Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Claire Cousin, Hudson, NY Common Council, Ward 5

Up the Hudson River from New York City, Hudson is the seat of Columbia County. In the past decade or so, Hudson has reinvented itself from rust belt mid-size city to a rejuvenated scene for the arts and counterculture. Claire Cousin (she/her) is a millennial mom of 3 who is running on the Working Families Party ticket for the Hudson Common Council. Before becoming a housing justice activist, Claire spent eight years dedicating herself to the Black Liberation Movement. She was recently accepted into the Baccalaureate program at nearby Bard College, a hotbed of liberal, artistic ideas. Claire cares very deeply about social justice, Community Building, Youth Empowerment and finding creative ways to center stories and narratives of people on the ground both doing the hard work of preserving community but also those continuing to live in and foster community.

Paxton Smith - From Viral Valedictorian to Musician and Activist

From a viral valedictorian speech to becoming a musician and activist, Paxton Smith is no stranger to making her voice heard. With songs off of her new EP, “But I Love It”, releasing every month, we have no shortage of things to look forward to! Beyond the music, Smith has had the chance to travel around the country to speak on the importance of reproductive rights and serves on the board for directors for WRRAP - the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project. Read on to learn more about Paxton Smith and her new music.

Jamie Margolin, Intersectional Activist

As the current regime turns away from curbing climate change and towards embracing increased carbon emissions, Gen Z is doing what it can to pick up the slack. Jamie Margolin is only 23 years old, but she has been an activist for the past 8+ years. Coming of age in the Trump era, she witnessed the systematic dismantling of environmental regulations and free reign given to petroleum and gas companies to extract fossil fuels in the cheapest way possible. The existential threat of climate change inspired Jamie to co-found Zero Hour, an international youth climate justice movement which aims to empower youth to lead the environmental justice narrative, as those who stand to bear the brunt of climate change. This organization has been going strong since 2017. Read on to learn more about climate justice leader Jamie Margolin!

Audrey Denney - Feeding American Hunger

“Public service is for all of us.” These are the words of Audrey Denney (she/her), an agriculture teacher, consultant, international human rights volunteer and political activist. Raised from a young age with the belief in service to others, Audrey has spent her whole life advocating for those who need it — the hungry, the unhoused, immigrants, and farm laborers. And she has a thing or two to say about why the Democratic party keeps losing in rural America. Read on to learn more about Audrey Denney!

Mustard Service Creates a Sound of Their Own

The Miami based group, Mustard Service, is creating a sound of their own, one they like to call “Zest Pop”. With the recent release of two new singles, an album coming this summer, and talk of even more new music in the future, we’re happy to report that Mustard Service has no plans of slowing down. Beyond the music, one member volunteers some of his time for The Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings program, a program dedicated to taking inner city youth on nature outings. To learn more about Mustard Service and their new music, read on.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57Eva Elisa WellsMay 30, 2025Miami, music artist, music industry, Music Group, Community, HispanicComment

Regina Sayles - Helping Voices Be Heard

Regina Sayles is a queer biracial singer-songwriter who advocates for more representation within the music industry. Her latest single’s music video, One Big Lie, released on International Women’s Day and aims to create more visibility for women like her. Often donating to the Looking Out Foundation, she hopes to help other’s voices be heard. Beyond the music, Sayles is an educator and a mentor, working hard to uplift others and help them believe in themselves. With more new music along the way, we are surely in for a treat! Read on to learn more about Regina Sayles’ new music and what representation means to her.

Emily Haber: Connection Over Perfection

Growing up in a family band with severe hearing loss, Emily Haber has learned that when it comes to music, connection is much more important than perfection. And after years of writing for others, she is finally ready to have her own voice heard. Her new single, Nostalgia, explores the complexity of reflecting on what you had compared to what you could’ve had. As her way of paying it forward and expressing gratitude for the help she received for her hearing loss from the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Haber frequently volunteers for and donates to them. To learn more about Emily Haber and how living with hearing loss has affected her relationship to music, read on.

