Odessa Kelly - A Force To Be Reckoned With

When most people think of Nashville, they think of country music, the Grand Ole Opry, and hot chicken. But hopefully in the near future, they will also think of Odessa Kelly. Odessa (she/her) is a working-class, openly gay Black woman and mom of 2 who devotes her time, energy, and resources to the social justice non-profit she founded and now leads, Stand Up Nashville! This former Division I women’s basketball player went into public service after graduation but soon discovered that even a full-time government job is no longer enough to make ends meet. This experience of living hand-to-mouth motivated Odessa to start her social justice work advocating for the working class, housing justice, and racial equity in her home city. Read on to learn more about the force of nature that is Odessa Kelly!

Marie Newman, an Activist from High School to Congress

Marie Newman (she/her), a lifelong progressive activist, is a former US Representative whose office in the Longworth House Office Building was located right across from right-wing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. After Greene insulted Newman’s transgender daughter, Newman flew the transgender pride flag outside of her own office. But advocating for transgender people is just one of many progressive positions Newman has agitated for over the course of her life. She has been a woman’s rights, gun reform, healthcare and income equity champion her entire life. Her prescriptive memoir, A Life Made From Scratch, is due to be released on March 18. Read on to learn more about the tremendous work of Marie Newman!

Kara Eastman - Redefining Midwestern Nice

Kara Eastman (she/her) is a woman of many passions, but aside from punk rock nearly all of them involve making lives better for people who unduly suffer under the effects of untamed late-stage capitalism, the for-profit health industry, the lack or disregard of environmental regulations, or media centralized in the hands of the ultra-wealthy. After a career of activism, she shows no signs of slowing down! Read on to learn more about the work of the indefatigable Kara Eastman!

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Sade Elhawary, California State Assembly District 57

Sade Elhawary (she/her) is a millennial activist and high school history teacher. A graduate of UCLA and Harvard, Sade served as a prominent member of Karen Bass’s successful election campaign to be mayor of Los Angeles. At age 28, she traveled the world, visiting 28 countries - one for each year of her age. As a Black and Latina community activist, Sade is most passionate about unifying Black and Brown people to combat white supremacy, and fight for racial equity and economic justice. As a proud member of the LGBTQ community, she promotes the queer community's resilience and political struggle for liberation. Sade is promoting healthcare for all (including reproductive and mental health), providing educational and employment opportunities for young people, and criminal justice reform in her campaign.

Keir - Expressed Through Music

Keir, a songwriter and musician who conveys his feelings via songs, is blazing through the industry with his new track "Lemonade." As a young musician, Keir spent time advocating for mental health and autism, and he continues to weave themes concerning mental health into his lyrics. With a new single named "Voices In The Night" recently released, he continues to share his poetic masterpieces with the world. To find out more about Keir and his work, keep reading!

Lexy Kolker - Friends, Family, & Hollywood

Lexy Kolker likes to keep it real. Based in Los Angeles and inspired by her sister, Ava, Lexy was introduced to the industry early on and acting comes naturally for her. Especially her latest role as Riley in Manifest West, which Lexy can relate to a lot. Acting aside, Lexy also likes to give back by working with organizations like Pawworks and St. Jude Hospital. Let Jejune Magazine take you deeper into the life of Lexy Kolker.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 46Tejasvi PradeepJanuary 4, 2023actress, movie, TV Series, TV, film, Awareness, activists, activism, animal rescue, animalsComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Kristen Gonzalez, New York State Senate District 59

This week we are profiling Kristen Gonzalez (she/her/hers). Kristen is a tech worker, community organizer, and democratic socialist representing parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens next year in the New York State Senate. On August 23, she won the Democratic primary for one of two new state Senate districts, capturing 58% of the vote against a well-funded opponent. Prior to running for office, she was involved as a leader in the Democratic Socialists of America and as a local community organizer, working on campaigns for community land trusts, climate action, and public internet. She was raised by a single mother from Puerto Rico in Elmhurst, Queens, where she first got involved in activism, eventually working her way to the Obama White House before returning to community organizing in Queens.

Women's History Month and the Top 10 Women Of Our Time

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Jejune is honoring ten women of our generation that are making a difference both inside and outside of their respective industries. The list includes musicians, athletes, activists, politicians, humanitarians, and designers that are going above and beyond their field of work. Although we have come a long way for female equality here in the U.S., women across the world are still struggling to achieve the same equality. As the month of March comes to a close, our hope is that the strong women of this generation and that of the next follow in the footsteps of the strong women listed below in order to promote a better world.