring shows, she studied Dance and Music at the University of Washington and graduated with honors in 2015. In addition to being apart of NAACP- award winning theatrical plays in Los Angeles between 2016 and 2018, her acting work has spanned across media networks such as TNT, Amazon Prime, Pure Flix, and SyFy. She has also produced and starred in her own short action fan-film. 

A PEEK INTO JASMINE'S STORY: At just 10 years old, Jasmine witnesses the most compassionate state trooper that touched her family's lives during a tragic moment. That impression drove her to join the Washington State Police Academy to give back and elevate the role of police officer--as both a woman and a person of color--could contribute. She shares how that experience has been and where she sits with her life changing decision.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women 

Devan identifies as Black and uses he/him pronouns.

Devan Sandiford is a published writer and three-time NYC Moth StorySLAM champion. His stories have been featured in The Washington Post, The Moth podcast, Speak Up Storytelling, Love Hurts podcast, and Open Hands podcast. He is also the founder of Unreeling Storytelling, a Brooklyn-based true storytelling show providing a platform that sheds light on the repressed perspectives of people of color, women, and other marginalized individuals. 

Devan is working on his first book—a memoir in short stories removing the curtain of race to reveal hard truths about the emotional and psychological pain a human feels when being treated as less than human. Devan shares his stories to take ownership of the ways in which he internalized racism and to show how he finally learned to shed racism’s grip on his soul. Devan was born and raised in Southern California, but now lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and their two sons. For more information about Devan and his book, visit his website below or join his mailing list.

The Garner Way Foundation

Abie identifies as British African American and uses either she/her or they/them pronouns.

Abie is an actress, singer and “Cosplayer” living in Seattle, WA. She has an extensive background resume and has been in the entertainment industry professionally with IMDB credits since September 2013. Abie came on board with the agency Big Fish Northwest to work with the next generation of professional TV and Film professionals on the show Strowlers, a fantasy film project released by Zombie Orpheus Entertainment. She’s been involved with a number of other projects, including: Grimm, Man In The High Castle, Librarians, Portlandia, JourneyQuest and even Z-Nation, filmed in Spokane, WA. Abie is also working on a number of undisclosed future projects.

A PEEK INTO ABIE'S STORY: As a trained Navy intelligence talent, Abie knows how to scope out a situation--especially after serving two tours of duty. Then Abie finds themself in a war again, but this time it's here in her own city of Seattle. This peaceful protestor stands up for justice and helped establish CHOP and be a part of social justice history. 

The Greenlight Project

Harjas is an Indian, Sikh, non-resident alien, software engineer in America. Harjas uses he/him pronouns.

Harjas came to the U.S. at the age of 18 and has been here for 9 years. He views himself as an outsider looking in and credits his experiences here in shaping who he is today. He'd like to believe that he inherited storytelling from his grandfather and that telling your story can truly change the world. 

A PEEK INTO HARJAS' STORY: Coming to America from India where he is a proud Sikh, Harjas learned that the impression he gives others, simply by the way he looks, has been eye-opening and weighs on his heart as a man of deep faith in the human spirit.

The Sikh Coalition

Kristina identifies as Latina/ Hispana/ Indigena/ Negra and uses she/her pronouns.

Once upon a time, there was a  young woman named Kristina. For Kristina, stories are everywhere; from the looks we give when sharing an inside joke to the mysterious pair of pants that suddenly appear on a random street corner. She learned to love and tell stories from her grandmothers, great-grandmother and, yes, even her great-great-grandmother.   When she is not referring to herself in storybook form, Kristina spends her time as a portrait photographer, short story writer, and amateur vegetable gardener. She has lived in many places and met many people, but whether on a beach adventure with her pup Olaf, or at home making her husband Elvin laugh, she finds joy in truly being with people.

A PEEK AT KRISTINA'S STORY: Raised in Puerto Rico where the variety of skin tones are usually celebrated, Kristina shares moments within the United States mainland--and within her own culture that she must stand up for being Black. 

The Sierra Club: Contributions will be split evenly between La Union Del Pueblo Entero, South Texas Human Rights Center, Border Workers United, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, Puente Human Rights Movement, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Kino Border Initiative, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, NM CAFe (Comunidades en Acción y de Fé), ARISE Support Center, New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, Humane Borders, and No More Deaths

Stephanie B. is a creative problem solver, storyteller, and advocate for entrepreneurs living with ADD symptoms. She founded "Power Your Productivity" during the COVID-19 pandemic: a community for those looking to embrace their individuality and increase their productivity at home and in their career. 

A PEEK AT STEPHANIE B's STORY: While sitting in a salon chair to once again take her African-American culture and blend it to the white world---Stephanie has a deep epiphany about what hair says about her own Black pride and self confidence being a person of color.

Color of Change