Coalitions and Cultural Competency in Campaigns: How We Include Our Communities in the Work
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Thursday, Jul. 13 2:30 PM (Central)
Ends: Thursday, Jul. 13 3:30 PM (Central)
Room: Buckingham
Developing cultural competency when connecting with voters from diverse backgrounds is essential to Democrats winning up and down the ballot. In this panel, we will hear from DNC staff on the importance of working directly with our partners to build coalitions, how this work helped us win up and down the ballot in the 2022 midterms, and what more can be done to ensure that we are meeting communities where they are.
This session is sponsored by the Democratic National Committee.
Moderator
Brencia Berry
Brencia Berry currently serves as the Director of Coalitions and Community Engagement at the Democratic National Committee. Prior to joining the DNC, Brencia most recently led PL+US (Paid Leave for the United States) national outreach program as Vice President of Equity and Political Strategy. In 2020, Brencia served as National Deputy Director of Public Engagement, overseeing policy and coalitions outreach for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign. Before joining Senator Warren’s team, Brencia was the first Black woman to serve as Chief of Staff for a Council Member in San Antonio. Additionally, Brencia is a Hillary for America national advance team veteran and has experience working in state and local government in Louisiana and Texas. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Panelists
Atoyia Deans
Atoyia Deans serves as the Coalitions Manager on the Coalitions and Community Engagement team at the DNC. She works to support Disability, Seniors, Ethnic and Black coalition engagement. Previously she served as Special Assistant to the Political and Organizing Director. Atoyia has also worked as a photojournalist at one of the nation’s largest news publications, the Tampa Bay Times. She is a graduate of Howard University and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Meg DiMartino
Meg DiMartino currently serves as the Organizing Chief of Staff at the DNC where she helps run the national organizing team, manage the day to day workflow, and help support state distributed programs. She spent the 2022 cycle in this role and as the Distributed Organizing Director for the Warnock for Georgia runoff in December. Meg has been at the DNC since 2018 and served prior as the Digital Organizing Director where she managed the IWillVote website and program for the 2020 cycle and previously as the Northeast Mobilization Director helping support state parties run strong digital campaigns. Meg believes you get what you organize for and is thrilled to be part of this organizing program at the DNC!
Tracy Falon King
Tracy Falon King is the Director of Outreach Communications for the DNC. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and her Master of Science degree in Public Relations Management from SUNY Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY. Prior to joining the DNC, Tracy worked for The Collective PAC as their Communications Director. When not working, she can be found riding her peloton bike, going to the movies, and trying to find wings that live up to the ones from her hometown of Buffalo, NY.
Michelle Villegas Tapia
Michelle is a Latina, first generation immigrant, always an organizer, and currently serves as the Latino Coalitions Director at the Democratic National Committee. Previous to joining the team at the DNC she worked at the National Domestic Workers Alliance, an advocacy organization that represents domestic workers, women of color and immigrants. She is an alum of Hillary for America, Organizing for America, and Warren for President, where she served as Senator Warren’s NV political director. She is a native Chicagoan but she currently lives in Washington, DC with her husband where her favorite weekend activity is walking their sweet dog, Cherry, on the National Mall.