"The first thing that must be understood about how Movement Scientists show up in political battlefields is that we are connectors, first-responders, and pioneers of innovative methods within the field of data science and design. We connect people to essential statistics, resources, writings, databases, impact statements, etc. We are on the frontlines of debate. Here, we are armed with the data points necessary to refute problematic ideology, support community voices, demonstrate root causes, and hold authority figures accountable."
--Jessica Bellamy
Our Team
Our team is made up of staff members, Board members, and Accountability Council members. We are proud of the fact that our team is made up of grassroots organizers, activists, equity-centered data specialists, new economy advocates, and people most impacted by systemic issues in our base city of Louisville, KY.
Staff members who engage in research and data collection maintain the following certifications:
-
Human Subjects Research certification from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program)
-
Responsible Conduct of Research certification from CITI Program
-
Financial Conflict of Interest certification from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Our Staff
Josh Poe
He/him/his
Co-Principal Investigator
Jessica Bellamy
Any/all/y'all
Co-Principal Investigator
Information Designer, Research Analyst, & Community Organizer
Our Board
Dawn Elliott, Esq.
She/her/hers
Dawn is an attorney who has dedicated her career to fighting for civil rights. She was one of the five Louisville, KY lawyers who fought for marriage equality leading up to the supreme court case victory of Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015.
Reggie Roberts
He/him/his
Reggie is a seasoned grassroots activist who is a part of the Louisville Civil Rights and Black Labor Movement. He was an organizer with the Black Workers Coalition and Justice Resource Center in Louisville. He is a lifelong resident of the Shawnee neighborhood and retired from Ford Motor Company.
Sherlena Watkins
She/her/hers
Sherlena is a connector and watchdog in Louisville’s Black community on social media. She is a contracted paralegal with The Law Office of Dawn R. Elliott, PLLC, and lives in the Shawnee neighborhood.
Emily Coleman
She/her/hers
Emily is a product manager at a cooperatively owned and controlled agricultural lending company called Farm Credit Mid-America. She leads with emotional intelligence, cares deeply about people, and supports projects that have the potential to help others.
SCZ Zarantonello
They/them/theirs
SCZ (pronounced “seize”) is an educator, scholar, and multidisciplinary artist and Co-founder of Rhythm Science Sound. They are part of the leadership team for the Latinx Leadership and College Experience Camp and a member of the Abolition Collective. Past collaborations include: University of California Irvine, Macalester College, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Kentucky College of Art + Design, University of Louisville, WYFY School and community groups like Girls Rock Louisville, Louisville Free Public Library and more.
Our Accountability Council
_jfif.jpg)
Shannon Floyd
Community Researcher
She/her/hers
Shannon is a dynamic leader with a strong commitment to helping organizations and individuals excel. She works as a professional mediator at RESOLVE: Restorative Practices in Louisville, KY. She has a Masters in Social Work and is passionate about fighting against implicit bias, discriminatory practices, and inequities in employment and labor. As a Community Researcher at the Root Cause Research Center, she is working on a project that addresses an issue within the Racial Wealth Gap.
Woody Pryor
Community Researcher
He/him/his
Woody is a loving brother, husband, and father of three beautiful sons. His family is the joy of his life. He is passionate about economic justice and is currently exploring alternative solutions that can be implemented in the Black Community. As a Community Researcher at the Root Cause Research Center, he is working on a project that addresses an issue within the Racial Wealth Gap.
Whitney Major
Community Researcher
She/her/Mrs
Whitney Major--formally know as Whitney Whitehead--is the eldest of seven and a mother of three. She recently received her B.A. in Sociology, at Simmons College of Kentucky. She is a scholar and a cosmetologist. She currently works at Simmons assisting faculty and staff with digital learning. As a Community Researcher at the Root Cause Research Center, she is working on a project that addresses an issue within the Racial Wealth Gap.
Shemaeka Shaw
Community Researcher
She/her/hers
Shemaeka is the founder of an organization called Broken Hearted Homes, which is a renters' association that focuses on eviction prevention and slumlord elimination in greater Louisville and surrounding areas. She is on her way to becoming a one-stop location for housing needs. She is also a founding member of the Louisville Eviction Lab.
Katrice Gill
Community Researcher
She/her/hers
Katrice is a fierce advocate and a powerhouse outreach coordinator. She is also a founding member of the Louisville Eviction Lab at the Root Cause Research Center. Katrice studied Theatre Arts at JCTC and was trained in community organizing by Black Lives Matter Louisville and Broken Hearted Homes. As a former resident of Beecher Terrace, she is very passionate about housing justice and the right to remain in one’s community.
Marlesha Woods
Community Researcher
She/her/Mrs
Marlesha is a dedicated visual arts educator, an active professional member of the National Art Education Association, as well as, an accomplished mixed media artist. Her work reaches beyond cultural and societal barriers, and her practice centers art as an essential component of public health and wellness. She graduated cum laude from Sullivan College of Technology and Design and studied Sociology at Indiana University where she holds a B.G.S. As a Community Researcher at the Root Cause Research Center, she is working on a project that addresses an issue within the Racial Wealth Gap.
Mitzi "Missy" Wilson
Community Researcher
She/her/hers
Missy is very passionate about juvenile justice, ending incarceration, and housing justice. Missy studied at JCTC and was trained in community organizing by Black Lives Matter Louisville. She supports her community through advocacy work and mutual aid. Through the BLML mutual aid program she’s able to nourish others who may not have access to a home-cooked meal. As a Community Researcher at the Root Cause Research Center, she is working on a project that addresses an issue within the Racial Wealth Gap.