We are never as knowledgeable individually as we are together. Please see our team of speakers covering all our campaign issues and more.
Danaka Katovich
Areas of expertise:
– Pentagon budget, defense spending
- US arms transfers and arms trade
- Movement building and organizing
As CODEPINK's co-director, Danaka is a leading voice against U.S. military intervention, advocating for divestment from weapons manufacturers and challenging the Pentagon's growing budget. Her ability to connect with youth and grassroots activists makes her a go-to speaker on the impacts of U.S. foreign policy.
Her writing has been featured in Jacobin, Common Dreams, Truthout, Salon, and L.A. Progressive. She's also appeared on The Hill's Rising, Empire Watch, and Breakthrough News to discuss antiwar policies with other experts. She has spoken at major peace conferences, including the American Muslims for Palestine Gaza Conference and the United National Antiwar Coalition Conference. Her work brings a deeper understanding of the connections between U.S. foreign policy, social justice, and peacebuilding.
Articles:
- Our Feminist Future Must Include a Liberated Palestine | Common Dreams
- The Government Should Cancel the F-35 Program and Replace It With Nothing
Webinars/TV Appearances:
- Anti-Imperialist Feminism: From Values To Practice Webinar
- Danaka on The Hill Rising with Cornel West
Contact: [email protected]
Jodie Evans
Areas of expertise:
– China
- Feminist Foreign Policy
- Local Peace Economy
Jodie is a co-founder and board member of CODEPINK with over 40 years of activism in peace, environmental, women’s rights, and social justice. She has traveled to war zones to promote peaceful conflict resolution and works locally to advocate for divestment from war and build peace economies. Jodie served in Jerry Brown’s administration, ran his presidential campaign, and authored two books: Stop the Next War Now and Twilight of Empire. As a documentary producer and board member of the Rainforest Action Network and Women’s Media Center, she is a powerful voice for activism and policy change.
Jodie has appeared on numerous podcasts and TV segments over the years and is sought after guest panelist on the topic of local peace economies, feminist foreign policy, and using activism to cultivate change.
Articles:
- Avoiding the Climate Catastrophe Starts With Divesting From the War Machine | Common Dreams
- Why is CODEPINK part of the Occupy Movement? | HuffPost
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Medea Benjamin
Areas of expertise
- Afghanistan
- Cuba
- Iran
- Latin America
- Ukraine
Medea Benjamin is a leading social justice advocate and co-founder of CODEPINK, Global Exchange, and several key initiatives, including the Peace in Ukraine Coalition and Unfreeze Afghanistan. With 50 years of experience, she is recognized as “one of America’s most committed fighters for human rights” (New York Newsday) and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with women worldwide.
Medea has authored 11 books, including Drone Warfare, Kingdom of the Unjust, Inside Iran, and War in Ukraine. Her latest book, NATO: What You Need to Know, was co-authored with David Swanson. Her articles appear in outlets like The Hill and Salon, where she continues to inspire global audiences in her pursuit of peace and justice. She is a frequent guest speaker at rallies and conferences and has appeared on Democracy Now, Al Jazeera, and more.
Articles:
- What Will Pro-Palestine Activists Face With Trump in the White House? | The Progressive
- How Biden's Israel policy led us to the brink of war with Iran | Middle East Eye
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Nour Jaghama
Areas of expertise:
- Palestine
- West Bank Settlements
Nour Jaghama is CODEPINK’s Palestine campaign organizer with extensive experience advocating for Palestine. As a Palestinian-American with a background in International Studies, she offers both personal and professional insight into U.S. policy on Palestine.
Nour is active in coalitions focused on ending Gaza's genocide, the occupation of Palestine, and holding settlers accountable for land theft in the West Bank. Her analysis has been featured in Common Dreams, Jacobin, and Al Jazeera. Nour is a frequent speaker at rallies, webinars, and conferences, including the 2024 March on the DNC and the first American Muslims for Palestine conference. She also hosts a monthly organizing webinar for CODEPINK, fostering a space for activists to share and learn.
Articles:
- The US Supreme Court Is Putting Israel’s Interests Before the First Amendment | Jacobin
- A Visit to Jenin Shows the Consequences of Performative US Policies | Common Dreams
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Marcy Winograd
Areas of expertise:
- Call to Disarm (Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament)
- Ukraine/Russia/NATO
Marcy is a veteran anti-war activist and Co-Chair of the Peace in Ukraine Coalition, advocating for a ceasefire and diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. She served as a California DNC delegate to Bernie Sanders in 2020 and co-founded the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, promoting human needs over endless war.
She contributes to Common Dreams, CounterPunch, Salon, and others, and co-authored articles on NATO and nuclear policies with CODEPINK’s Medea Benjamin. She is a semi-regular host of CODEPINK Radio and she is the host of the bi-monthly CODEPINK Congress webinar with featured guests from various fields such as healthcare, education, and foreign affairs.
