Who We Are.
REP CO (Represent Collaborative) is a storytelling collaborative that covers issues of racial and social justice. The underlying theme behind all of our stories is activism, and how it manifests in ways other than simply protest and direct action.
We are long-time media pros (including former and current EICs, creative directors, and staffers from pubs including The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, BBC, The Washington Post, Esquire, New York Magazine, San Francisco magazine, The New York Times, T Magazine, Seattle Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, Sunset, Lonny, Wired, C Magazine, Curbed, 7x7, Dwell, and so many more) who have committed to taking pro bono assignments in the service of creating sustained, quality coverage of the issues and people that might otherwise "stop trending" over the next few months. Because Black Lives Matter, always.
What we do.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE
The foundation of traditional American media is rife with white supremacist ideals and practices that has resulted in real harm to Black and brown communities. As media professionals, we recognize that our “decades of experience” has resulted in ingrained racist habits.
WE DISMANTLE
We commit to actively resisting white supremacist practices in every layer of our storytelling, from reporting to editing to writing to how we visually illustrate our stories. No system is left unexamined. We refuse to stand behind the often harmful facade of tradition.
WE COLLABORATE
All of our pieces are produced and vetted collaboratively. Because many of us are white creators with good intentions but ingrained racist ideas, we hand over editing power to our subjects. They can read their quotes, they can have final say over the images we use. They tell us what the story is that needs to be told.
WE SHARE
We both publish our pieces on the REP CO site and work with our media partners to get them picked up (at no or low cost to the media outlet) elsewhere, since the mission is to disseminate and elevate the message, not monopolize the content.
WE COMPENSATE
While non-Black contributors do, and always will, create REP CO content for free, we will always pay any and all Black creatives fairly for their work with the funds we have available. Your Patreon membership or individual donations go directly to pay our Black contributors. So donate today!
WE LEARN
The one thing we know for sure is that we will not get it right immediately. We probably won’t get it completely right, well, ever. But we will be actively learning and evolving every day. If you have thoughts, suggestions, call-ins or feedback please email us directly at erin@representcollaborative.com
our team.
DR. Akilah Cadet
Chief Creative Officer
Dr. Akilah Cadet is the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet consulting firm, which offers a broad array of anti-racism and diversity services including strategic planning, crisis rebuilding, advising, executive coaching and facilitation. Cadet (her last name) is a French term that means soldier. As it's often an uphill battle for BIPOC, women, and underrepresented communities to achieve success and equity in the workplace, Change Cadet prepares soldiers of change to overcome these continuous battles so individuals and companies can thrive. Akilah has 15+ years of experience working in various organizations, with both private and public sector companies. She literally has all the degrees, lives in Oakland, CA, has a rare heart condition, and is a proud Beyoncé advocate.
Temi Adamolekun
PR Director
Temi Adamolekun was born in Lagos, Nigeria, grew up in London and moved to SF, 13 years ago. She set up her own PR company, Pembroke PR in 2013 after three years as Director of Communications for the Ne Timeas Restaurant Group. Pembroke PR specializes in the luxury lifestyle sector working with a range of clients in design. Prior to their focus on interior design and architecture, Pembroke PR worked in food and beverage with notable projects with high profile chefs such as Mark Bittman and Jacques Pepin. Temi has supervised shoots, managed various high profile social media accounts, created effective email marketing campaigns, and in 2012 she was asked to join TEDxPresidio as Co-Director of Media. With strong motivation to give back, in 2016 Temi joined SF Made as an Advisor and is delighted to be part of a team that aims to "empower manufacturers, create jobs and transform our city". Temi is also a San Francisco host/mentor for the Global Graduates program run by universities in the UK. In July 2018, Temi was asked to join the San Francisco Council for Vital Voices. Vital Voices is a nonprofit that invests in women who are improving the world. Founded by Hillary Clinton and Madeleine Albright following the UN 4th World Conference in 1997 to promote the advancement of women as a US foreign policy goal.
Shaquille heath
Storytelling Director
Shaquille Heath is a writer, essayist and the Manager of Communications at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF). Her writing explores the intricacies of Blackness and womanhood, as well as the visual arts, and has been published in The New York Times, Juxtapoz, The Bold Italic, Mother Magazine and others. At FAMSF, Shaquille works to ensure the important stories of diverse artists and exhibitions are empowered and uplifted by working with local and national media. Shaquille also serves as a Builder (or junior board member) of the organization BAYCAT, a nonprofit that exists to end racial, gender and economic inequity by creating powerful media. She lives in San Francisco. You can reach her at her website shaquilleheath.com or find her on Twitter @shaquilleheath.
sean dallaskidd
Director of Strategic Vision
Sean DallasKidd is a business savvy creative leader with more than 15 years of communications experience. He has had the opportunity to design creative solutions for industry leaders like Visa, Treasury Wine Estates, EA, Discovery and others. And while he has worked across both national and international accounts, he has also partnered with startups to help make their brands a part of culture to drive “talk-ability”, engagement and relevance. His foundation comes from the world of publishing, which has helped to shape his approach to storytelling today. His editorial approach helps brands define their story and to identify who and where to communicate it and how to engage with their audience(s). Though Sean has amassed numerous awards over his career, what he values most is the business success it has brought to his brand partners, and the storytelling opportunities for his creative collaborators. He believes that in order to achieve these transformative outcomes agencies must first cultivate trust, empathy and a true understanding of their client’s business. With an eye for bold creative, and a focus on delivering solutions, Sean DallasKidd is a nimble creative leader who embraces the changing landscape as an opportunity to tell powerful truths in exciting ways that move business and redefine brand communication.
Zoila Darton
Executive Advisor
Zoila Darton is a Panamanian-Jamaican Jew from NYC currently living in Los Angeles. She is a passionate innovator, skilled connector & creative director with 10+ years of success in the business of community building and marketing. She is the founder of WORD, an LA-based creative agency committed to cultural storytelling & conceptual ideation that puts creativity at the forefront while supporting advancement for women & marginalized communities. She has created meaningful marketing campaigns and consumer experiences for brands like The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Red Bull, Foot Locker & Lululemon. In December of 2019, Zoila launched OurHouse.la—an editorial site created to support creative storytelling. She hopes to provide a platform for anyone who wants to use their voice. Zoila’s most important title is "Mama" to her 2 1/2 year old, Dakota. She is committed to raising a kind & emotionally intelligent human and works daily to show Dakota what that looks like. In the in between moments, Zoila enjoys volunteering her time to support youth development, dancing like a maniac, tending to her growing plant familia, learning to surf and cooking a mean veggie ramen from scratch. Yes, even the broth!
ERIN FEHER
Co-Founder and editor
Erin Feher has been a writer, editor and passionate storyteller for nearly 20 years. She has served as Editor in Chief at California Home+Design, founding Editor in Chief of Habitat, Executive Editor of MOTHER, and Style & Design editor for San Francisco magazine. This is why she started REP CO.
JESSA WILLIAMS
co-founder and partnerships director
Jessa Williams has over 10 years experience in Marketing and Business Management and she's spent the last several years in the tech industry building partnerships with global brands and influencers. Coming from a family of activists, and having gone to school for journalism, the work of REP CO brings Jessa's passions for advocacy and storytelling full circle.