History Makers Advisory Board
Shellie Baxter
CEO/Founder
The OGL is super proud and excited to present the 2021 History Makers Advisory Board! This group of multi-talented individuals who are successful professionals in their respective fields, have agreed to dedicate their time and resources to the publishing of the first OGL American History Book.
Meet our Dream Team!
Nyla Baxter-Williamson
Nyla Baxter-Williamson graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Degree in Gender Studies and minor in Global Studies. In her time at UCLA she parentered with several community organizations to provide K-5 tutoring to underserved communities and organize resource drives for houseless populations on Skid Row. She retains a passion for advocacy in marginalized communities and is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
I’m committed to truth telling, I’m passionate about helping provide a platform for people to reflect and connect with their heritage.
I’m committed to truth telling, I’m passionate about helping provide a platform for people to reflect and connect with their heritage.
Loren Cobbs
Loren Cobbs is a business strategist, culture curator, and connector. She is the owner of Crate Agency, a marketing and communications consulting firm dedicated to building stronger brands and more inclusive companies, and the founder of SD Melanin, an experiential events company creating space and building community for Black and Brown professionals.
Loren got her start as a marketing analyst at Procter & Gamble and later left to help secure President Obama’s second term in office as a Field Organizer. Prior to launching Crate, she served as a U.S. Diplomat to Mexico and Thailand, with a specialty in Public Diplomacy.
She holds a degree in Economics from Purdue University and a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University. Loren speaks English, Spanish, and Arabic; has traveled to over 30 countries; loves Law & Order: SVU; and spending time with her six nephews. She hails from Cincinnati, Ohio and currently splits her time between San Diego and Chicago.
I joined the HMW Advisory Board because I fervently believe in self determination and people of color telling our own stories. History has been long been distorted by those who had the power to write it. So it's high time we take that power back and I'm so excited to work on this board to help fulfill that mission.
Loren got her start as a marketing analyst at Procter & Gamble and later left to help secure President Obama’s second term in office as a Field Organizer. Prior to launching Crate, she served as a U.S. Diplomat to Mexico and Thailand, with a specialty in Public Diplomacy.
She holds a degree in Economics from Purdue University and a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University. Loren speaks English, Spanish, and Arabic; has traveled to over 30 countries; loves Law & Order: SVU; and spending time with her six nephews. She hails from Cincinnati, Ohio and currently splits her time between San Diego and Chicago.
I joined the HMW Advisory Board because I fervently believe in self determination and people of color telling our own stories. History has been long been distorted by those who had the power to write it. So it's high time we take that power back and I'm so excited to work on this board to help fulfill that mission.
Rachel Fernandes
Rachel Michelle Fernandes is a multimodal content creator and writer based in Oceanside, California. After working as a producer in film and television in New York City for over a decade, Rachel returned to Southern California to pursue arts journalism, podcasting, and writing for nonprofits. Last year she collaborated with the arts non-profit The Hill Street Country Club and the Oceanside Public Library to write a California Arts Council grant for a community project called the Mobile Arts Workshop. She also wrote, produced, and hosted a podcast about mental health, called Psychic Rehab. Currently, Rachel is in the process of earning her master's degree in Rhetoric and Writing Studies at San Diego State University.
I'm very excited to be joining the History Makers project to help support the absolutely essential telling of history from a BIPOC perspective. I fully believe that, as Audre Lorde expressed, “In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction.” I believe it is my duty to do everything possible to help create a more just society and lift up the voices of those who are too often silenced.
I'm very excited to be joining the History Makers project to help support the absolutely essential telling of history from a BIPOC perspective. I fully believe that, as Audre Lorde expressed, “In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction.” I believe it is my duty to do everything possible to help create a more just society and lift up the voices of those who are too often silenced.
Malia Garcia
I am a community builder and education advocate. I have been working to provide underserved youth with support and resources by partnering with local and global NGOs to create holistic educational programs. I have developed social entrepreneurship, health and wellness and life skills programs designed to empower young people. I offer support to the community as I formalize holistic and integrated experiences into educational opportunities.