Articles:
- Cluster bombs to Ukraine: War anxiety rises among Democrats | Salon
- Holding the Press and Biden Accountable on the Gaza War | Common Dreams
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Aaron Kirshenbaum
Area of expertise:
- Antizionist Jewish organizing
- Intersection of Militarism and Climate Crisis
Aaron Kirshenbaum is CODEPINK's War is Not Green Campaigner, focused on climate justice and cross-movement solidarity. Their work covers Palestine solidarity, tenant rights, and abolitionist organizing. Aaron advocates for anti-Zionist Jewish communal spaces and highlights the connection between Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism in the context of social justice.
Aaron's research on militarism and climate change has been published in outlets like Common Dreams, L.A. Progressive, and Countercurrents, offering critical insights into the environmental and humanitarian impacts of global militarization.
Articles:
- The Fires in Gaza Are the Fires in Los Angeles - Common Dreams
- The Military-Industrial Complex Is Fueling Climate Catastrophe | CounterPunch
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Megan Russell
Area of expertise:
- U.S. - China Affairs and Policy
Megan brings a fresh perspective on U.S.-China affairs with a strong academic background and practical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics and studied Conflict, Culture, and International Law at NYU. Megan spent a year in Shanghai and has studied Mandarin for over eight years, deepening her understanding of the language and culture.
Her research focuses on U.S.-China relations, peacebuilding, and international development. Megan’s analysis has appeared in Common Dreams, L.A. Progressive, and CounterPunch, and she contributes to Breakthrough News. She also leads educational trips to China, offering expertise on dismantling anti-China propaganda.
Articles:
- US Hostility Toward China Threatens Global Climate Progress
- Inside China-Focused Congressional Hearings, Panic, Paranoia, and Hypocrisy Reign
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Michelle Ellner
Areas of expertise:
- Latin America
- Venezuela
Michelle, born in Venezuela and a graduate of La Sorbonne Paris IV, combines personal experience and professional expertise in U.S.-Latin America relations. With fieldwork in Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and The Gambia, and experience in community-based development, she brings a nuanced perspective on political dynamics.
As an analyst on U.S.-Venezuela relations, Michelle’s work has been featured in Fair Observer, Common Dreams, and Venezuela Analysis. A passionate advocate for Latin American sovereignty, she is actively involved in coalitions addressing key geopolitical issues, offering valuable insights into the future of U.S.-Latin America relations. She is available for bookings in English and in Spanish.
Articles:
- Every 11th Has Its 13th: Time to Dismantle Monroe Doctrine Politics - Global Research
- Democratic Survival: Venezuelan Triumph Leads the Way
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Jasmine Butler
Area of expertise:
- Antiwar Organizing and Movement Work
Jasmine is a powerful Black queer writer, cultural worker, and afrofuturist-abolitionist who is dedicated to collective liberation through mutual care and education. With a deep commitment to dismantling barriers and building bridges, they offer a dynamic perspective on the intersection of geography, culture, and activism. A 2021 graduate of Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Geography, Jasmine blends academic insight with grassroots wisdom to drive meaningful change in communities.
Jasmine has been a guest speaker at several conferences. When they are not educating through webinars and teach-ins, they have shared their experience in interviews with NPR, Climate Justice Y’all Podcast, and more.
Articles:
- Beyond the spectacle of elections
- Summer freedom schools provide an increasingly rare opportunity for engaged learning
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Makayla Heiser
Area of expertise:
- Antiwar and Labor Organizing
Makayla graduated from Gonzaga University in December 2022 with a bachelor's in Political Science and minors in Critical Race Theory and Women's and Gender Studies. She offers valuable insight into how systems manipulate identities to divide, rather than unite, the working class.
Through organizing with United Students Against Sweatshops, Makayla witnessed the impact of US imperialism and the global power of working-class solidarity and collective liberation. Since 2019, she has been active in the movement for liberation, with a strong focus on labor and global justice.
Articles:
- Student coalition 'Do Better Gonzaga' seeks change on campus
- Young voters brave fierce cold to celebrate, protest Trump inauguration
Webinars/Rally Appearances:
- WE FIGHT BACK! CODEPINK's Makayla Heiser Addresses DC Rally During the Inauguration
- Campaign Organizing 101 Webinar
Contact: [email protected]
Nuvpreet Kalra
Areas of expertise:
- Digital Organizing
- AI and Tech as Weapons of War
Nuvpreet is a passionate activist and digital content producer with a deep commitment to social justice. She holds a Bachelor’s in Politics & Sociology from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Internet Equalities from the University of the Arts London. During her studies, she was involved in movements focused on divestment, decolonization, and anti-racism, as well as anti-imperialist groups.
