TEAM IMPACT

Joe D. Briggs, Esq. Founder and Director

This former Texas Christian University football player was born and raised in Dundee, Florida. After completing a master’s degree at Florida A&M University, he obtained a juris doctorate at the Florida State University College of Law. Briggs served as a United States Senate Legal Fellow during the summer of 2006 and currently serves as the Public Policy Counsel of the NFL Players Association. Joe is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Read more…

Angela Rye, Esq. Founder and Director

Angela Rye is a principal at IMPACT Strategies. She has been featured in The Root 100, MSNBC’s “BLTWY Power List: 35 Under 35 Who Changed DC”, the Washington Post’s “Who Runs Gov”, and recognized as one of DC’s Most Influential, among others. Ms. Rye currently serves as the Executive Director and General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus. In her role a s executive director, Rye is tasked with developing the overall legislative and political strategy for the caucus. Read More…

Semhar Araia,IMPACT Founder

Semhar Araia is Oxfam International’s Horn of Africa regional advisor and an original founder of IMPACT. Semhar has an international law background and specializes in conflict resolution, international human rights, development and peacebuilding in Africa. Read More…

Adria Crutchfield,IMPACT Founder

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Adria Crutchfield began living and working in Washington, D.C. in January 2005 for Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) as the healthcare legislative assistant. Read More…

Ryan M.Scott, IMPACT Founder

Ryan Scott is a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania and a graduate of Allegheny College. Ryan served as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch where he worked with a team called the Washington Renaissance Group. Read More…

Sarah Misailidis, IMPACT Communications Director

Sarah Misailidis is currently a PR manager at a Washington, DC firm. Prior to this position, she worked as a Public Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as a press officer in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. Read More…

Nina Smith, IMPACT Deputy Director

Nina Smith is currently the publicist for The Root.com, the nation’s premier source of news, culture and commentary for thought leaders of color.  Having received her B.A. in Political Science from Morgan State University, she worked for the MD Democratic Party during the 2006 cycle. Read More…

Erica Butler, IMPACT Press Secretary

Erica Butler, an alumna of Florida A&M University, received her bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism. Erica has interned on Capitol Hill working for former Congressman Albert Wynn and current Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. She also interned at the U.S. Department of Education for three years. As a journalist, Erica has worked for numerous media outlets including Loop21.com and CBS in New York. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Urban League and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Read More…

Brandon Andrews, IMPACT Special Project Manager

Raised in Brewton, AL, Brandon Andrews has several years of experience of Capitol Hill. He has handled defense, foreign relations, technology, and business development. Brandon has served the D.C. area’s largest volunteer organization, Hands On/Greater DC Cares, as Project Manager and Strategic Outreach Committee member for several years. He also serves as political action chairman for the NAACP, DC Branch, and is leading the organization’s voter registration efforts in Washington, D.C. While in the D.C. area, Brandon has studied at the George Washington University and the U.S. Naval War College. He is a 2011 graduate of the New Organizing Institute’s Online Organizing Institute, and a 2008 graduate of Oral Roberts University. Read More…

Tyrik McKeiver, Special Project Manager

Tyrik “Ty” McKeiver is currently a graduate school candidate at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) focusing on international affairs and management.
Prior to his graduate studies, he worked in Washington, D.C. for several years in the Executive and Legislative branches of government and in the private sector. Read More…

Dr. Marcus Coleman, Political Research Fellow

Dr. Marcus Coleman (B.A., University of Southern Mississippi; M.A., University of Kentucky; Ph.D., University of Georgia) received a Ph.D. in Political Communication from the University of Georgia in May of 2012. During his time in graduate school, Dr. Coleman co-authored and authored publications, interned for the House Committee on Homeland Security, presented his research annually at national conferences, and taught an array of communication courses at the University of Georgia.
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Krystal Leaphart, Staff Assistant

Living with the quote “Be the change you want to see” in mind, Krystal Leaphart is an emerging Civil Rights leader. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Krystal was able to learn the values of service and advocacy through organizations like the Detroit NAACP Youth Council and Top Teens of America. After ranking number one in her graduating high school class, she went on to continue her education at Howard University in Washington, DC.
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