You must know where you came from to understand where you are going. My Poppa would share stories of how our family worked in the Filipino labor camps in the Salinas Valley in the 1930s and 1940s. I learned that from him not from my school books. That cultivated a deep need to understand my ancestors' experiences to fully grasp my place in this world. My aunties traced our lineage so that our generation could become keepers of our family history. I'm ready to put that in the history books.
You must know where you came from to understand where you are going. My Poppa would share stories of how our family worked in the Filipino labor camps in the Salinas Valley in the 1930s and 1940s. I learned that from him not from my school books. That cultivated a deep need to understand my ancestors' experiences to fully grasp my place in this world. My aunties traced our lineage so that our generation could become keepers of our family history. I'm ready to put that in the history books.
Ja'el Gordon
Greetings! My name is Ja'el Gordon and I am a Genealogist and a Historian. I am a Doctoral Candidate in Higher Education with a B.A. in History and a M.A. in Museum Studies. I have my own genealogy business where I provide research in Louisiana and Mississippi and it includes genetic genealogy work. I work as a Historical Site Interpreter and Researcher for a couple of plantations in Louisiana where I provide corrective narratives regarding the enslaved community and assist in the research of descendants of the enslaved that were there. My experience includes repository and collections management, acquisitions, archiving and indexing, transcriptions, and cemetery preservation. I presently serve as the President and Charter Member of the Louisiana Chapter of Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society. I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women.
I joined the Board because I am a true advocate for providing corrective narratives and promoting representation of BIPOC. It is extremely necessary to help others realize that every story and life is important and BIPOC stories deserve to be told. By joining this board, it will allow me to continue being a torchbearer for voices unheard. It will also help me engage with others in the BIPOC group so we can better understand and support each other in our stride for equity and equality.
I joined the Board because I am a true advocate for providing corrective narratives and promoting representation of BIPOC. It is extremely necessary to help others realize that every story and life is important and BIPOC stories deserve to be told. By joining this board, it will allow me to continue being a torchbearer for voices unheard. It will also help me engage with others in the BIPOC group so we can better understand and support each other in our stride for equity and equality.
Saul Olivas
Saul is a graduate from UC Berkeley, where they studied English and Spanish Literature, and found their love for writing. Seeking professional writing opportunities, they first found grant writing where they gained experience in development, funding, programming, and budgeting. Wanting to pursue more creative projects, they have recently focused their time delving into screenwriting, poetry, and songwriting. Growing up in San Diego as a 1st generation American is an experience that inevitably exists in everything that they work on. In everything, they are able to instill compassion, empathy, patience, and tenacity. As a young writer and professional, Saul is excited to help this organization grow.
I joined because it is exactly what I want to be doing. Recently focusing on storytelling, I had been questioning the need for my grant writing experience; and HMW provided me with the exact answer I needed. Combining my love for storytelling and my knowledge of grant writing, I truly believe an organization and project like this is an incredible fit for me. My love for storytelling comes from the stories my mother and grandmother have shared with me. I believe that same spirit exists here.
I joined because it is exactly what I want to be doing. Recently focusing on storytelling, I had been questioning the need for my grant writing experience; and HMW provided me with the exact answer I needed. Combining my love for storytelling and my knowledge of grant writing, I truly believe an organization and project like this is an incredible fit for me. My love for storytelling comes from the stories my mother and grandmother have shared with me. I believe that same spirit exists here.
Nic Roc
I am an experienced Founder and Program Director of San Diego-based collaborative work and community event space, You Belong Here. I have a history of working in the development of community programming with focus on social infrastructure and in the professional consulting & design industry. Skilled in Brand Strategy, Branding & Identity, Product Development, Production Management, Prop Fabrication, and Public Speaking.
I am very much an advocate for agency and providing the tools and resources necessary to help one in reclamation. It brings me great joy seeing others grow, thrive, and step into their voice and power.
Not a person to shy away from a challenge, when I say I going to do something, I do—regardless of how long it takes or how bruised and battered I may get in the process. My word is everything. I never quit anything, until it quits me. That could possibly be a blessing or a curse.
