Special Thanks to Venus Mejia, the brilliant mastermind behind 2022’s Data Analysis and Jordan DeLoach, our talented lead designer and writing collaborator on this report

*The three visual collages were designed by Emergent Fund staff as supplemental graphics to the above report designed by Jordan DeLoach

Meet Venus HERE:

Venus is a genderfluid Queer and Brown Latinx survivor living on Unceded Lenape Land. They currently work as a freelance researcher, analyst and writer interested in understanding and illuminating the stories of grassroots organizers and social justice philanthropy. He believes in rest, love, and joy. They carry their ancestor’s history, strength, and immense courage with them and grounds themself in the knowing that they are never alone. When not combing through numbers and weaving stories, Venus can be found rock climbing, crafting, snuggling with his cat, and/or taking car trips wherever their airy soul tells him to. 

Meet Jordan HERE:

Jordan N. DeLoach (jndeloach.com) is a Maryland born-and-raised storyteller, artist, and activist fighting for Black liberation. From 2017 through 2020, Jordan was a lead editor and designer of MelaNation, an art zine in the DC metro area. From 2018 through 2020, Jordan helped lead communications and design for DECRIMNOW DC, a campaign fighting against the criminalization of sex work and fighting for resources. Overall, Jordan appreciates storytelling's ability to expose power dynamics and to support other Black folks with expressing themselves and pursuing their dreams.