The Instigators: 

How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy (And What We Can Learn from Them)

Atima Omara is a nationally recognized award-winning political strategist, leader, writer, speaker, and advocate. She holds a BA in American Studies from the University of Virginia, and is a commentator on national politics, candidates, policy, race, gender and culture having been quoted in national outlets including The New York Times, Boston Globe, and The Atlantic. She’s appeared on CNN, PBS, Fox News, BBC, CBC, NPR, and MSNBC including Joy Reid’s The Reid Out. She was named one of one hundred notable Black Americans by EBONY Magazine. Atima’s writing was published in Wake Up America: Black Women on the Future of Democracy edited by Kesha Blain. She’s also written for Washington Post, the American Prospect, The Root, Teen Vogue, and other national outlets.

Kimberly Peeler-Allen has been working at the intersection of race, gender, and politics for over 20 years.  

Kimberly is currently a Visiting Practitioner at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, where she serves as an advisor on CAWP’s ongoing research and election analysis, and guest lectures in various graduate and undergraduate courses. Kimberly is a Senior Advisor to New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ re-election campaign.

Inspired by the words of the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” Kimberly is driven to shift the paradigm for the civic voice of Black women. Over the course of her career, Kimberly has advised elected officials, candidates, and organizations on fundraising, political strategy, and coalition building to ensure that there are more diverse voices around decision-making tables, whether they are in elected bodies or civil society.

In 2011, she co-founded Higher Heights, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to building Black women’s collective political power from the voting booth to elected office.  Higher Heights has helped drive the national narrative about the power of Black women voters and has inspired countless Black women to step into their power, whether as voters, activists, or elected leaders.

Kimberly serves in leadership roles on several national non-profit boards focusing on reproductive rights, democracy, and electoral representation.