Campaign Trail Mix:
The Official Stonewall Blog
July 28, 2005
Jasmynne Cannick
John Marble
Mike Shea
Eric Stern
Trailmix
Posted by NSD at 04:14 PM | Permalink
Bio of TrailMix
TrailMix posts are a collective effort of the hardworking staff of the National Stonewall Democrats. Sometimes it might be authored by an intern, other times by an Executive Director. Its our way of reaching right in the jar and pulling out what we can get in order to respond to the latest news.
Some call TrailMix sweet. Some call us refreshingly tangy. Others just say we're full of nuts. We'll let you taste for yourself.
Posted by NSD at 03:43 PM | Permalink
Bio of John Marble
John Marble works as Communications Director for the National Stonewall Democrats. Prior to joining Stonewall, he was a Field Organizer for the Gore 2000 and Gore/Lieberman presidential campaigns. In previous occupations, John worked in the construction industry as a masonry apprentice and as a ranch hand on his family's farm.
As a journalism student also preparing for the ministry, John was suckered into politics by volunteering for a week in 1996 for Vice President Al Gore - who was conducting debate preparations near his college. After chauffeuring around George Stephanopolous, and taking Paul Begala on a beer run, John decided that politics just might be interesting. He soon found himself as a White House intern and later doing advance for the Vice President.
Trained as a journalist, John has freelanced for magazines such as The Advocate and Campus Life. He began as a sports intern for The Bradenton Herald, a Knight-Ridder publication, and soon was covering feature and religious news as a contributor. Eventually, he was assigned the paper's weekly entertainment column where he wrote about music, pop culture and the antics of his life.
Posted by NSD at 12:06 PM | Permalink
Bio of Eric Stern
Eric Stern is Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats. Before joining Stonewall, Eric Stern served as Director of GLBT Outreach for the Democratic National Committee - where he developed a program that encompassed collaboration with LGBT advocacy groups, the development of an aggressive media campaign, grassroots trainings, resources for local activists and a national infrastructure for the Kerry/Edwards campaign.
Eric grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio. While earning his B.A. at Marietta College (Ohio), he reinvigorated and led a chapter of the College Democrats, and volunteered for the 1994 and 1996 campaign efforts of U.S. Congressman Ted Strickland (D-OH) and the 1996 Clinton/Gore campaign. He also interned for Project Vote, where he joined efforts to mobilize traditionally underrepresented minority voters.
Eric Stern received his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. While in law school, Stern worked for the U.S. Department of Justice - Civil Rights Division, Employment Litigation Section; the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington, D.C. (where he has volunteered as a pro bono attorney to provide legal services to people living with HIV and AIDS); the Children's Law Center, Inc.; and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
After law school, Stern was awarded a prestigious Dorot Law Fellowship at the Alliance for Justice (AFJ). As part of the AFJ's Judicial Selection Project, Stern provided research and legal expertise to the grassroots and lobbying efforts of the civil rights and LGBT community in their opposition to President Bush's anti-LGBT judicial nominees. He created an ad hoc coalition to raise awareness in the LGBT media, and educated communities about the impact judicial nominations have on LGBT civil rights.
Posted by NSD at 11:46 AM | Permalink
Bio of Mike Shea
Mike Shea is the Publisher and CEO of The Alternative Press Magazine, one of the most well-respected music publications in the nation. He is the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats Vice President for Media Relations, and is a regular contributor to Instict magazine.
Mike first entered journalism in 1985 when Kent State University decided to close its film school. As a young film student without a film school, Mike Shea turned his attention to journalism. As a member of Ohio's punk rock scene, a friend soon convinced Mike to publish a homemade fanzine.
Using the skills he learned while being editor/writer of his highschool newspaper, he put together a four-page fanzine and handed it out at Cleveland area punk rock shows. The publication would soon grow into The Alternative Press Magazine, with mike becoming the CEO and Publisher.
20 years later, A.P. is one of the most respected new music/youth culture publications in America. With circulation of over 200,000 copies every month, A.P. can be found in every major bookstore and record store chain as well as in many supermarkets and convenience stores in the U.S., Canada and overseas.
Mike Shea has won several awards for his contributions to the music world. In 1995, Mike received Most Influential Person in Music award from Northern Ohio Live. In 2002, Cleveland Scene Magazine named Mike as one of the "Top 10 Most Influential People in Cleveland's Music Scene" while that same year the Cleveland Plain Dealer listed Mike as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Cleveland's Music History. In 2004, AP was awarded "The Best Contribution in Cleveland's Music Scene" by SCENE Magazine.
By joining TrailMix as a regular contributor, Mike is able to once again return to a creative instant-publishing format that kicked him onto the field of journalism 20 years ago.
Posted by NSD at 10:47 AM | Permalink
July 27, 2005
Bio of Jasmyne Cannick
Chosen as one of ESSENCE Magazine's 50 Women Leaders Changing the World (October 2005), Jasmyne Cannick is a board member of the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation's only Black gay civil rights group and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. Cannick, who writes social and political commentary, is a frequent presence on television and radio and has appeared on numerous media programs, including Black Entertainment Television News, Access Hollywood, the Tavis Smiley Show, News and Notes with Ed Gordon on NPR, Fox News and the Bev Smith Show. She has also been featured or quoted in articles in the Associated Press, New York
Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, St. Petersburg Times, Africana.com, Eurweb.com and Bet.com.
A Los Angeles native and a communications strategist who is pursuing her
long-term interest in public policy and journalism, Cannick writes monthly syndicated commentaries carried by both the Black press and gay press highlighting issues and concerns that are often overlooked or ignored.
Since Cannick began providing media support to the Black gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community she has be able to place stories in the mainstream, ethnic and gay media. Often called on by her media colleagues to provide insight, sources and information, she's been able to increase visibility and awareness of gay issues in the Black Diaspora and Black issues in the gay community through the media.
With an obvious passion, love and tenacity for working with the media, Cannick also has sights on more political advocacy work as it relates to gay and lesbian issues.
Cannick continues to make time to speak at colleges, universities, conferences and events on race, politics, the media and sexuality.
In her spare time Jasmyne provides public affairs, policy and media support
to a variety of individuals and organizations. Currently, she is the communications and policy associate for the Los Angeles Urban Policy, L.A.'s unique premier open microphone non-partisan public policy forum that weekly presents top policy makers, community leaders, and activists and is dedicated to education and community civic engagement.
At 27, Cannick has received special recognition for her contributions to society from former Los Angeles City Council Members Ruth Gallanter (10th District) and Martin Ludlow (10th District), and Congresswoman Diane Watson.
The recipient of many community awards for her work, Cannick is a lifetime
member of the NAACP.
She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and can be reached via her website at www.jasmynecannick.com.
Posted by NSD at 09:54 AM | Permalink
