Core Team Members
D’Ondra Donaldson
Political Education Organizer
dondra@scyouthaction.org
D’Ondra (she, her) is a Black, queer, neurodivergent femme who considers herself a lifelong student of abolition. After spending her younger years in a variety of cities and countries, she graduated from Spelman College in 2018 with her B.A. in International Studies. Since then, she has taught in various teaching positions working with neurodivergent and English language learning youth. D’Ondra’s commitment to investing in young people’s radical imagination, especially Black, queer, and disabled youth, is what led her to the Carolina Youth Action Project’s work.
The many Gemini placements in her chart lead her to dabble into a variety of interests, which includes cooking vegan soul food, playing the kan kara sanshin, photographing graffiti, making art from random household objects, and researching her Gullah lineage.
Markelle Evans
Communications Organizer
markelle@scyouthaction.org
Markelle (any pronouns) is a genderfluid, biracial Black organizer and mixed-media artist raised in Charleston, South Carolina currently living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Markelle is currently focusing on using art and design to spark change in communities, self-reflection, building skills and knowledge in radical transformation, and managing CYAP’s social media, branding, website, and outreach.
They often tend to self-soothe during trying times by doodling, writing, reading, listening to music, and cooking. They show their love to friends by sending playlists, preparing a large meal, and watching movies. Talking is only allowed during the movie if Markelle has seen it before.
Jasmine tabor
Creative Resistance Organizer
jasmine@scyouthaction.org
Jasmine Tabor (they, them & she, her) is a writer/gym-rat/zine designer/tea-maker from the Deep South. They currently study poetry at Syracuse University's MFA program while teaching writing to undergraduates.
As a child, Jasmine was deeply enthused by Girls Rock Camp (and can be found in older promotions on CYAP’s Instagram), became a youth counselor, then a Youth Action Alliance Fellow before advocating for better accessibility and arts-centered education as a Creative Resistance Organizer.
When they aren't working, they are bumpin' Smino and Dorothy Ashby while making zines and organizing workshop/reading collectives for brunches, picnics, and general community events.
Tessa Torgovitsky
Campaign Organizer - Sex Education Beyond Abstinence
tessa@scyouthaction.org
Tessa (they, them & she, her) is a queer, Jewish, anti-racist feminist born in the nation’s capital. They moved from DC to South Carolina to attend the College of Charleston, where they received a B.A. in Women's & Gender Studies. They are currently heading back to school to pursue nursing & midwifery!
Politics have always been personal, and Tessa spent most of high school and college fighting against identity-based systemic oppression through organizing. In their spare time, Tessa can usually be found walking Honey the Pit Bull, netflixing, pursuing a new DIY hobby found on Tik Tok, or rallying a group of friends to get boba tea.