Alicia Strong is a student and community organizer from New Britain, CT. She is also one of the co-founders of the NBRJC. She graduated from New Britain High School in 2014 and Wesleyan University in 2018. She is currently living outside of the city while she completes her Master’s degree at Yale University, but she continues to organize in New Britain. She plans on moving back to New Britain permanently once she completes her studies. Alicia’s experiences as an Afro-Puerto Rican girl from a working class family have shaped her dedication to marginalized communities.

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“I am overwhelmed by the amount of support the community has given to the Coalition. My primary goals for my term are focused on direct outreach and political education. I want the Coalition to be a platform where poor & working class people in the New Britain Area can cultivate the power & knowledge to help transform their material conditions. For too long, the City has been run by the same (mostly white) middle-class families. I’ve watch education and social service budgets get cut while taxpayer dollars are redirected to help attract new business that never come. I do not believe we can discuss systemic racism without also considering the ways white supremacy helps creates subordinate socio-economic classes that compete with one another. I hope to help build a New Britain community centered around radical care and love—a community where everybody’s needs are met. I believe the only way to build this vision, is through direct outreach, mutual aid, and political education. We must listen to each other, provide for each other and learn from each other.

Victor Constanza is a long-time activist, organizer, and a co-founder of the NB Racial Justice Coalition. Years ago, he began doing organizing work by working with local immigrant families, helping to fight deportations. He has also worked on state-wide political campaigns and as a social media consultant. He is currently working as a full-time labor organizer.

He grew up in Stamford, CT from a family of immigrants. His experience being bullied heavily as the only non-white student in his class has led him to a long struggle with mental health problems. Nonetheless, these difficult experiences also fuels his passion for fighting all forms of racism and classism. When he moved to New Britain about 6 years ago to attend college, he fell in love with the city.

Sakura Downs was born in Manhattan New York and moved to New Britain Connecticut at a young age. She graduated from New Britain High School in 2016 and is currently in school for Criminal Justice. Sakura joined the coalition shortly after it was established. She believes that there are huge changes to be made to our justice system, especially when it comes to people of color, and is willing to fight to make those changes happen. She has seen first hand that a minuscule charge can ruin someone’s life. She has watched many people catch a charge and then have it be impossible for them to get a job because of how strict the rules are. Sakura is motivated to help her community end this cycle.

“The world of organizing is new to me, but I am willing to put my all into the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition. I strongly believe in our mission and I know we can bring real change to New Britain with everyone’s help. Becoming a part of the coalition has opened my eyes to so much good that we can do. The amount of support that we’ve been seeing from our community already amazes me and pushes me to work harder for the people of New Britain. I see that the members of the Coalition are insightful and truly want the New Britain community to prosper. We identify the work that needs to be done and make sure our voices are being heard. I believe my work with the Coalition will help people look into the justice system, especially because one of our platforms for our beliefs is the flawed institution of policing. There are too many videos of police brutality surfacing. This is a huge downfall within our justice system that needs action.

I really want to see change, and it starts with us. We have to keep using our voices because the fight is not over.”

Suomia Dode is a first-generation Pakistani American Muslim from Plainville, Connecticut. She is an activist, a student, and an actor.

Throughout her high school and college years, Suomia has worked with organizations that aid local communities and promote goodwill. She’s been an active part of the Coalition since its inception. Suomia studies psychology and focuses on learning about mental wellness. She aims to use the knowledge she has acquired and her personal growth and experiences to improve the mental health of disadvantaged communities.

Suomia’s lifelong commitment to assisting marginalized communities stems from her experience growing up in a predominantly white town as one of the very few people of color. Her constant exposure to racism and Islamophobia from a very young age drove her to work to prevent younger generations from having to suffer a similar fate.

“New Britain has always been like a second home to me. Since high school, I’ve loved exploring the city and getting to know the diverse communities within it. I’ve been acting for 8 years, and these past few years Hole in the Wall Theater has offered me a very welcoming, kindhearted environment. The connections I’ve made and the art I’ve created in New Britain are very dear to my heart.

However, I have seen much of the potential in this city be severed by oppressive systems and complicit politicians. I haven’t seen the residents of New Britain be treated as a priority. This city deserves much better and that’s why I am so honored to work with the Coalition to fight for the needs of the people of New Britain. I hope to eventually expand the work we do to surrounding towns, like mine. I want to create communities, fueled by love, compassion, and empathy, that work endlessly to make sure that no one gets left behind.”

Tre Brown, a Traveling Elder of Grace CME Church, poet, and activist was born and raised in New Britain, Connecticut. A graduate of Northwest Catholic High School in 2011, and Hartford Seminary in 2019, Tre is one of the co-founders of the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition. With a desire to advocate for change for the people of color, Tre uses his voice in order to speak out against racism, police brutality, and better opportunities for minorities.

“I’m honored to be apart of the New Britain Racial Justice Coalition. This team is compiled of individuals who I share the same ideas and goals in order to 'experience the New.' I believe that in order for change to come, we must first call out where the issues lie, address the problems, and come up with better solutions in order to change the system. My goal is to see a better New Britain that isn’t ashamed to say Black Lives Matter, implement better curriculum that teaches about Black, Indigenous and Latinx culture and the creation of more job opportunities for people-of-color."