Television Skies Sings Without Disguise

Television Skies is a New York based duo with a rebellious spirit and unwavering authenticity. Their newly released single, Time of My Life, speaks to facing the unknown and might just be able to help you feel a little less alone during this time where we’re facing a lot of uncertainty. Teasing their upcoming album in this interview, they share a few songs we can expect to make it onto the track list. In response to the recent LA fires, Television Skies stresses the importance of supporting each other in times of need no matter the distance by playing shows to raise money for those affected by the fires. To show their support for struggling artists, they also partner with Sweet Relief and Letters Relief Charity, organizations dedicated to turning community support directly into real help for musicians. To learn more about Television Skies and their upcoming album, read on.

Refuge is a Rock 'n' Roll Musical Melting Pot

Inspired by music icons like Queen and the blending of genres like rock and blues, Refuge has created a sound unique to them. Their newly released single, Bored, exemplifies just that and with their upcoming album we’re sure to hear more of their diverse sound. Beyond the music, Refuge is dedicated to helping their community. Working with organizations like Newham Music Trust to bring music education to children, Music Venue Trust to keep small venues for small artists open, and supporting The Oasis Hub food, toy, and clothing pantries. To learn more about Refuge and their upcoming album, read on.

Annabel Gutherz - Pop-Rock to Pajamas

From writing cinematic pop songs to launching a socially conscious children’s brand, Annabel Gutherz is doing more than just making noise — she’s making a difference. Her latest single, “Dance Around It,” explores the emotional complexities of love, showcasing music’s ability to heal and connect. But her talent for storytelling extends far beyond songwriting. What started as a high school initiative has since evolved into Annie’s Pajammies, her purpose-driven brand that supports education and empowers children through stories and imagination. Read the full story to learn more about Annabel Gutherz and how she takes on the musical and literary realms of writing.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Chelsea ChanApril 22, 2025author, books, Musican, education, musicComment

Gender Amplified - Changing the Tune

In an industry long dominated by the male perspective, one nonprofit is changing the industry. Meet Gender Amplified, a powerful movement advocating for women and gender-expansive producers to not only be seen but heard. With the release of their first EP, In Bloom, this nonprofit is redefining what inclusion sounds like: it is not only intimate but also experimental and relatable. Read on to learn more about Gender Amplified and its musical movement as we dive deep with founder Ebonie Smith.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Chelsea ChanApril 17, 2025women, women in music, music industry, music, EP, nonprofit, music producerComment

Samy Nemir Olivares - Bringing Fashion Sense to Activism

Samy Nemir Olivares (they/them) has the perfect life experience to be a natural activist. Born in rural Puerto Rico to a single mother, they grew up in a financially insecure household, relying on government programs to make ends meet. After college, they moved to New York City with only a suitcase and a dream, to create a more just, equitable world. Today, they are the founder and director of Cuir Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in communications and strategy for the Latinx, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC communities. Samy is also the the author of the recently released book, CuirDoRican. Read on to learn more about Samy Nemir Olivares and the roles they have played over the past several years!

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Ali Muldrow, Metropolitan School District Board of Education, Seat 4, Madison, Wisconsin

One such individual is Ali Muldrow (she/her/hers), a millennial bisexual Black woman who just won her seat on the Board of Education in Madison, Wisconsin. Currently working at the Women’s Medical Fund, she was previously the co-Executive Director of GSAFE, an advocacy organization that creates safe schools for LGBTQ+ youth in Wisconsin by developing LGBTQ+ youth leaders; deepening racial, gender, trans, and social justice; and working towards a world free of oppression based on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, and other identities. Ali began her work in education as a spoken word poetry instructor in her former high school. This poet, essayist, and doula is passionate about consent, freedom, learning, human rights, social justice, and uplifting marginalized communities.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Andrew FApril 10, 2025school, election, #election, LGBTQ, LGBTQ youth, LGBTQ+, lgbtq, LGBTQ+ kidsComment

Gregory Darling x Julian Lennon - From Melody to Mission

Born out of a spontaneous moment in the south of France, Gregory Darling and Julian Lennon’s latest release, A New Dream, has been striking the hearts of listeners with its message of courage. Collaboration is key for the two and from a bond built on mutual respect, simple shared experiences have transformed into organically crafted tunes. Beyond the recording studio, they are committed to philanthropy. Through organizations like ReLuv and the Gift of Love Foundation, they have been working on projects that blend music with activism, using art to raise awareness and create a lasting impact. Read on to learn more about Gregory Darling and Julian Lennon.

