BOARD CO-CHAIR

sunshine@girlsrocknc.org

Sunshine (they/them) is a Black queer immigrant from São Paulo, Brazil currently living in Durham, NC. They attended the University of Florida, where they earned their B.A. and M.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with research focusing on Black Feminism and Black wellness and liberation. Sunshine has years of experience at the nexus of Black wellness, health equity, gender and racial justice, and organizing. They have worked as a researcher, research translator, healing facilitator, educator, and content creator for non-profit organizations. At Girls Rock NC, they have served as Camp Director, Wellness Facilitator, Core team member, among other things :)

BOARD CO-CHAIR

logan@girlsrocknc.org

Born in Durham and raised in the Triangle area, Logan spends most of their time on a variety of hobbies, including but not limited to roller derby, crafting, and crossword puzzles. They are passionate about educational justice and the right of all youth to thrive. A volunteer of GRNC for many years, they began serving on the Board in late fall 2023. Previous work includes the Durham Public Schools Foundation, where they created and oversaw the development of a grant program for schools as well as a college scholarship program for students. They currently work at a national education nonprofit, providing support for the organization’s revenue generation strategy in the eastern United States. They enjoy learning about and practicing community-centric fundraising models and how to use their skills to advance equity for young people.

steph@girlsrocknc.org

Steph is a Virginia native & resident who fell in love with Girls Rock NC while living in Greensboro post-grad. They had the honor of joining the Board of Directors at a time of radical change for the organization, during which they found purpose and solidarity through GRNC’s collective work of de-centralizing the organization’s power structure, drafting new core values, and combatting white supremacy, cissexism, and ableism, amongst other systems, within GRNC and beyond. Within the org, they have served as Board Co-Chair, Core Team member, Gear Manager at camp, Rock Roulette participant, and more.

With a background in college radio, music festivals, concert production, and event planning, Steph is passionate about music as a connecting force and a tool for creative transformation.

They want you to remember you rock :)

izzy@girlsrocknc.org

Izzy is an art educator who values self- and community-care, collectivism, and adaptive accessibility. A former camp volunteer, they are now living in Brooklyn, NY, and pursuing a master’s degree in art education and activism at NYU. Izzy has worked in a range of programming and operations roles at various arts-based organizations, including Willie Mae Rock Camp (the Brooklyn Girls Rock chapter), the Hayti Heritage Film Festival, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the Tribeca Film Institute, and the Black Trustee Alliance for Art Museums. They spend their free time teaching at Willie Mae, learning the bass, and playing with/fawning over their feisty cat, Kali.

Jessica J. Mencia (she/her/ella) identifies as a queer Honduran from the United States South. Born in Smithfield, North Carolina she attended UNC-Chapel Hill where she earned her B.A. in Public Policy. In 2021, Jessica  went on to earn her Masters in Social Work from the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. Currently, Jessica is a PhD student at the University of Buffalo studying sexual risk in young women and gender expansive youth. One of the major projects Jessica was a part of examined risk-taking during COVID-19 among queer and/or youth of color in the United States, Canada, and Australia. She also has experience with youth policy and supporting the political efforts of young people in the United Kingdom.

In addition to her work with Girls Rock NC, Jessica is involved with reproductive justice and sexual violence prevention efforts. Currently, she is a member of the New York Birth Control Access Project where she led efforts in passing the Birth Control Access Act, which permits pharmacists to prescribe birth control in New York State. Her other efforts include serving as a Peer Educator with the Sexual Violence Prevention Unit at the University at Buffalo and collaborating with the Survivor Fund Hub in developing a survey to understand the financial needs of student survivors of sexual assault. She also serves as a helpline volunteer for the Carolina Abortion Fund and the New York Abortion Access Fund. 

In her free time, Jessica enjoys traveling, reading, playing Dungeons and Dragons, admiring Ayo Edebiri, pickleball, and curling. 

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Andrea is an attorney focused on environmental, energy, and land use issues. She is passionate about amplifying the voices of local communities and grassroots organizations grappling with environmental challenges. 

Outside of work, Andrea finds creative fulfillment in music. Before starting her legal journey, she was an active member of two bands in Gainesville, Florida. During this time, she also volunteered with We Rock Gainesville, serving as a summer camp bass and drum instructor. 

In November 2023, Andrea enthusiastically joined the Board of Directors at GRNC. She is committed to collaborating with others to support youth with marginalized gender identities, enabling them to embrace their expressive power and autonomy. Andrea looks forward to contributing creatively to the organization’s long-term sustainability while upholding GRNC’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values.