With her experience in online and digital organizing, Nuvpreet can offer analysis on digital security and the tech-based war economy. Her writings have appeared in The New Arab, Common Dreams, Pressenza, and more. She has also hosted webinars on antiwar organizing in the UK and the use of digital technology as a weapon.
Articles:
- OpenAI Is Using Its Technology To Kill
- Unpacking fascism, Islamophobia and empire in Tariq Mehmood's The Second Coming
- Nuvpreet: “No conocemos un Internet alternativo, al igual que no conocemos una IA alternativa, porque desafían la hegemonía de EE. UU"
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Grace Siegelman
Areas of expertise:
- Feminist Foreign Policy
- Prison and police abolition
– Intersection of abolition and divestment
Grace is a graduate student in Women's and Gender Studies at DePaul University, with a focus on prison and police abolition, gendered violence, and anti-war efforts. As the Feminist Foreign Policy Coordinator for CODEPINK, she draws on her academic and activist background to promote a transnational feminist approach to foreign policy, advocating for policies that prioritize environmental protection, racial equity, and gender equality.
Grace writes on the intersections of mass incarceration and the war economy and hosts webinars that amplify the voices of women worldwide, particularly those most affected by U.S. militarism. Her work is rooted in a commitment to international solidarity and transformative justice.
Articles:
- From Missouri to Palestine, Where Is Feminism in State-Sanctioned Murder? | Common Dreams
- Feminism: Does It Reach to Palestine?
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Tim Biondo
Area of expertise:
- Digital media management in movement work
Tim leads digital communications for CODEPINK, a feminist anti-war organization, where they’ve implemented a video-first strategy to amplify the group’s educational resources, action tools, and direct actions to millions of people online. Over two years, Tim grew CODEPINK’s TikTok following from 3,000 to over 300,000, generating 64 million views and inspiring the creation of over 20 new local chapters across four countries.
They now help CODEPINK’s local organizers develop effective digital strategies and skills for grassroots organizing. Tim is passionate about creative, accessible storytelling to advance movements for peace, justice, and liberation. They also write on U.S. imperialism as well as offer training on digital organizing.
Articles:
- The Lethal Killing Fueled by Open AI | Common Dreams
- The Pentagon is the Elephant In the Climate Activist Room
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Nancy L. Mancias
Areas of expertise
- BlackRock
- War is Not Green (climate and militarism)
- Iraqi Kurdistan
Nancy is a dedicated advocate with over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in social services, social justice, and theater. She currently serves as the coordinator for CODEPINK’s War if Not Green campaign, promoting peace and environmental justice. Nancy is also a doctoral student in Anthropology and Social Change at the California Institute of Integral Studies, building on her academic foundation with an MBA from Dominican University of California and a BA in Drama from San Francisco State University.
In addition to her academic and professional work, Nancy has volunteered and provided support in refugee camps across Greece and Kurdistan, Iraq, and worked with migrant communities along the US-Mexico border.
Articles:
- BlackRock Profits in a Time of Crisis
- How Trump-supporting BlackRock is profiting in a time of crisis
Webinars/TV Appearances:
Contact: [email protected]
Ann Wright
Areas of expertise:
- Afghanistan
- Call to Disarm (weapons manufacturer stocks)
– Ukraine
- War Is Not Green (climate and militarism)
Ann Wright is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former diplomat with 29 years of service. She gained attention in 2003 when she resigned in protest of the Iraq War, advocating for peace and justice. Ann served in tough postings, including Nicaragua, Somalia, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, where she helped reopen the U.S. Embassy in Kabul in 2001.
In 2008, Ann co-authored Dissent: Voices of Conscience with Susan Dixon, a book highlighting government insiders who spoke out against the Iraq War. As a speaker, Ann combines her military and diplomatic experience with her commitment to peace, making her a powerful advocate for change.
Articles:
- 3 Reasons the Senate Should Reject Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense | Common Dreams
- Biden Promised Diplomacy, But He's Overseeing Military Buildup Against China
Webinars/TV Appearances:
- How Ann Wright, Former US Army Colonel and Diplomat, Became a Peace Activist
- Ret. Col. Ann Wright on Reopening U.S. Embassy in Kabul in 2001 & Why She Supports Troop Withdrawal
Contact: [email protected]
Koohan Paik-Mander
Areas of expertise:
– War Is Not Green (climate and militarism)
- Call to Disarm (weapons manufacturer stocks)
- How the Korean Concept of “Han” Teaches Solidarity
- Undermining Biden, White House Advisor Ratchets Up Conflict With China
Webinars/TV Appearances:
- Koohan Paik-Mander on "U.S. Militarism, Space Tech, and the Climate Crisis" at COP26 People's Summit
- Extinction Rebellion: Koohan Paik-Mander Testifies In Hilo, Hawai'i
Contact: [email protected]