Team
Origin
Digital Democracy incorporated as a non-profit organization on November 20th 2008 in New York. We became a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization in September 2011.
Core Staff
Emily Jacobi, Executive Director & Founder, has worked on media, youth development and research projects in Latin America, West Africa, Southeast Asia and the US. Emily began her career as a youth journalist working to highlight young people’s voices in professional media. At the age of 13, she reported from Havana, Cuba on the lives of young Cubans during the Troubled Period. She previously worked for Internews Network, AllAfrica.com and as Assistant Bureau Director for Y-Press. Since January 2007 her work has focused on researching and supporting the capacity of local organizations in closed and transitioning societies. At Digital Democracy Emily manages staff, oversees strategic planning and development and works directly with grassroots partners on program design for human rights and community engagement.
Contact: [email protected] [PGP Key]
Blog: http://gleanandgleam.wordpress.com/
Twitter: emjacobi
Emilie Reiser, Haiti Program Director, is a technology strategist and educator, dedicated to creating dialogue across cultures by designing community-driven solutions to social and human rights challenges. In her role at Dd, she has worked with women’s groups in Port-au-Prince to design and implement technology tools to address gender-based violence, including the launch of the first rape response hotline in the country. Prior to Digital Democracy, Emilie was Director of Programs for Vision Education & Media, developing curriculum and training programs to integrate creative technology into public school classrooms in New York City. Fluent in Spanish and Haitian Creole, Emilie has collaborated on photography and media trainings with Project Luz in New York, Cine Institute in Haiti, FotoFavela in Brazil and WeOwnTV in Sierra Leone.
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: emreiser
Liz Hodes, Operations & Finance Manager, is a founding member of Digital Democracy. Liz also serves as producer of Ddʼs multi-media content, including DdTv, Dd’s online TV series produced from 2009-2010. In addition to her work with Dd, Liz is the Production Manager for New York- based television production company Left/Right, for which she has worked on over 20 documentary and reality television series. She previously worked at Killer Films and Warner Bros. Pictures.
Contact: [email protected] [PGP Key]
Twitter: Red_Banana
Interns, Volunteers and Former team Members
Mark Belinsky, Advisor & Co-Founder, has worked in technology, media and civil society for over five years, with projects extending from Europe, the Middle-East and the Caucasus to South and Southeast Asia, Southern Africa and the USA. In the Caucasus, Mark helped found and develop Bem, a youth action center in Armenia that serves as a platform for youth to build an active civil society through technology, art, and media for free-expression. Mark graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Sociology and Film & Media Studies, with concentrations in Technology, Cross-National International Development and Documentary Film. For Dd he manages financial, logistical and personnel issues, oversees technical aspects of programming, and develops innovative design strategies.
Contact: [email protected] [PGP Key]
Blog: http://4hours.wordpress.com/
Twitter: mbelinsky
Dennis Cahillane
Software Developer, Early 2011
Contact: [email protected] [PGP Key]
Twitter: LinuxFan2718
Arielle Darr
Intern, Summer 2010-2011
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: DigiDarr
Javier Saavedra
Intern, Summer 2011
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: JaviSaav
Abby Goldberg
Principal of Latin America & Caribbean 2010-2011
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: DigiAbby
Ada daCosta
Intern, Spring 2011
Twitter: Mangoleira
Emma Hulse
Project Einstein Guatemala Director, 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Jessica Assaf
Intern, Fall 2010
Twitter: JessAssaf
Sura Hart
Volunteer Web Master, 2009-Present
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: surahart
Smitha Alampur
Project Einstein South Africa Book Designer, 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: Espantalha45
Ellen Knuti
Arts & Photography Intern, Summer 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: knutini
Niki Jawerth
Handheld Human Rights Intern, Spring 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: NikitheSwede
Dragana Kaurin
Handheld Human Rights Intern, Spring-Summer 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: DraganaKaurin
Steve Benjamin
DdTv Editor, 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: SteveBenjamin
Michael Morgenstern
Intern & DdTv Editor, 2009
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: mikemorgenstern
Raquel Lizardi
DdTv Editor, 2009
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: Reel_Seamstress
Shane Levy
Intern, Summer 2009
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: ShanELevy
Huge Ma
Intern, Summer 2009
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: HugoBomber
Sisi ni Amani Team:
Rachel Brown
Sisi ni Amani team member, 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: AmaniRachel
Cody Valdes
Sisi ni Amani team member, 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: CodyValdes
Tegan Bukowski
Sisi ni Amani team member, 2010
Contact: [email protected]
Twitter: teganbukowski
