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: ejacobi@digital-democracy.org [PGP Key]
Blog: http://gleanandgleam.wordpress.com/
Twitter: emjacobi
Liz Hodes, Financial & Operations Manager, is a founding member of Digital Democracy, working on organizational development and management: managing operations, finances and budgeting, as well serving as producer of Ddʼs online T.V. series DdTv. In addition to her work with Dd, Liz is the Production Coordinator 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: lhodes@digital-democracy.org [PGP Key]
Twitter: Red_Banana
Elizabeth – Biz – Ghormley, Director of Communication & Development, engages communities, cultivates key relationships and drives organizational sustainability. Biz believes communication is integral to social change and innovation. She began her career as an investigator for the Bronx Defenders, translating concepts and concerns across cultural, racial, educational, and linguistic divides. Since then, she has led engagement and fundraising projects across diverse sectors with the UN Global Compact, NY Empire State Development Corporation, L’Oreal, Bpeace, the Mountain School, and many others. She holds a MS in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from NYU, and a BA in Sociology and Latin American Studies from Wesleyan University, and studied philosophy, studio arts, and marketing at the Universidad de Playa Ancha in Valparaiso, Chile.
Contact: eghormley@digital-democracy.org [PGP Key]
Twitter: onewitness
Emilie Reiser, Haiti Program Manager, is a technology educator based in New York City, working with youth in public schools and community-based organizations to develop creative media projects. Most recently, as director of programs at Vision Education, she led professional development workshops for educators, taught multi-media student programs and developed curriculum for innovative uses of creative technology in the classroom. Emilie has also worked teaching creative media production with youth internationally in Africa, Brazil and Haiti.
Contact: ereiser@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: emreiser
Meredith Hutchison, Research and Program Associate, designs material and develops a range of program elements for Dd initiatives. She started her career founding a refugee-run newspaper in Zambia and since has worked at the intersection of media, governance and development in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and in the US. She holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and a BA in Comparative Literature from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her work with Dd, Meredith is a freelance photographer.
Contact: mhutchison@digital-democracy.org
Website: www.ImaCameraHead.com
Twitter: MereHutch
Interns, Volunteers and Former team Members
Mark Belinsky, Advisor & C0-Founder, brings experiences working 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: mbelinsky@digital-democracy.org [PGP Key]
Blog: http://4hours.wordpress.com/
Twitter: mbelinsky
Dennis Cahillane
Software Developer, Early 2011
Contact: dcahillane@digital-democracy.org [PGP Key]
Twitter: LinuxFan2718
Arielle Darr
Intern, Summer 2010-2011
Contact: adarr@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: DigiDarr
Javier Saavedra
Intern, Summer 2011
Contact: jsaavedra@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: JaviSaav
Abby Goldberg
Principal of Latin America & Caribbean 2010-2011
Contact: agoldberg@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: DigiAbby
Ada daCosta
Intern, Spring 2011
Twitter: Mangoleira
Emma Hulse
Project Einstein Guatemala Director, 2010
Contact: ecurranh@gmail.com
Jessica Assaf
Intern, Fall 2010
Twitter: JessAssaf
Sura Hart
Volunteer Web Master, 2009-Present
Contact: surahart@gmail.com
Twitter: surahart
Smitha Alampur
Project Einstein South Africa Book Designer, 2010
Contact: smitha.alampur@gmail.com
Twitter: Espantalha45
Ellen Knuti
Arts & Photography Intern, Summer 2010
Contact: eknuti@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: knutini
Niki Jawerth
Handheld Human Rights Intern, Spring 2010
Contact: njawerth@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: NikitheSwede
Dragana Kaurin
Handheld Human Rights Intern, Spring-Summer 2010
Contact: dkaurin@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: DraganaKaurin
Steve Benjamin
DdTv Editor, 2010
Contact: steve@steve-benjamin.com
Twitter: SteveBenjamin
Michael Morgenstern
Intern & DdTv Editor, 2009
Contact: michael@mjmfilms.com
Twitter: mikemorgenstern
Raquel Lizardi
DdTv Editor, 2009
Contact: Raquel@reelseamstress.com
Twitter: Reel_Seamstress
Shane Levy
Intern, Summer 2009
Contact: shane.e.levy@gmail.com
Twitter: ShanELevy
Huge Ma
Intern, Summer 2009
Contact: huge.ma@gmail.com
Twitter: HugoBomber
Sisi ni Amani Team:
Rachel Brown
Sisi ni Amani team member, 2010
Contact: rbrown@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: AmaniRachel
Cody Valdes
Sisi ni Amani team member, 2010
Contact: cvaldes@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: CodyValdes
Tegan Bukowski
Sisi ni Amani team member, 2010
Contact: tbukowski@digital-democracy.org
Twitter: teganbukowski
