Araya Blakely (she/her) is a Los Angeles transplant who moved around the Midwest and the South for much of her life. As a Black/mixed girl, her family experienced homelessness, incarceration and policing, and poverty while living in predominantly white areas. Araya’s organizing experiences have allowed her to heal from oppressive systems and serve people with multiple marginalized identities. As a youth organizer, Araya has led impressive campaigns for Black to the Future, WomenNOW!, and others, which reached 50,000 voters, 7,000 Black feminists worldwide, 5,000 grassroots residents, 300 LAUSD students, and gained recognition from the UN Commission on the Status of Women Platform.
