Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Kerene Moore, Michigan 15th District Court

Kerene Moore (she/her) is a queer social justice attorney with over 15 years of legal and public service experience. She is currently the Director of Conviction Integrity at the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office. She previously served as a juvenile referee and judicial attorney in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, and as an administrative law examiner with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. She started her career at Legal Services of South Central Michigan where she provided free representation to over 1,000 under resourced clients. In 2014, she also founded Outreach, a pro bono LGBTQ+ advocacy project with University of Michigan law students. Throughout her career, she has served on the committees and boards of several organizations including the Jim Toy Community Center, Equality Michigan, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission. She has also served as co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Law Section of the Washtenaw County Bar Association and is the incoming chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s LGBTQ+ Law Section. Kerene is passionate about increasing access to justice to people from all walks of life, supporting treatment courts, ensuring that crime victims are receiving support, and actively reducing systemic bias in our courts.

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.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Christina Henderson, Council of the District of Columbia, At-large

Christina Henderson (she/her) is one of four At-large members of the Council of the District of Columbia. The Council comprises a representative from each of DC’s 8 wards, as well as a chairperson and four representatives who represent the whole city, including Christina. A political independent, Christina identifies herself as a “pragmatic progressive,” championing causes such as reproductive and maternal health (she chairs the Health Committee of the Council), early childhood education, transportation equity and safety, and higher education access and student loan forgiveness.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - DeShanna Neal, Delaware House of Representatives District 13

This week we are profiling DeShanna Neal (she/they), a single mother of four who is an LGBTQ+ rights activist and Democratic Socialist Delaware State Representative. Elected in 2022, they ran on a platform focusing on mental health, the environment, and the legalization of marijuana; this year their focus is on Accessibility for all, Maternal Healthcare for Incarcerated Women, and LGBTQ+ rights. DeShanna is the author of the children’s book My Rainbow, about their transgender daughter, and they are the co-organizer and creator of New Castle County's first ever LGBTQ Youth Pride Festival, as well as, Delaware's first Drag Queen Story Hour. They have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix (UoPX), and just recently graduated with a master’s degree from Wilmington University (WilmU).

Tony Ofori - Doing What He Loves

Born and brought up in Canada, Tony Ofori started his acting journey as a theater actor. Tony has been on a journey of telling stories while doing the things he loves to do. He recently starred in the Emmy-winning series Ghostwriter that released its third installment on Apple TV+ this fall. Much like his character, Malcolm, Tony is very active in raising a voice for the black community. Please read on to learn more in our exclusive interview below!

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 46Disha GuptaDecember 14, 2022actor, canadian, black community, theatre, TV Series, diversity, Black Artists, black rightsComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Kim Jackson, Georgia State Senate District 41

This week we are profiling Rev. Kim Jackson (she/her/hers), an ordained Episcopal priest and the first openly LGBT+ state senator in Georgia. A Black millennial lesbian, Jackson works to protect voting rights, reform education and criminal justice, expand Medicaid, and protecting immigrants and refugees. She is the vicar of the Church of the Common Ground, a “church without walls” ministering to the needs of the unhoused in Atlanta, and is very passionate about providing affordable housing to Georgians.

Mastering Your Mindset with Charyn Harris

Charyn Harris is a woman who does it all! This Los Angeles-based author, educator, motivational speaker, musician, and music business professional began her career touring as a keyboardist for R&B legend Barry White. She graduated from Berklee College of Music and earned an MBA from The University of Phoenix. In 2004, Charyn founded Project MuszEd, a nonprofit agency providing arts education, performance, and programming. She is also, the host of her own podcast called Musicians Guide to Grit, empowering musicians and females worldwide through her knowledge and expertise as a woman and leader in the music business. She newly released her debut book The Art of War for Creatives, which addresses mastering your mindset and learning to create a foundation for yourself to have the life and career that you deserve. In 2020, Charyn co-founded My Good with Macy Gray, to support families who lost a loved one to police brutality. To learn more about Charyn Harris and the incredible initiatives she has created, continue reading below.