I am connected with many communities and feel my ability to bring those communities together to collaborate is of great value. Overall, I love collaboration and activating ideas, concepts, and voices into motion. Being a part of a dynamic group of individuals contributing their strengths, to reclaim a history given to us, is the ultimate in community collaboration and growth. Having a platform to begin to understand my history is powerful and something I want to share with others.
I am very much an advocate for agency and providing the tools and resources necessary to help one in reclamation. It brings me great joy seeing others grow, thrive, and step into their voice and power.
Not a person to shy away from a challenge, when I say I going to do something, I do—regardless of how long it takes or how bruised and battered I may get in the process. My word is everything. I never quit anything, until it quits me. That could possibly be a blessing or a curse.
I am connected with many communities and feel my ability to bring those communities together to collaborate is of great value. Overall, I love collaboration and activating ideas, concepts, and voices into motion. Being a part of a dynamic group of individuals contributing their strengths, to reclaim a history given to us, is the ultimate in community collaboration and growth. Having a platform to begin to understand my history is powerful and something I want to share with others.
Stacey Uy
Stacey is a designer and illustrator on unceded Kumeyaay territory (so-called San Diego), specializing in print and digital design, branding strategy, and illustration. She researches and writes an illustrated history zine called Radical History Club with the mission of unsettling colonizer, capitalist and anti-Black narratives of US history. She earned degrees in art history and psychology from UCSD and has more than 8 years of experience in graphic design. She is an active member of Asian Solidarity Collective and has worked with folx like the Ladies of Sound, Pacific Arts Movement, and Slant’d. Her mission is to create joyful experiences that elevate how we relate to and treat each other.
When she's not crafting design magic, you can find her facilitating her addiction to vintage t-shirts and mid-twentieth century ephemera.
I joined the HMW Advisory Board because I believe in the power of truth and honesty. If we don't free ourselves from the whitewashed history and cultural shame we have been conditioned to internalize, we are destined to repeat the cycles of systemic oppression that thrive on our ignorance. Our ancestors have much to teach us, and Our Genetic Legacy is a wonderful opportunity to receive that knowledge.
When she's not crafting design magic, you can find her facilitating her addiction to vintage t-shirts and mid-twentieth century ephemera.
I joined the HMW Advisory Board because I believe in the power of truth and honesty. If we don't free ourselves from the whitewashed history and cultural shame we have been conditioned to internalize, we are destined to repeat the cycles of systemic oppression that thrive on our ignorance. Our ancestors have much to teach us, and Our Genetic Legacy is a wonderful opportunity to receive that knowledge.
Ramel Wallace
Ramel Wallace inhabits the mind, body & spirit of San Diego-based Hip Hop artist, local activist & respected community leader Real J. Wallace.
Ramel. is as passionate about serving his community as he is dedicated to preserving Black culture through music and storytelling.
In 2014, he founded The Holyfield (a community-based organization focusing on music, education & empowerment) and in December of 2020, he was named the first black host of CreativeMornings/San Diego.
As a Hip Hop educator he has spoken at Creative Mornings, USD, UCSD, SDSU, A Reason to Survive (ARTS), David's Harp Foundation and many other nonprofits and institutions about how to use art as a form of social activism and therapy.
His great grandma, Amelia, moved to Barrio Logan/San Diego from Pensacola, Florida in the 60's and his greatest accomplishments are being the son of Nia Hillard and the Grandson of Regina Wilson. They know him as The Last Black Man in Barrio Logan.
Ramel. is as passionate about serving his community as he is dedicated to preserving Black culture through music and storytelling.
In 2014, he founded The Holyfield (a community-based organization focusing on music, education & empowerment) and in December of 2020, he was named the first black host of CreativeMornings/San Diego.
As a Hip Hop educator he has spoken at Creative Mornings, USD, UCSD, SDSU, A Reason to Survive (ARTS), David's Harp Foundation and many other nonprofits and institutions about how to use art as a form of social activism and therapy.
His great grandma, Amelia, moved to Barrio Logan/San Diego from Pensacola, Florida in the 60's and his greatest accomplishments are being the son of Nia Hillard and the Grandson of Regina Wilson. They know him as The Last Black Man in Barrio Logan.