Born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles, Vanessa Rochelle Lewis (MFA) is a Queer, Fat, Black, Femme performer, facilitator, educator, writer, activist, healer, joyful weirdo, and Faerie Princess Mermaid Gangsta for The Revolution. 

Vanessa has danced across many professional and creative stages. She has been a Writer and Managing Editor for acclaimed feminist magazines, Everyday Feminism & Black Girl Dangerous; an Adjunct Instructor at multiple Bay Area community colleagues (including College of Alameda, Merrit College, and Chabot Community College); a Fundraiser and Events Coordinator for the Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project; the Artist-Facilitator In Residence for the Young Women Freedom Center; and so much more. She is currently a core team member for Creating Freedom Movements (an 18 month long social education project that supports grassroots visionary leaders to incubate healing and joy projects while learning more about the art, theory, and practice of social justice movements) and the Deputy Director for the Positive Results Center (the PRC addresses trauma from a cultural and age perspective by creating awareness to prevent and end teen dating, domestic and interpersonal violence, sexual assault, bullying, sex trafficking, and other social and interpersonal violences within marginalized communities). Vanessa has spoken at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Hampshire College, The 5 Colleges Queer Conference, Saint Mary’s College of California, UC Riverside, California College of the Arts, California Institute of Integral Studies, Mills College, The SF Dyke March, Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, Women’s Policy Center, and more. In 2021, she was included in The Root 100, a list of the 100 most influential African Americans between the ages of 25-45.

After experiencing her appearance being weaponized against her on too many occasions, Vanessa began writing articles about what it means to exist in a body that the others perceive as ugly and why people choose to look at others and perceive them as ugly. Many people responded with their own stories of being bullied and harmed due to their appearance. This exchange inspired Vanessa to create the organization, Reclaim UGLY: Uplift Glorify Love Yourself – And Create A World Where Others Can As Well! Her vision is to co-create a world where everyone knows that they are a safe, welcomed, and valued member of their communities; has the support to dream authentically and exist in their truths; and knows that there is no face, no body, and no person who is ugly or unworthy of love and acceptance. In 2019 Reclaim UGLY hosted their first Ugly Conference. In 2020, Reclaim UGLY hosted Solidarity Healing September (an online, month-long, racial justice heal-in/teach-in that was a fundraiser and heart raiser for Black Healing October) and Black Healing October (a month of daily FREE online healing workshops for Black people by Black people). Please visit www.reclaimugly.org to learn more.

When she’s not trying to save the world, Vanessa loves listening to audiobooks; making friends with strangers; attending local performances; fun-venturing with her friends, partners, and colleagues; and swimming in every body of water she can find.

Published Media

Articles

1. Ugly: How Beauty Was Built Upon White Supremacy
2. A Man Called Me An Ugly Black Woman, But The Harm Doesn’t Begin Or End With Him
3. We All F*ck Up: The Importance of Loving Yourself Even When You Disappoint Yourself
4. 4 Reasons Why the US Police Force Is an Extension of Slavery and White Supremacy
5. QTPOC and Feminist Writers Save Lives, So Treat Them Well
6. De-Centering Whiteness through Radical Accountability in QTPOC Community
7. Saying No to Class Privilege (White Privilege’s Deceitful Little Minion)
8. Why We Must Stop Believing that Our Pain and Grief are Punishment for Our Problems
9. From One Lesbian of Color to Another: Don’t Express Your Transphobia In My Name
10. Don’t Forget About Love
11. 5 Ways Black People Experience Non-Physical Violence on College Campuses
12. Why Keeping to Yourself and Ignoring Strangers is Not the Way to Fight Rape Culture
13. Three Ways to Lovingly Talk to Your In-Laws about that Hella Oppressive Thing They Just Said
14. Why Every Femme Needs Another Fierce, Femme Warrior
15. A Meditation on Romance, Love, and Partnership
16. 7 Critical Pieces of Info About The Death Penalty That You Need to Know ASAP

Podcasts, Radio, Interviews, & Spotlights

1. Finding Our Way Podcast: Reclaiming UGLY with Vanessa Rochelle Lewis
2. Queer Spirit Podcast: Reclaiming UGLY As An Act of Queer Pleasure
3. Too Much Woman 4 This World with Vanessa Rochelle Lewis
4. KALW: Vanessa Rochelle Lewis is Reclaiming UGLY
5. Badass Bookworm: Reclaiming UGLY with Vanessa Rochelle Lewis
6. NAAFA: Resisting Uglification and Reclaiming UGLY with Vanessa Rochelle Lewis
7. Making An Appearance At The Conference for UGLY People
8. Black Queer Healing Poetics of Vanessa Rochelle Lewis
9. The Root 100: Vanessa Rochelle Lewis
10. Shout Out LA: Meet Vanessa Rochelle Lewis

Daisy Newsom is a Native born of the City of Los Angeles. Daisy graduated from Jefferson High School and is a lifetime member of the Jefferson Alumni Association. Daisy is also a Board Member of the East Side Boys and Girls Club, having been raised on the East side of Los Angeles when all Blacks were restricted to the area. It made for excellent schools, a close community and extended families.

Daisy retired from the County of Los Angeles in 1973, from Northrup Grumman in 1983, and went on to start her own success travel company, Colossus Cruises and Tours. Her commitment to excellence enabled her to became the 1st Accredited Cruise Counselor in the United States, and has subsequently travelled all over the world.

Daisy has been a dedicated, valued, active and fiscally responsible Member of the Board of PRC, and is focused on creating awareness of PRC and our work in the community to prevent abuse.

Besides her active role with PRC, Daisy is a member of SEIU Local 721 Retiree Community.

Daisy is the Mother of 3, Grandmother of 8.

Please feel free to contact me at: daisy.prc123@gmail.com

Chinarain Howard- A savvy business professional who lives her life by the motto “bloom where you’re planted”. Through community involvement she strives to be apart of the solution. There’s no tasks too big or small for her and connecting with people is her passion. Catch her if you can at the next Positive Results Center event!

Please feel free to contact me at: chinarain.prc123@gmail.com

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Gabriela Castrejon is a social worker interested in women empowerment, mental health, and working with underserved communities and populations. Coming from a low-income community herself, Gaby has encountered the struggles of being a minority trying to obtain a higher education while being a woman of color.

Gaby has experience working with adults and older adults with mental illnesses and is currently interning for an adoptions agency as well. In her free time, Gaby enjoys traveling, sleeping, and dancing.

Gaby obtained her Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Cal State University Los Angeles and is currently enrolled in graduate school working on her Masters degree in Social Work from Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Please feel free to contact me at: gabriela.prc123@gmail.com

Macala (Kala) Lacy is a pre-licensed yoga psychotherapist and wellness educator who works with undeserved communities across the nation to provide education of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness. In addition to serving as a mental health therapist for The Positive Results Center, Kala is the founder and CEO for The Well, a culturally responsive resource dedicated to providing trauma-informed holistic health services for communities and individuals experiencing marginalization and oppression. She has been published and featured in several healing-centered platforms such as Radiant Health Magazine, Black Girl Yoga, Voyage LA Magazine, Sanctuary the Podcast, Win Life, and more. Her extensive knowledge of the mind-body-heart connection and authentic way of being makes her a trusted resource within the South Los Angeles community and beyond.

Please feel free to contact me at: kala.prc123@gmail.com

Kelli wears many hats! She is the Program Director for The Positive Results Corporation, Vice- President of the Empowerment Congress Southeast Neighborhood Council and newly appointed Commissioner for the Department of Community and Family services, and Project Manager for Positive Results Center.

She is also a survivor of domestic and gang violence, and is recognized in the city of Los Angeles as a Community Crisis Intervention Worker and Domestic & Gang Violences Expert.

Kelli found herself incarcerated at the age of 19 years old and was sentenced to serve a 15-year sentence. Her case intensified from a domestic violence incident, in defense from preventing an attack from her abuser.

While in the California Department of Corrections, her advocacy and community social work began during this time assisting fellow inmates with counseling and organizing for social justice issues against California State Institutions.

In 2014, Kelli worked as an advocate with Justice Now, Inc. alongside of Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson on the SB 1135 Anti-Sterilization Bill. Her testimony was key in helping the Senate and Gov. Jerry Brown pass this bill into a Law, to ban unlawful and non-consensual sterilization of California prisoners.

Kelli has received several awards for her passionate work, including the 2019 Pioneer Woman of the Year Award by the Commission of the Status of Women & City of Los Angeles. Kelli says she will continue to work in bringing education, awareness, and peace within communities of color until her purpose calls for a new assignment.

Please feel free to contact me at: kelli.prc123@gmail.com

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Crystal Gayle Graham is an Alumni from California State University, Dominguez Hills of Carson, CA where she received her Bachelors Degree in Sociology and a Minor Degree in Child Development: Early Childhood Education in 2016.

Crystal’s passion to work with children and underserved populations developed at a very young age. After obtaining her degree, Crystal has since worked in drug rehabilitation for Southern California Alcohol and Drug Programs, Inc.; Compton Unified School District in the Special Education Department; for The Positive Results Corporation working with communities of color; and has her own nonprofit organization where she commits to doing community projects throughout the year to help serve the homeless and people from all walks of life who are in need.

Please feel free to contact me at: crystal.prc123@gmail.com

Malinda Lewis is a passionate advocate of equality among all people, focusing mainly on under-served children and education for liberation. Graduating with her Masters in Arts from CSU Dominquez Hills in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding, Malinda identifies as a Womanist ready for the revolution. She joined the PRC team in 2005 and currently serves as a Creative Influencer. In her free time, Malinda enjoys creating art, love, and vlogging.

Please feel free to contact me at: malinda.prc123@gmail.com

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Samantha Morales is a dedicated Case Manager for the Positive Results Center. She works with underprivileged women and families helping them move forward by identifying barriers, developing strengths and managing their goals to ensure a safe and successful transition into permanent housing. In addition, Samantha is a certified paralegal who has worked with Legal Aid assisting low income individuals who are unable to afford attorney representation in the areas of family law, domestic violence restraining orders, elder abuse victims and civil harassment. Samantha has worked as an interpreter in the Los Angeles community and is a voice and passionate advocate for progressive immigration reforms.

Please feel free to contact me at: samatha.prc123@gmail.com

A Masterful trainer, Certified Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Prevention Advocate, Kandee specializes in Trauma Awareness, Teen Dating Violence, Healthy Relationships, Leadership and developing youth to be Peer Advocates and Safety Partners.

Kandee has received numerous awards & honors including 2018 Hope Award in Education; 2017 Women of the Year, Education, from L.A. County Board of Supervisors & Commission for Women; and 2017, Vanguard Award Most Influential African American’s In Los Angeles, Mover and Shaker Category, 2016 Humanitarian Award, 2015 Woman of the Year; and the 2014 Woman of Distinction.

The Positive Results Corporation has received grants and funding from the following organizations under Kandee’s Leadership (partial list): Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women; Kaiser Permanente; AIDS Health Care Foundation, Allstate Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; Black Peace Office Association; California Black Women’s Health Project; California State Universities (Dominguez Hills, Long Beach, Northridge); Delta Sigma Theta; J.P. Morgan Chase; Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, The City and County of Los Angeles; Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission; Department of Mental Health; Los Angeles County Probation Department; Housing Authority for the City of Los Angeles; SoCal Gas Company; SCE; Social Justice Learning Institute; Uplift Family Services; HOPICS, L.A. Care and New Economics for Women.

Kandee’s long list of collaborations and partnerships include K-12 schools, colleges, government, business entities, community & faith-based organizations who are committed to safeguarding, mentoring, nurturing, and educating youth, young adults, and their families to be leaders and thinkers, creating healthy relationships.

Kandee has trained with The National Association of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault, California Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Women of Color Network. She is a Founding Board Member for South Los Angeles Homeless (TAY) and Foster Care Collaborative, Compton’s Policing & Education Task Force, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Domestic Violence Round Table, and Los Angeles Mayor’s Human Trafficking Portal.

Previously, Kandee served as Harbor Area Planning Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles, and on the Harbor Gateway North Neighborhood Council. Prior to 2008, Kandee was a successful sales & hiring manager in Corporate America, retiring as Vice President of Sales and Interim President of a technology company.

Born & raised in Los Angeles, and married for 36 years, Kandee and her husband Carl have 3 adult children, and a Pit Bull! Thanks to the love of her family, especially her mother—Daisy Newsom—she is the woman she is today.

Please feel free to contact me at: kandeele@prc123.org