Creativity Never Stops for Lara Mamoun

What’s the best thing about creativity? You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Despite being a multi-Award Winning screenwriter, this artist continues seeking creative challenges to become the best version of herself. The artist is Lara Mamoun! Aside from her directed film — My World — screened at Plaza Theater recently, the driven Atlanta screenwriter is simultaneously working with Netflix, directing her first feature film and assistant directing a dramatic all-Black production. Above and beyond, she expanded her horizons and dove into the Comedy and Music world, where she is a cast member of a live-sketch comedy show and is currently on the move to launch her first EP — Purple Skies. There is no stopping when it comes to Lara Mamoun and Jejune is here for it. Come check out our interview with Mamoun to learn more about her exciting creative journey as she pushes boundaries to become the best version of herself.

Sipping 'The Tea' With Olivia Charmaine

Our screens are a place where people tell stories to each other or the world beyond our borders. But, our history proves that these screens usually don't tell the stories of all of us. Racial and gender-based discrimination is still there and what we are looking for is some diversity, equality, and inclusion. However, there are some people want to change this unjust structure by telling our stories! Olivia Charmaine is a film and television producer and she embracing her melanin, queerness, and womxn power after making her mark in the TV & film industry as one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets, with her weekly live stream show, The Tea currently on IGTV. The Tea is a weekly IGTV series that invites celebrity guests to relax, unwind, and participate in one-on-one conversations mindfully and reflectively. It brings people of color and colorful people together every Tuesday at 8 PM EST. Celebrities who have attended the event so far are Everett Osbourne, Darius Coleman, Luke Lawal, and more. Olivia also has a production company, Black Monarch Entertainment, which is very inline with The Tea. Its main aim is to support people of color and anyone from a marginalized community with a story to tell. Check out our exclusive interview with Olivia Charmaine to learn more about her.

Honoring Juneteenth: Celebrating Black-Owned Sustainable and Ethical Businesses

Juneteenth is in the works to become a national holiday in the USA! And, we at Jejune, couldn’t be more thrilled! Juneteenth is a day dedicated to celebrating the end of slavery in the United States, and we want to celebrate by supporting some amazing socially aware Black-owned businesses! You can impact a community and redistribute economic empowerment in choosing to shop and support Black-owned businesses on Juneteenth and every day. In honor of Juneteenth we have compiled a list of vegan, cruelty-free, ethical, and sustainable brands for you to check out!

Black Dollar Beauty Is A Voice For The Curly Hair Community

The curly hair community is a billion-dollar industry. However, there is a lack of resources that provide insight to places or products that best serve them — specifically the Black hair community. With the lack of diversity and resources, Black Dollar Beauty provides a voice for the curly hair community. They are a professional quiz matched, hair product box curated just for you. As one of the only companies on the market that provide resources to the curly hair community, Black Dollar Beauty are trailblazers destined for success. Check out our interview with the founder, Alicia Burgess.

Black LGBTQ+ Political Analyst Drexel Heard Gives Us A Sane Look On Politics On Election Day

Drexel Heard provides a unique voice as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and the youngest Black Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. Drexel formerly worked on President Obama’s Presidential campaign, and throughout the 2020 Presidential Election, he has been sharing commentary as a Political Analyst for NPR, BBC and BBC Radio. His knowledge of the government system, keen sense of domestic and international policy, and love of Washington News naturally created his strong political voice, which he happily utilizes through social media and many other outlets to lead the generation through any political climate. We spoke with Drexel about the current state of United States politics — from Black Lives Matter, to COVID-19, to the 2020 election. Please read our interview with Drexel Heard below. And then, if you haven’t already, please go vote!

Robert Eberle Has Had Enough

Robert Eberle, Long Island, New York native and musician, has had Enough. Like many of us, he has been watching the mounting issues with police brutality towards the Black population with anger and frustration. Taking to his craft, Robert teamed up with Versa the Band and Don Da Menace to help get the message out that this is Enough and things need to change. Please read our exclusive interview below with Robert Eberle.

Carlton Jordan Is A Stigma-Breaker

In a time where it feels most shows and films are about superheroes, it is refreshing to watch content that just feels real. Writer and producer Carlton Jordan is a self proclaimed, and justifiably so, stigma-breaker. He writes stories that are not only relatable, but are on issues that no one is talking about. This can especially be seen on his YouTube show “POZ ROZ”, which is about a young black woman who contracts HIV. The viewer finds themselves loving Roz through her growth and struggles as she adjusts to her new reality. Warning, there are a few spoilers here, but Carlton made sure not to give away anything for Season 2 (even though I wanted him to)! Please read further to learn more about Carlton Jordan and his creations.

