Alicia G. Lawrence - Agent
Alicia G. Lawrence is a mother, community organizer, consultant, and voracious reader who excels at listening, researching, and synthesizing information in ways that help others perceive what may be immediately relevant in conjunction with larger-scale contexts. In her work, Alicia prioritizes “minding the room” — noticing whose voices are given weight and whose are missing or dismissed. She is capable of conveying intellectually complex and emotionally challenging concepts with great sensitivity and in ways that are appropriate to the communication needs of those involved. Alicia’s commitment to organizing and justice work crystalized in the Spring of 2017, when she — as a brown Mexican-American woman occupying Ohlone land — found a sense of belonging among a community that prioritized equity and justice in her own city: Hayward, California. Since then, Alicia has spent much of her time organizing with people committed to honest and open communication in pursuit of social justice. She is especially vocal regarding housing justice, and maintains a strong sense of self-awareness. |
Payshunz Nagashima - Agent
Payshunz is made of adjectives. Among the most known right now: “Half” Japanese and partly descended from colonizers, transgender, nonbinary, queer, MSer.* Some have changed since their birth and may change again. Stay tuned for updates. Payshunz started working as an advocate for people who belong to marginalized communities out of personal necessity in 1989, when his father was diagnosed with AIDS. An introvert with a strong opinion, they have a passion for observing and learning and connecting. Payshunz will remember your story, just as he never forgets his own. Payshunz educates by pairing theory and evidence with a personal connection based on storytelling. Once that connection is established, he’s ready to get to work — reviewing policies and situations and developing practical, effective, and appropriate plans. They’re eager to talk about race, gender, sex, class, ability, and more in protected spaces that allow others to challenge everything they think they know. As Payshunz may say, “Let’s get uncomfortable. Let’s be subversive.” Payshunz graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in sociology, specializing in gender and sexuality. They are a McNair Scholar who has worked as a data analyst, business analyst, and project director. *Person with multiple sclerosis |
Willow Naomi Curry - Agent Willow Naomi Curry is a writer, researcher, and social practice artist based in Houston, Texas. Her creative writing, reporting, and arts commentary have appeared in local, national, and international publications, and she is the 2020 Writer-in-Residence for the Houston Museum of African-American Culture. She also guides activists, public officials, and community leaders through the book writing process as the Narrative Design Director at the Houston writing firm RedShift Writers. Willow's interest in communicating ideas across artistic disciplines and her desire to understand and build socially just systems within communities led her to the field of social practice art. In 2019 as an inaugural DiverseWorks Project Freeway Fellow, Willow created her first social practice artwork, the place-based writing workshop series Letters & Lives. She is currently at work on her second social practice work, the photography exhibition The Fourth Ward Photo Parlour. Willow and collaborating artist Tiffany Smith were selected for the inaugural cohort of We, Women artists for the exhibit, which will debut in Houston in 2020 and tour nationally with all other We, Women projects. |