Mary Hooks

Mary Hooks joined the Southerners On New Ground team as a field organizer for the state of Alabama in March 2011. Her passion for helping people is reflected in her years of community service and mentoring. Mary’s background is in Human Resources and holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources Management and recently obtained her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. Though Mary is new to organizing, her personal story has prepared her for such a time as this. The chapters of her life begin with a life of poverty, being parentless, and shy. Eventually the story unfolds of a rebellious teenager who converts to a devoted Christian in Pentecostal church, who comes out as a lesbian and left without the support of her foster or church family and stricken with tons of Christian guilt. The climax of this story occurs when, in undergrad at a private Lutheran college, Mary begins to redefine her self and discovered a radical desire to be a catalyst for change in the world. Since then Mary has relocated to the hot shades of Atlanta, GA, and has found her niche in organizing with SONG, throwing dope parties and singing with the Juicebox Jubilees, a queer choir, created to provide a safe space for folks to gather their voices together, sip a little wine, and sing songs that uplift, inspire, and liberate. As she continues to navigate through movement work, she hopes that the folks she connects with are inspired to write their stories of self-determination,

Introduced to radicalism after meeting Paris Hatcher in a Atlanta bar.

"A letter from the movement to the movement'

In September 2019 Mary Hooks was one of 100 black leaders, many affiliated with Liberation Road who signed A letter from the movement to the movement defending Maurice Moe Mitchell and Nelini Stamp of the Working Families Party for endorsing Elizabeth Warren instead of Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

M4BL Leadership

Thenjiwe Tameika McHarris February 11, 2019 · M4BL Leadership w/ our Convergence Council Team (Denise, Makani & N’Tanya) #Squad #M4BL

Makani Themba, N'Tanya Lee, Denise Perry, Mary Hooks, Morathi Adams, Serena Sebring, Dara Cooper, Richard Wallace, Nikita Mitchell, Karissa Lewis, Ash-Lee Henderson, Phillip Agnew, Monifa Bandele, Rukia Lumumba, Chinyere Tutashinda, Marbre Stahly-Butts, Mark-Anthony Clayton-Johnson, Gina Clayton-Johnson, Maurice Moe Mitchell.

A Vision for Black Lives

An Immediate End to the Criminalization and Dehumanization of Black Youth Across All Areas of Society Including, but Not Limited to, Our Nation’s Justice and Education Systems, Social Service Agencies, Media, and Pop Culture.

Authors & Contributors of this 2017 report included ● Whitney Maxey, Miami Public School Teacher ● Kwame Torian Easterling, MD, MPH ● Monica McLemore, PhD, MPH, RN, University of California, San Francisco ● JoHanna Thompson, MPA ● Nimaako Brown, MPH, CHES ● Thena Robinson Mock, Education Law Center ● Ruth Jeannoel, Power U Center for Social Change ● Rachel Gilmer, Dream Defenders ● Chelsea Fuller, Advancement Project ● Marbre Stahly-Butts, Center for Popular Democracy ● Rachel Herzing Soros Justice Fellow ● Mary Hooks, Southerners On New Ground ● Mark-Anthony Johnson, Dignity and Power Now ● Tanya Greene, Attorney at Law ● Daryl Atkinson, Southern Coalition for Social Justice ● Andrea Ritchie, Soros Justice Fellow ● Arielle Humphries, