Phillip Agnew

phillip agnew co-founded the Dream Defenders in 2012 after the murder of Trayvon Martin and has been dubbed “one of this generation’s leading voices” and recognized by both EBONY magazine and The Root as one of the 100 most influential African Americans in the nation. Phillip emerged as a national activist when he helped to organize students from FAMU, Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College in the creation of the Student Coalition for Justice, which was formed in response to the Martin Lee Anderson case.
His work in community organizing and art has been highlighted on MSNBC, BET’s “Rest in Power”, PBS, the Huffington Post, USA Today, the Guardian, Democracy Now, ESSENCE, TruthOut and Time Magazine.
In 2018, he transitioned from his role as co-director of the Dream Defenders and now travels the country training and organizing where “the movement” hasn’t touched.
He is the co-founder of Miami’s Smoke Signals Studio – a community based radical artistic space - with his partner, poet Aja Monet. Smoke Signals Studio is a space where those invested in using art, sound and music as a meeting place for transformation and liberation can come to create together.
He is a nationally recognized educator, strategist, trainer, speaker and cultural critic. He has spoke at colleges and conferences around the country and was a featured speaker at TedxWomen and SXSW in 2019.
Agnew is also member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and a Board Member for Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

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