Meet our mighty team of humans
who are passionate about making change
and changing culture!
Whitney Meilan is a writer, artist, dog mom, noodle-enthusiast, and creator of Mixed Change. She is a mixed race, Asian-American woman born in Hong Kong and raised primarily in Shanghai, China.
Whitney Meilan Yang (she/her)
Founder
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Whitney’s vision for Mixed Change is to amplify the voices of people directly impacted by injustice, and to challenge normative narratives that further oppression and injustice.
Whitney has worked with individuals and groups fighting for migrant justice, abolition, racial justice, international human rights, Indigenous self-determination, trans rights, and so much more.
She believes that storytelling and cultural work have to be part of any movement for change.Whitney earned her MA Social Justice & Human Rights from Arizona State University, and her BA Sociology & Cultural Studies from University of London.
She has over ten years of experience working at nonprofits and social enterprises, most recently as the director of programming and communications at a grassroots human rights organization.
In her spare time she likes to go for long nature walks with her husband and three dogs, whom she often refers to as munchkins.
Jasmine is a storyteller, activist, animal lover, reader of far too many YA novels, and a social media specialist. Born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, she is a biracial African-American woman who currently resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Jasmine Baker (she/her)
Digital Communications Associate
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Jasmine attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Professional Communications with a Minor in English Writing and Literature. She started her activism journey in student organizing around racial justice and LGBTQIA+ issues specifically in the UW System, and has since branched into community advocacy.
As a social media specialist, she implements authentic storytelling and dynamic content creation to advocate for marginalized and underrepresented individuals and communities for five years. She continues to use social media strategy as a force for good.
Idalia has six years of experience helping shape digital communications, including copy, websites, social media strategy, newsletters, branding and design, for both national and international organizations.
Idalia (she/her)
Communications Strategist
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Idalia is currently pursuing her master's degree in Human Rights at Columbia, where she is researching the intersection of narrative-building and the labor rights movement.
She believes in the power of impactful, human-centered storytelling to mobilize communities, build collective action, and create grassroots change. Born in Chile, she now lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Mackenzie Melendy (she/her)
Illustrator & Graphic Designer
Mackenzie is a multi-disciplined artist and designer with a BA in Digital Art from the University of Oregon currently residing in Portland, OR.
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Mackenzie has deep familial roots in the PNW (Hupa heritage) and she is passionate about decolonization, anti-imperialism, labor rights, and regenerative agriculture.
For over five years, Mackenzie has prioritized using her artistic skills to bring awareness to important issues, and her personal work seeks to celebrate the connectedness of life and share the belief that all flourishing is mutual. In her spare time, you might find her gardening, playing music, reading, and spending time with her wonderful family.
Amanda is a self-taught multi-disciplinary Artist and Brand Designer. She (or They) is a non-binary BIPOC individual dedicated to learning more about decolonization, re-indigenization, and what it means to be a global citizen.
Amanda “Ocher” Skeete (she/they)
Graphic Artist & Brand Designer
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Amanda’s chosen work is to build humanesque narratives that bridge and foster intimacy through Illustration, Graphic Design, and most recently, Animation. In her career, Amanda holds a decade of exploration in Branding, primarily through non-profit and wellness/holism.
Her other passions include human biomechanics, indigenous healing arts, anthropology, crafting, video games, and her 6-y/o pup, Chase!
Ale is a Web Developer and Software Engineer from Mexico, born and raised as a proud norteña. She holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering and is a self-taught programmer who enjoys creating art and animations using code.
Ale Thomas (she/her)
Web Developer
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Ale's been in the tech industry for the past four years, providing software and technical solutions to businesses and individuals. She holds certifications in database management and design best practices.
Passionate about technology and people, she created a web platform for small Mexican businesses affected by the pandemic and focuses on projects that work towards instilling change.
As a Latina in Tech, she’s involved in advocating for diversity in the industry and volunteers at organizations that teach girls to code. Outside of her techie self, you may find her reading thrillers, at a coffee shop, or playing games while cuddled up with her cat, Coco.
Anne Pfaff (she/her)
Anne loves all things video. She attended Indiana University, where she studied Environmental Management and Media Production. Since graduating, she has worked as a freelance video editor and producer.
Video Editor
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Anne’s experience spans social media video, podcast editing, documentary, and short film production. She is also an activist for social justice, including organizing for the global water crisis, the death penalty, LGBTQIA+ issues, and racial justice. Anne’s mission is to bring together creativity and social justice to make an impact on the world.
Outside of video-making, Anne enjoys spending time outdoors, binging reality TV, and studying astrology.
Janice is a graphic designer with eight years of industry experience working for design agencies. She has a BA from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a concentration in Sustainability and Social Practice. She loves supporting good causes, and cares deeply about human and animal rights.
Senior Graphic Designer
Janice (she/her)
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In her free time, Janice enjoys hobbies like drawing, painting, and jewelry, and hopes to get back into printmaking and ceramics one day. A recent SF transplant, she likes to go on roadtrips, try new restaurants, and go on scenic hikes that aren't too strenuous.
Emma is a queer, interdisciplinary web developer and graphic designer living in Portland, Maine (unceded Aucocisco land), where she spends her time bowling, nosing through old bookshops, and organizing with Portland’s labor cadre.
Emma Kinsel (she/her)
Web Developer
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Emma holds an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design and a BA in Arts & Labor Studies. She has been a freelance web developer for the last four years, and is passionate about integrating accessible design into digital spaces.
Beyond tech, Emma is deeply involved with labor movement spaces, locally and internationally. Her focus is on policy advocacy for women in the informal economy. She holds a certification in Sex Work Public Education and Advocacy, and has plans to continue with a Master’s degree in Gendered Labor Studies.
Brenda is an artist and graphic designer with over 14 years’ experience as an independent contractor. As an adaptive problem-solver, she’s always searching for creative solutions to any obstacles, with empathy at the forefront.
brenda rose (she/her)
Graphic Designer
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Brenda has also worked as a preschool teacher, a welding apprentice, an administrator for a rock-band music school, a production designer on independent films, a volunteer birth doula, and as a volunteer political advocate addressing the global humanitarian crises of gender-based violence, maternal health, and food insecurity. She currently works part-time at a local nonprofit that helps to restore dignity and stability by recycling furniture to people in need.
Most importantly, she’s the mother of 2 teenage boys, caregiver of her cats Tamale and Toki, and the wife of her best friend of 28 years.
Damien is a passion-driven Animator and Editor with a BA in Digital Arts & Design at Full Sail University in Florida. He loves living in Orlando so much that he's willing to battle with hurricanes and wrestle with storms.
Damien McFarland (He/Him)
Motion Graphics Designer
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Damien has been working his craft for several years. He has many projects under his belt, producing video for medical professionals, sports icons, and enterprise businesses. He believes that all minds are creative, and have a vision to express to the world. He is able to transform thoughts into physical form through video media.
Outside of editing, he likes to sleep. Every nap deserves a good nap.
Andrew Wong (he/him)
Andrew is a self-proclaimed international Aussie who has lived among cultures and continents including Australia, Germany, China, and the United States.
Project Manager
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He is a designer and dreamer with a dedication to fostering imagination, believing in peoples’ visions, and bringing them to reality. Andrew attended Swinburne School of Technology and HAWK University where he studied Product Design and Industrial Design. He worked as a Principal Designer for Frog Design in Germany, a leading global creative consultancy, and founded his own design consultancy business in Shanghai, China called Beach Creative.
Today, Andrew works as a Project Manager with Mixed Change and is a co-founder at The Bambi Fund where he directs programming. He spends his downtime building out the family campervan for nature adventures.