Who
#WeAre
The WeAre Foundation uses the connective power of the arts to amplify voices that emphasize our shared humanity.
FEATURED MEDIA
#WeAre Music Video
What We Do
Through educational practicums that connect young people to their civic and collective responsibility, and programs like our #WeAreTheVote2020 engagement initiative, the WeAre Foundation is bridging the gaps of understanding between us as a community by converting “Art into Action.” Understanding that art is the most transformative force in our culture, our programs aim to tie that power to community works that can enable us to thrive as a more cohesive unit.
The Beginnings
The ideas that ignited #WeAre
The WeAre Foundation was inspired by the shared values of Brandon Victor Dixon and long-time college friend Jason Paez; and ignited by an initiative created by Dixon to combine Art, Artists, and Activism through partnerships with social awareness organizations. The impetus to expand the scope of the initiative came in contemplating the forthcoming political landscape.
See Brandon Address the Vice President →Read More →
Where it all began (cont.)
Founding ideas
A lot of people, especially these days, think the world is getting worse. The effect of your deteriorating political discourse on our social interactions furthers that fear, which drives us to silo, and therefore further limit ourselves, and our potential.
At the WeAre Foundation we know that’s not true. This country is vast and a lot of the thoughts and feelings we have about those whom we perceive to be different from us are gleaned largely from a distance. Proximity is how we learn from and about one another.
People from all different parts of our country, from various affiliations, are recognizing with greater frequency that we only have a stake in our lives, community, and country when we engage. You get what you give. It really is true. And the systems that govern our lives are designed in such a way that our power increases exponentially when we work together.
In this day and age, if you’re not being an activist for something or someone, hell even yourself, then you need to ask yourself what you are doing. And if the purpose of what you do with your time, with your resources is not in support of all the precious life around you, then what you're doing isn't worth very much at all. It is with that imperative in mind, that we created The WeAre Foundation.
Change, Unity, and Understanding are created from the ground up by coalitions of neighbors and friends… strangers even. The WeAre Foundation looks to ignite a movement that empowers communities to understand that cultural changes cannot come through rule of law alone. They require an investment of time, contact, and education, which leads to growth and transformation.
You can wield all the reason and logic in the world but sometimes the ONLY way to change someone is to literally TOUCH THEIR LIVES.
The Team
Brandon Dixon
Co-founder/Managing Director
Brandon Victor Dixon is a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award nominated Actor, Producer, and Social Advocate. His company WalkRunFly has produced multiple works including the Tony Award winning Hedwig and the Angry Inch and he is the co-founder of Qurator: The Movie Ratings App (available on iOS/ANDROID). Brandon is a graduate of Columbia University in NYC and a recipient of the university’s I.A.L. Diamond Award for achievement in the Arts.
Ashley Monet
Co-founder/Executive Director
Ashley Monet is a graduate from Harvard University in affiliation with the Tony Award winning American Repertory Theatre and studied abroad at the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre School. She has worked with countless distinguished directors & playwrights and works in Voice Over and Commercials. In addition to her acting career, Ashley consults on a myriad of business projects, mentors, teaches and has volunteered and worked for non-profits like The Boys & Girls Club and Broadway For All. Ashley is the President of Qurator: The Movie Ratings App (available on iOS/ANDROID)
Holly Williams
Assistant Project Manager
Holly Anne Williams is an actress and singer living in New York City. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, she graduated from the University of Miami summa cum laude and was a member of Tony-award-winning Barter Theater’s resident acting company for five years. Passionate about empathy education and climate change, Holly also assists relationship therapy workshops and works as an advocate for renewable energy. She is recently engaged, loves sushi, and is proud to be a member of the WeAre team.
Toya Hankin
Michigan Project Manager
Toya’s long-time passion for the entertainment business lead to work with global recording artists & top booking agencies as well as on feature films, commercials, music videos, TV event productions, producing hundreds of special events, festival mgmt, producing & booking live concerts, working for the NFL & with Super Bowl XL.
