Shannon Downey

Shannon Downey is an instigator. She applies this skillset in a myriad of ways that are always evolving based on where the spark of change is most needed. Currently, she is the Director of Development for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, where she raises funds to grow and protect immigrant and refugee rights and power through civic engagement and language access. She is adjunct faculty at Columbia College and DePaul University where she teaches Creatives how to build empires that will pay the bills and change the world.

Shannon is, however, best known by her alias – Badass Cross Stitch – where her shenanigans tend to get the most attention. In this role, Shannon is a community organizer disguised as a fiber artist and craftivist. She blends politics, activism, and art into projects that are designed to inspire others to take action, think, discuss, engage with democracy and their community, and find some digital/analog balance. Her work has recently been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Time, Bust, Elle, Fast Company, and Money to name a few. She launched her most ambitious project to date in June – Badass HERstory.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]