Devin Barrington-Ward
FOUNDER. Managing director.
Community Organizer. Political Strategist. AfroFuturist
Devin Barrington-Ward is a progressive community organizer and the Managing Director of the Black Futurists Group, a collective dedicated to advancing racial and social justice through transformative action, coalition building, and progressive advocacy. With a career rooted in the fight for equity and liberation, Devin has become a dynamic force for change, centering the voices of marginalized communities while addressing systemic injustices in Atlanta and beyond.
As a former progressive candidate for Atlanta City Council, Devin earned the endorsements of over 15 progressive organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America, SEIU, and Georgia Sierra Club. His platform focused on affordable housing, environmental justice, and reimagining public safety systems. Although he did not win, Devin’s candidacy earned over 28,000 votes, inspiring thousands through an unwavering commitment to policies that prioritize people over profit.
Devin’s leadership extends into the media sphere, where he has served as a political commentator for Newzroom Afrika, a leading news outlet in South Africa. Providing an international perspective on U.S. politics, Devin has skillfully connected global issues of racial and social justice, drawing parallels between Black liberation movements across continents. His thoughtful commentary has elevated conversations on equity, justice, and the impacts of conservative policy shifts, especially under the Trump administration.
As a community organizer, Devin has demonstrated a remarkable ability to blend grassroots action with strategic communication. His work at the Black Futurists Group includes organizing rapid-response campaigns, such as the call to close Biolab—a hazardous chemical facility endangering Black and low-income communities. Devin also amplified the fight for justice for Devon Anderson, a Black man fatally shot by an off-duty police officer with a troubling history of misconduct. By crafting compelling narratives and leveraging earned media, Devin has brought critical issues to public attention while advocating for systemic reform.
Devin’s policy achievements further reflect his deep commitment to equity. He helped expand Atlanta’s first city police diversion program citywide through the city’s 311 system, helping to reduce unnecessary incarceration. Following the tragic murder of Rashad Brooks by Atlanta Police in the June of 2020, he successfully advocated for the reallocation of $15 million from the city corrections to community safety programs, prioritizing care-based solutions over punitive approaches. In response to Atlanta’s water crisis, Devin led efforts to provide $7.5 million in financial assistance to impacted small businesses, demonstrating his commitment to economic justice.
Deeply influenced by his own experience of homelessness, Devin has worked tirelessly to uplift vulnerable populations. While serving as Director of Communications at the DC City Council, he helped secure shelter spaces for LGBTQ youth and advocated for alternatives to criminalizing young people engaged in survival sex work. His leadership has consistently focused on creating pathways to dignity, opportunity, and well-being for marginalized communities.
Devin’s health equity advocacy includes founding Impulse Group DC, an organization dedicated to HIV prevention among Black gay men, and serving as a Senior Health Equity Fellow with the National Coalition of STD Directors. His efforts have expanded access to lifesaving healthcare while addressing disparities in public health systems.
Rooted in his family legacy as the great-great-great-grandson of Jamaican National Hero Paul Bogle—who led the Morant Bay Rebellion for justice and self-determination—Devin continues to embody the spirit of resistance and progress. His lived experiences as a bisexual, polyamorous man married to a gender-fluid, pansexual Black woman further inform his intersectional approach to leadership, ensuring that LGBTQ+ voices remain central to his advocacy.
Whether organizing for justice, shaping progressive policy, or providing expert political commentary, Devin Barrington-Ward exemplifies a fearless commitment to equity and liberation. His work continues to inspire action and hope, offering a transformative vision for a more just and inclusive future.
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Special assistant
Ja’Mae’ Rooks, originally from Palm Springs, California, grew up in a military family which has allowed her to connect with a vast variety of cultures. In being afforded the opportunity to travel, Ja’Mae’ took interest into learning the history of all the places that she was able to travel. Ja’Mae graduated with her B.A. in History/Political Science from Brenau University in 2016. That same year, Ja’Mae’ began a career in public service. She started working on different campaigns in various capacities and later made it to the Georgia State Capitol.
Ja’Mae has worked at the State Capitol as a legislative aide since 2018. During her journey, Ja’Mae’ has learned that the betterment of the future is in the collective work of many as opposed to the ideas and thoughts of a few.