ASSOCIATE

Naja Mix serves as Chief of Staff. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Naja is a proud alumna of Louisiana State University. While in Baton Rouge, she explored her passion for politics and community through activities both on and off campus. Off campus,  Naja volunteered on various campaigns of local and congressional elections in 2014.

In 2016, she became a vital millennial [organizer/leader] in the election of the first African American woman Mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and served on the Transition Team for the Mayor- President Elect. After the Great Flood of 2016 in Louisiana, Naja became a dedicated volunteer of the American Red Cross to help Baton Rouge citizens get back into their homes.

While working in the Office of the Mayor-President in 2017, Naja sat on the Mayor’s Millennial Council where she identified key issues for millennials to address and was a key organizer in the Mayor’s Inaugural Baton Rouge Idea Lab. In 2018, Naja produced web features and social media series to build awareness for citizens about local laws, ordinances, and minority business owners with BEBATONROUGE.com, an online collective representation of the culture of Baton Rouge. 

Naja leads the strategy for internal team efforts, assists in providing strategic guidance to clients and community partners, and executes key issue and experiential campaigns. Naja continues the work of others before her in community activism and political involvement with the IMPACT Strategies team.

She enjoys Wine Down Wednesdays, a monthly gathering (now virtual) for people to relate, release, reconnect, relax and refill themselves while sipping on various wine selections. She loves to dance and explore new experiences. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

PODCAST PRODUCER – On 1 with Angela Rye

Steven is a native of Dayton, Ohio. He graduated with honors and a bachelor’s degree in English from Morehouse College in 2019. At Morehouse, he was a Vanguard Scholar, King Legacy Scholar, a Presenter at the annual “Candle in the Dark Gala,” Executive Secretary of the Student Government Association, and member of the National Action Network.

While at Morehouse, Steven found ways to fulfill his passion for advocacy, politics, and social justice. He has been privileged to serve as a panelist in multiple forums on HBCUs and Black men in society at the Atlanta University Center.

Through volunteer work and community engagement, Steven has worked to bring public awareness to the importance of youth involvement in the democratic process. In 2018, Steven joined IMPACT Strategies as a Public Policy Intern and later advanced to Administrative Intern for Public Policy. He is excited to continue helping On 1 With Angela Rye to engage, educate, and inspire audiences to create positive change.

PRINCIPAL & CEO

Angela Rye is Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm in the nation’s capital. She is a CNN Political Commentator and NPR Political Analyst. She has been featured as an influential politico, lawyer, and advocate by several publications and outlets from Marie Claire to Ebony and the Washington Post, Rye has an unwavering commitment to ensuring positive change in the political process.

Rye is a prominent strategist who has offered on-air commentary for several media outlets including BET, CNN, NBC, HBO, ABC, MSNBC and TV One. The depth of her dialogue ranges from political campaigns to more complex legislation and administration policies that have long-term implications nationally and internationally.

She currently serves on the boards of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee (CBCPAC), the Seattle University School of Law Alumni, Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network, Inclusv, and Wilberforce University. She is a member of The Links, Incorporated, National Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Washington Government Relations Group.

Rye served as the Executive Director and General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus for the 112th Congress. In her role as Executive Director, Rye was tasked with developing the overall legislative and political strategy for the Caucus. Prior to working for the CBC, she served as Senior Advisor and Counsel to the House Committee on Homeland Security under the leadership of Congressman Bennie G. Thompson.

Upon moving to the Nation’s Capital, Rye co-founded IMPACT, an nonprofit organization that seeks to encourage young professionals in three core areas: economic empowerment, civic engagement, and political involvement. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Rye learned the importance of advocacy through her family’s political and community activism. She is a proud graduate of the University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law.

VIDEO PRODUCTION SPECIALIST

Obinna (Obi) Okezie is a director, cinematographer, editor, and multimedia specialist from Dallas, Texas who serves as a Video Production Specialist for the firm. While in college, he attained professional experience working various jobs while majoring in Interdisciplinary Art and Design and minoring in Strategic Communications. 

After graduating from The University of North Texas with a B.A in VIsual Arts and Design, he landed an internship with the City of Dallas where he was able to contribute to the City’s efforts. Through his hard work and recognition, he was later promoted to become a spokesperson for the City of Dallas, where he drafted press releases for department directors, managed the City’s social media accounts, and helped construct and execute digital campaigns. 

After leaving the City of Dallas in 2018, Obi decided to focus on his production company, Everything Is Plural. He has been fortunate enough to work with companies such as 7 Eleven and work with artists such as NBA Youngboy and Rich The Kid.

MULTIMEDIA DIGITAL CREATOR

Jalessa T. Montaque is a self-proclaimed nomad to the world. Born and raised in Jamaica, she and her family migrated to New York in 2002, where she spent most of her adolescent years and began cultivating her passions. Given her background as an immigrant, New Yorker, and traveller, Jalessa has become a staunch advocate for Black and immigrant rights– continually finding ways to use the power of art, storytelling and visual mediums as a form of advocacy and activism. 

She holds a B.A. in Media Production and Communications from SUNY Buffalo State College, where she was extremely involved in community engagement activities on and off campus.

As a student, Jalessa helped organize multiple protests on campus, including one against the school administration’s lack of support for Black students, and their attempt to remove Black Greek Lettered Organizations from campus. As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, she collaborated with other greek organizations and nonprofits to do service projects to aid the City of Buffalo. She also co-taught a film class. Post-grad, she lobbied at the New York State Capital for womb health rights and the Parent-Child Security Act, which would legalize compensated gestational surrogacy across the state of New York. She is also a dedicated advocate for environmental justice. 

A visual artist by trade, Jalessa has expertise in photography, cinematography, creative consultation, directing and producing. She also has experience as an event curator. Notably, she curated, funded, and exhibited a mixed media art show in Buffalo, NY, which focused on how relationship trauma can harm long-term mental health. A short film Jalessa created was featured in the Luminal Theater Cinema Block Party in Bedford-Stuyvesant, NYC and the MMFF (Micro Media Film Festival), which paid homage to Black women and the unique issues they each face. 

Jalessa is a dedicated advocate for environmental justice, understanding that the movement to protect our Earth cannot be done successfully without the incorporation and consideration of all voices and perspectives, but especially from people of color.

PUBLIC RELATIONS & SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

Cierra C. Johnson currently serves as the public relations and social media strategist for Angela Rye and IMPACT Strategies. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Cierra is a recent graduate of Syracuse University where she earned a Master of Science degree in Public Relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

She is a 2019 graduate of Hampton University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, with a minor in Political Science. Cierra is also the founder and lead publicist of CharMEDIA PR, a boutique public relations and brand management agency. 

In her free time, she enjoys playing golf and tennis, spending time with family and friends, and participating in community service initiatives.