An Evening with Alicia Garza

One of the country’s leading organizers, Principal at Black Futures Lab and a co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter, Alicia Garza's work has helped shape the discourse on movements and empowerment for more than a decade.

In 2013, Alicia wrote what she called “a love letter to Black people” on Facebook, in the aftermath of the acquittal of the man who murdered seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin. She wrote: Black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter. 
 
Long before #BlackLivesMatter became a rallying cry for this generation, Alicia spent the better part of two decades learning and unlearning some hard lessons about organizing. The lessons she offers are different from the “rules for radicals” that animated earlier generations of activists, and diverge from the charismatic, patriarchal model of the American civil rights movement.  
 
In her latest book, The Purpose of Power, Alicia reflects instead on how making room amongst the woke for those who are still are awakening can inspire and activate more people to fight for the world we all deserve. Drawing on both her life and her work, Alicia shares a new paradigm for change for the next generation of change-makers. 

Join performer, social worker, and activist Honey Mahogany for a powerful conversation with Alicia about her life, her work, and how to build transformative movements to address the challenges of our time.

Alicia Garza believes that Black communities deserve what all communities deserve—to be powerful in every aspect of their lives. An author, political strategist, organizer, and cheeseburger enthusiast, Alicia founded the Black Futures Lab to make Black communities powerful in politics. She is the co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives Matter Global Network, serves as the Strategy & Partnerships Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and is a co-founder of Supermajority, a new home for women’s activism. Alicia has become a powerful voice in the media and frequently contributes thoughtful opinion pieces and expert commentary on politics, race and more to outlets such as MSNBC and The New York Times. She has received numerous accolades and recognitions, including being on the cover of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World issue and being named to Bloomberg's 50 and Politico's 50 lists. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart (One World Penguin Random House), and she warns you—hashtags don’t start movements. People do.


Honey Mahogany is a performer, emcee, social worker, and activist who grew up in San Francisco and received her MA in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. Honey currently serves as Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and as a legislative aide to San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney. Honey is also a co-founder of the Transgender Cultural District and co-owner of the legendary Stud Bar. Honey has been featured in publications such as Out Magazine, the Advocate, Forbes, and Vogue and has appeared on screen in several tv series including HBO’s Looking, ABC’s Our America, and - perhaps most famously - RuPaul’s Drag Race. Honey's work has earned her recognition from the City of San Francisco and the State of California; Sainthood from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; and awards from the Milk Club, SF Young Democrats, SF Women's Political Committee, and the Women's Foundation of California. 

We are grateful to our Bookstore Partner:   


Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore celebrating its 60th year. Marcus Books’ mission is to provide opportunities for Black folks and their allies to celebrate and learn about Black people everywhere.