Jordan Morris
Research & Development
Jordan is a passionate social justice advocate and research/evaluation specialist who firmly believes in the power of education, culture, and art to build communities. Jordan designs and evaluates informal learning environments that use experimental pedagogies to cultivate narratives of empowerment and create social awareness. She is interested in the impact that creating and sharing verbal and visual narratives has on meaning-making resiliency and community-building
Steven Gluckstern
Founding Chairman
Steven has enjoyed wildly diverse experiences in business/life including: serving as the founding chairman of The Democracy Alliance; owning an NHL hockey team; tackling the foreclosure crisis through an innovative use of eminent domain; helping overthrow “don’t ask, don’t tell” through his work at The Pam Center; or founding an anchor theme camp at BurningMan. An MBA alum of Stanford Business School with a Doctorate in Education, today he serves on the Boards of a number of innovative organizations in addition to #WeAre including: HVN Travel Group Inc; Santa Fe Farms LLC (organic industrial hemp); and Teachercraft, LLC (digitally-based education company designed for the retraining of America’s public school teachers.)
Amanda Seales
Board Member
Amanda Seales is a comedian, actress, writer, producer, intellect and activist. With an uncanny knack for taking serious topics (racism, rape culture, sexism, police brutality, etc.) and with humor, making them relatable and interesting, she combines intellectual wit, silliness, and a pop culture obsession to create her unique style of smart ,funny content for the stage and screens. Seales is a Comedian/Actress/Producer, recurring star on HBO’s Insecure, host of Fox’s The Real and best selling author of Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use As creator and producer of S m a r t, F u n n y & B l a c k, Seales uses her humor, her Master’s degree in African American Studies, from Columbia University, and her love of games and music, to create work that amplifies the Black voice, and celebrates the many contributions Black Americans have made to history, pop culture and more!
Craig Dixon
Board Member
Craig Dixon is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The St. James, the category-creating sports, wellness and active entertainment destination brand in the country. Craig is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The St. James Group, where he focuses on investments in sports, wellness, entertainment, technology, and real estate. Prior to founding The St. James, Craig was Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel at Smithfield Foods, a Fortune 250 global food business, and the world’s largest pork processor. Craig earned a BBA from the College of William & Mary as well as his Juris Doctor from the William & Mary School of Law where he was a recipient of the TC Clarke Scholarship, the Law Foundation Scholarship and the Thurgood Marshall Humanitarian Award. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development.
Rob Johnson
BOARD MEMBER
Rob Johnson serves as President of the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
Johnson is an international investor and consultant to investment funds on issues of portfolio strategy. He recently served on the United Nations Commission of Experts on International Monetary Reform under the Chairmanship of Joseph Stiglitz.
Previously, Johnson was a Managing Director at Soros Fund Management where he managed a global currency, bond and equity portfolio specializing in emerging markets. Prior to working at Soros Fund Management, he was a Managing Director of Bankers Trust Company managing a global currency fund.
Johnson served as Chief Economist of the US Senate Banking Committee under the leadership of Chairman William Proxmire (D. Wisconsin). Before this, he was Senior Economist of the US Senate Budget Committee under the leadership of Chairman Pete Domenici (R. New Mexico).
Johnson was an Executive Producer of the Oscar winning documentary, Taxi to the Dark Side, directed by Alex Gibney, and is the former President of the National Scholastic Chess Foundation. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of both the Economic Policy Institute and the Campaign for America’s Future.
Johnson received a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Princeton University and a B.S. in both Electrical Engineering and Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Rick Keating
PR & Creative Strategy
Keating & Co. have been building and establishing brands for 50 years with insight, creativity and strategy. after careful research and analysis, we clearly articulate, illuminate and amplify your key messages to achieve outcomes. Our ideas are the foundation of our work and our nature. we bring passion and creativity to each project, examining issues from all angles before ultimately providing a fresh, thoughtful plan of action.
Interested in joining our team?
Contact Us#WeAre Partners