MEGG - Unfiltered, Unapologetic, and Unstoppable

With a sound that is equally fierce and fearless, MEGG has built a career on raw emotion and an edge. From growing up in a home filled with music to jumping onstage with live bands as a kid, her passion for performing was undeniable. After dropping an impressive seven singles last year, MEGG is proving that overthinking is overrated. Alongside her singles, her latest track, The End, is also an anthem for anyone battling self-doubt when life seems too good to be true. Read on to learn more about MEGG and her unique music.

Ianthe Metzger, Master Communicator

Ianthe Metzger (she/her) knows how to communicate. She has spent most of her career as the official mouthpiece of three of the largest progressive advocacy organizations in the United States: Human Rights Campaign, Emily’s List, and Planned Parenthood. Originally from the country of Trinidad and Tobago, Ianthe did not originally envision this career trajectory - the daughter of two dentists, she thought she would follow in her parents’ footsteps. Read on to learn about the rapid ascent in progressive activism for Ianthe Metzger!

Laura Vale - From Mental Health to the Big Screen

Always a lover of acting, Laura Vale has transitioned from being a therapist to being an actress over the years. Her understanding of mental health has given her insight into her characters own struggles to better help represent them on the screen. Her new film CULPRIT is a perfect example of that as it tackles what happens to those who are potentially wrongfully accused of committing a crime, pulling from stories from The Innocence Project. Please read on to learn more about Laura Vale.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Amy Mathieu, Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, PA

Today we are profiling Amy Mathieu (she/her), a gender-nonconforming queer attorney who is running to be a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After the election of Donald Trump in November, Amy was motivated to run for this elected judgeship. As the country slides into a fascist corporatocracy, Amy wants to to join the court to become an activist judge who will help lead the anti-fascist resistance and to uniformly and consistently protect citizens from patriarchal, white supremacist and capitalist interests. She hopes to protect the civil rights of marginalized communities from discriminatory executive orders. Using this position of power, Amy will promote DEI and trans rights while our current regime seeks to erase diversity, equity, and inclusion, and trans people from American society.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Andrew FMarch 20, 2025genderfluid, lesbian, queer, #queer, election, #electionComment

The Altons - Making Art for Change

For The Altons, music is not just about the sound—it’s about the journey. With the recent release of their album Heartache in Room 14 and their Club Heartache tour, The Altons are ready to bring their signature blend of soul, blues, and Latin-infused rhythms to audiences nationwide. Beyond music, they are deeply committed to giving back. From their annual Christmas Benefit Show to wildfire relief efforts, their activism is rooted in the communities that shaped them. Read on to learn more about The Altons!

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Chelsea ChanMarch 18, 2025music artist, forest fires, change, band, Music GroupComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor of San Antonio, TX

Gina Ortiz Jones (she/her) is a lesbian Filipina-American with a long career of public service. An Air Force officer during the early days of the Iraq War, Gina would later rise through the ranks of government to become the Under Secretary of the Air Force (the USAF’s #2 civilian position) in 2021. Along the way, Gina ran for Texas’ 23rd district in the US House of Representatives in 2018, winning the Democratic Primary but losing in the general election by less than a thousand votes. In her race to be San Antonio’s next mayor, Gina is running on a platform of universal Pre-K, housing affordability, and increasing high-speed Internet access to people of all incomes. The San Antonio mayoral election is on May 3, 2025.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Andrew FMarch 13, 2025lesbian, mayoral, queer, #queerphotography, #queer, Military MadeComment