LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is proud to introduce the 2025 Victory Empowerment Fellows.
These eight fellows will join a distinguished group of alumni such as Minneapolis City Councilmember Andrea Jenkins ’16, Palm Springs City Councilmember Lisa Middleton ’16, and North Carolina State Representative Vernetta Alston ’17. Whether it is running for office, working in local and city government, developing civil society organizations, or leading in the private sector – the alumni of the Victory Empowerment Fellowship are leading the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.
The Victory Empowerment Fellowship is a six-month fellowship for LGBTQ+ leaders of color and/or transgender leaders who seek to expand their campaign skills and policy-making power. Since the Victory Empowerment Fellowship was launched in 2015, we have helped 103 LGBTQ+ leaders expand their skill sets and cultivate invaluable relationships. These individuals will take the tools obtained through the program back to their communities to change the current landscape of LGBTQ+ inequality.
As participants in the Victory Empowerment Fellowship, the 2025 cohort will attend Victory Institute’s Houston Candidate & Campaign Training in May and the 2025 International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC this December. They will also participate in virtual programming and be assigned LGBTQ+ mentors who will guide them in their path to Victory.
Meet the Fellows
Zoey Carter (she/her)
Pekin, Illinois
Zoey Carter is a trailblazing advocate and community leader with deep roots in Central Illinois. As an eighth-generation resident, she possesses an intimate understanding of the region’s unique character and needs. Her dedication to fostering inclusive and equitable communities is powerfully demonstrated through her extensive work with the Rural Equality Project, where she championed the rights and visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in rural settings. Zoey also made history as the first openly transgender person to run for the Illinois State House, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to representation and political change. This bold step reflects her dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable future for all Illinoisans. Her unique blend of deep local knowledge, dedicated advocacy, and groundbreaking political experience positions her as a powerful voice for change in the region.
Breanna Chico (she/her)
Seaside, California
Breanna Chico is a seasoned organizer and relationship-builder with over eight years of experience in labor, electoral, and community advocacy. She most recently served as a Senior Partnerships Associate at Contest Every Race, where she collaborated with Democratic state parties and over 45 partners in 20 states to recruit candidates for down-ballot races, emphasizing equity and local empowerment. Breanna brings a strong track record of managing remote teams, creating political training content, and leveraging data to support grassroots campaigns. Her background spans impactful roles at NextGen America, Tom Steyer 2020, and Pueblo y Salud Inc., where she led initiatives focused on harm reduction, youth engagement, and public health education. Breanna is known for her ability to build trust across diverse communities, implement strategic outreach plans, and advocate through storytelling and coalition-building. She has also served in various volunteer leadership roles, including as Advocacy Chair for Planned Parenthood Action League in Palmdale and a bargaining committee member for ILWU Local 26.
Michael Crews (he/him)
Denver, Colorado
Michael Crews is a legislative strategist, policy advocate, and political leader dedicated to advancing equity and representation in governance. With over a decade of experience in public policy, advocacy, and government, he has worked to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals, communities of color, and historically marginalized groups have a voice in shaping policy at all levels. As Deputy Chief of Staff for the Colorado Senate Majority Office, Michael oversees legislative strategy, caucus operations, and a 14-person team across policy, communications, and outreach. He works closely with Senate leadership and stakeholders to develop and implement policies that reflect Colorado’s diverse communities. Michael’s leadership extends beyond the legislature. As Policy Director at One Colorado, he led efforts to expand protections for transgender Coloradans and increase access to gender-affirming healthcare. He also worked with the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials.
Jonathan Loc (he/him)
Rosemead, California
Jonathan Loc is a public policy professional with expertise in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and project management. He earned a master’s in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School in 2023, where he was honored with a Public Service Fellowship, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Asian American Studies, from UCLA. Jonathan’s career spans healthcare, housing, and advocacy. At Kaiser Permanente, he optimized hiring processes to improve efficiency and care quality. He managed COVID-19 vaccination sites with CORE, overseeing logistics and resource allocation, and supported affordable housing policies with AIDS Healthcare Foundation. A committed advocate for social justice, Jonathan has championed affirmative action, LGBTQ+ rights, and community engagement. He excels at advancing impactful policies and creating inclusive environments that uplift underserved communities.
Tony Mai (he/him)
Wichita, Kansas
Tony Mai is a civic professional from Wichita, KS with a background in mental health advoacy, social work, and civic engagement for Kansas youth. His professional exerpiences is varied, which provides him a holistic framework to tackle today’s issues of civics, leadership development, and representation as it pertains to queer and mixed-raced Asian Americans in the Midwest. Tony sat on the City of Wichita’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights advisory board to ensure equitable representation and advocacy for Asian and queer Wichitans. Tony was the Executive Director of BE SEEN!, an Asian-American civics organization that empowers first-generation voters to develop comprehensive, and culturally relevant, strategies for engaging in Get Out The Vote voter registration efforts. He has been a pivotal civic leader, engaging in various public speaking engagements for college students, mental health providers, and Asian professionals as the Leadership & Development Chair of NAAAP Wichita.
Eric Mora (he/him)
Salinas, California
Eric Mora (he/him/él) is passionate about creating vibrant and healthy communities where people can thrive and find fulfillment. Eric is President of Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations, an LGBTQ+ serving, all-volunteer nonprofit, and works for the County of Monterey as a Policy Analyst. His past work experience includes marketing, development, and community engagement roles. In 2021, Eric was one of ten art administrators awarded statewide with the California Arts Council’s Administrators of Color Fellowship. Eric earned a BA from Cornell University and a Master of Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
B.A. Wegman-Schaaff (they/he)
Seattle, Washington
B.A. (“B”) Wegman-Schaaff is a transgender attorney and advocate committed to a more just future. As Senior Counsel at lululemon, they lead a team driving fair workplace policies, benefits, and regulatory compliance. They also spearhead the People Impacts workstream in the company’s new government affairs function, shaping responses to legal and political shifts affecting workers. Previously, B served as an attorney at the Department of Labor, advising on administrative law, ethics, and civil and workers’ rights enforcement. Under the Biden Administration, they developed the Solicitor of Labor’s Gender-Inclusive Language Policy, trained staff on gender inclusion, and represented the agency on a White House working group advancing justice for trans and gender-diverse people. A published author and speaker on law, LGBTQ+ rights, health, and more, B has a demonstrated history of fighting for underprotected people and communities, whether in the courtroom, boardroom, or the halls of power.
