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Join the USC Center for the Political Future's Spring 2023 Fellow Stephanie Young in conversation with attorney / activist / CEO of IMPACT Strategies Angela Rye and the acclaimed speaker / political analyst / social justice champion Brittany Packnett Cunningham discussing their careers, political impact, and challenges. The event takes place on Tuesday, February 21 at 5:00 p.m. at the Vineyard Room on the first level of the Davidson Continuing Education Center (DCC), and is held in honor of Black History Month. 

Dinner is FREE.

This event is in partnership with VoteSC, Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, and the USC College Republicans. 

Register for the in person event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stephanie-young-in-conversation-with-tickets-526229194687. 

Register for the Zoom webinar: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bq52DuBPT9itaIbDtitwhQ. 


Stephanie L. Young is a sought-after thought leader at the intersection of culture, social impact and Democracy. She is also a leading communications and brand strategist with a proven track record of building strong connections and developing messaging, content and creative solutions for issues involving culture, entertainment, justice and Democracy in the public and private sectors.

Stephanie currently serves as the Executive Director of When We All Vote, a non-partisan voting initiative launched by Michelle Obama in 2018. She has over 15 years of strategic communications and public engagement experience ranging from the Obama White House, political campaigns, House Democratic Leadership and leading television networks, BET and NBC Cable Ent. She is the CPF's Spring 2023 Barbara Boxer Fellow, and is excited to be leading a study group called "The Intersection of Pop Culture & Politics" every week this semester.

Angela Rye is an award-winning host, social justice advocate, lawyer, commentator, and self-described empowermenteur. Her commentary and real talk about social justice, politics, culture, and history sparks much-needed conversation about the state of America. She is the host of the podcast “On One with Angela Rye”. She has also been seen on several programs and outlets from Breakfast Club to the Daily Show, BET where she has been nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards, HBO, TV One, CNN, ABC, ESPN, NBC, NPR, and many others. Recognized for her honest, refreshing commentary and social justice advocacy by our nation’s most prominent civil rights organizations such as National Urban League, NAACP, and National Action Network she has also been featured in publications including the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Essence, Washington Post, Glamour, Ebony, and the Undefeated.

Angela Rye is a 2019 recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the historic HBCU, Wiley College. She is the Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy, social impact, and racial equity firm based in Washington, DC where she creates strategic partnerships and coalitions with Capitol Hill, third party organizations, and influencers to ensure societal change. She served as the Executive Director and General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus for the 112th Congress. She also served as the Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel for the House Committee on Homeland Security for four years. With more than 15 years of political strategy and social responsibility experience, Angela has worked with every branch of government—on the municipal, state, and federal levels. She has also developed award-winning strategic partnerships between our nation’s most well known civil and human rights organizations for corporate and government partners. 

Brittany Packnett Cunningham is a leader at the intersection of culture, justice and policy. As an activist, educator and writer, she builds platforms to activate everyday people to take transformative action for justice.

Brittany serves as Vice President of Social Impact at BET, is an NBC News political analyst and host of UNDISTRACTED, an intersectional news and justice podcast. Brittany is also the founder and principal of Love & Power Works, a full-service social impact and equity agency. 

Brittany is the former co-host of iHeart Radio’s Best Political Podcast of 2019, Pod Save The People and her TED Talk on confidence has been translated into 22 languages and garnered over 7 million views worldwide, making it one of the top ten most popular TED Talks of 2019.  Brittany’s debut book, We Are Like Those Who Dream: Black Women Speak, is forthcoming.

Brittany is a former elementary teacher, education executive, and policy advisor, and non-profit leader. In the past, Brittany held top roles at Teach For America, was a Congressional legislative aide, and a 3 time fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics, leveraging her broad skillset on wide-ranging justice issues from public education to racial justice. Brittany was a member of President Obama’s 21st Century Policing Task Force and the Ferguson Commission, helping lead the country and her community through change during times of tumult.

Brittany graced the covers of British Vogue and Essence Magazine, been listed as one of Time’s 12 New Faces of Black Leadership, and has been honored by BET, Beyonce.com, Politico Magazine, Marie Claire, The Trayvon Martin Foundation, The National Urban League, Higher Heights and more. She mentors frequently, serves on the Gucci Changemakers Council, Sephora Equity Council, and Children’s Defense Fund Action Council.  Brittany lives with her husband Reginald, an artist and photographer, and their son, the light of their lives, in the Washington, DC area.

Dinner is FREE. 

This event is in partnership with VoteSC, Political Student Assembly, Trojan Democrats, and the USC College Republicans. 

Register for the in person event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stephanie-young-in-conversation-with-tickets-526229194687. 

Register for the Zoom webinar: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bq52DuBPT9itaIbDtitwhQ.