National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 28
Detailed Agenda
SATURDAY | JULY 25, 2015
Antonio French
St. Louis Alderman
Antonio French is a dedicated husband and father to his wife and threeyear-old son. Born and raised in the city of St. Louis, French is in his
second term on the city’s Board of Aldermen, representing the community
he grew up in. He recently graduated from the Olin Business School at
Washington University in St. Louis with his Executive Master of Business
Administration. Prior to being elected in 2009, French served as the
committeeman for his ward. He has managed numerous winning political
campaigns as the president of his own consulting firm. During his time
on the Board, French has earned a reputation for passionately serving his
ward and creating new initiatives to improve the quality of life in north St. Louis. In 2012, Alderman
French founded the North Campus, an ambitious education initiative modeled after the Harlem
Children’s Zone in New York City. His vision is to coordinate a vast array of partnerships to provide
the approximately 1,800 children of North Campus with a world-class education and an enriching
childhood experience in a safe, supportive environment.
Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez
United We Dream
Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez was born to a single mother in Brazil, who sent
him at age 14 to Miami, Florida where he first dreamed of becoming a
teacher. He started organizing on immigrant rights issues in 2007 while
student government president at Miami Dade College. He walked on the
Trail of Dreams in 2010 to draw attention to the need for the DREAM Act
and to push for an end to deportations. Sousa-Rodriguez has become a
leading voice on the intersection of LGBTQ issues and immigrant rights.
At GetEQUAL, he served as national field director and co-director. Now he
is the deputy managing director at United We Dream. He holds an A.A.
in international relations from Miami Dade College and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A.
in business studies and a minor in economics from St. Thomas University. Sousa-Rodriguez was
awarded the “Freedom From Fear” award from Public Interest Projects in 2011 for his work on the
Trail of Dreams, he was named one of the “Top 15 Civil Rights Leaders of the 21st Century” by News
One and “20 Queer People of Color You Should Know” by Out Smart Magazine.
Rashida Tlaib
Former Michigan state Representative and Take On Hate Campaign
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Rashida Tlaib was the first Muslim woman elected to the Michigan
legislature. Politically, her legacy is largely her accomplishments fighting
budget battles and shaping legislation on numerous social justice
issues. For Tlaib’s constituents, her legacy centers on her creation of a
nei ghborhood service center that provided direct advocacy on issues
and anti-poverty services to thousands of people. Currently, she is the
community partnerships and development director at the Sugar Law Center
for Economic & Social Justice and manager of the Campaign to Take on
Hate, a racial justice movement to prevent the increase of hate crimes.
The first to attend college in her family, Tlaib received her bachelor’s degree in political science from
Wayne State University and her law degree from Thomas Cooley Law School. She lives in southwest
Detroit with her family.