Get Colorful With Creative Curls

Creative Curls (Erina Nyonyintono) is known for her colorful and creative acrylic paintings that celebrate and bring awareness to the traditions and cultures of predominantly black and ethnic minority groups. Through her art, she hopes to teach others about how representation matters, giving a population the ability to see themselves in her paintings. She "just wants to share colour, light and positivity to all those that follow.” To learn more about Creative Curls, please read our exclusive interview here.

COVER - Corey O'Brien & Ryan Russell Embody Love

In a time when the country feels so divided, Corey O'Brien & Ryan Russell’s love solidifies to me how love can heal all. These two very unique men found each other during a time they didn’t think they were even interested in a relationship, but were so charming that they couldn’t get enough of each other. A year later, they are stronger than ever, supporting each other in the midst of 2020 chaos, celebrating sobriety, going to Black Lives Matter protests, and creating a YouTube Channel to celebrate their love and individuality. To learn about one of 2020’s cutest couples, please read further.

Madison Shamoun Has Hope In The Entertainment Industry

Madison Shamoun is a well known face in the entertainment industry, most known for her roles on Black-ish and #BlackAF. With the recent rise in the Black Lives Matter movement, Shamoun has made sure her face is a familiar one in the movement as well. We were lucky enough to catch an interview with this up and coming star. Please read below for our exclusive chat.

Siaki Sii And Fancy Nancy Fifita: A lineage Of Entertainment And Magnanimity

With an extended family history in entertainment, cousins Siaki Sii and Nancy Fifita, aka Fancy Nancy Fifita, are the newest emerging talent on a path to stardom. The Tonga born teens are accomplished actors, musicians, and dancers, Siaki best known for his role as Owens on ABC's “Blackish” and Nancy as Lacy in the film GILLYMUCK.

Beyond acting, Siaki and Nancy are performers at heart. Nancy co-wrote and recorded her first single "You So Fancy" at age nine, while Siaki gained his highest recognition as a Tahitian dancer, at the age of nine where he won Best Lead-Role Dancer at Tahiti Fete 2012.

In addition to entertainment, volunteering and hospitality is a long running familial value. The teen duo hosted the East Coast Prom and were celebrity guests at the West Coast Prom through Virtual Prom Live. They have assisted with over 300 events to raise money by using her talents to sing, perform or give service hours to scout service projects. Nancy was selected as the United States Ambassador for the Tongan Red Cross. Siaki performs annually for local senior centers since he was five, between Los Angeles and Utah. He also joins his Boys Scouts of America troop annually to place flags at the cemetery for all the fallen heroes. In addition to this, they joined forces to start their own organization, S & N (Siaki and Nancy Serving Those in Need), to give back! To learn more about this incredible family, please read our exclusive interview here.

Actress Nicole Leier Takes Creating To Deeper Levels

Nicole Leier is a women who ranks amongst superhuman caliber. She is multifaceted in her work as an actor, director, independent producer, and stuntwoman. The Canadian-born actress is most recently associated with her role alongside Nicolas Cage in the film “A Score to Settle.” She is a co-owner of a production company called Black Tree Pictures, credited with works such as “Black Chicks”, which she also stars in, and “Henry’s Glasses”, an exploration of the Japanese living in Canadian internment camps due to their enemy alien status during WWll. Nicole is also an ambassador for the Bite The Bullet Stories (BTBS), a community designed to highlight stories and further essential conversation about mental health, ending brutality and racial discrimination by law enforcement. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Nicole Leier.

Budda Oeuvre: Art Through A Shared Experience

Art is a conflation of our minds imagery, personal experiences, and intellectual or creative wherewithal, immortalizing each piece as a symbol reflective of an idea or concept. When art becomes culturally relevant and reflects a specific viewpoint within a mishmash of conflicting contemporary thought, we attach prolificacy, when it would be apt to declare society at large late to the experiences of its own people. Many artists, regardless of race, creed, or sexuality, will naturally have a heightened understanding and capacity of expression, due to first hand world experiences — both good and bad.

Maryland based free-hand artist, Maché Turner aka “Budda Oeuvre”, creates her works via inspiration from her thoughts and experiences. Much of her art features bright dynamic colors in a cartoonish style. Her pieces vary in subject matter ranging from pop culture, to social issues, race, and more. Please read our exclusive interview here to learn more about Budda Oeuvre.

Art, zIssue 25Jejune ContributorAugust 7, 2020Art, art, artist, #artist, black lives matter, women in business, blackgirlmagic, black rights, paintingsComment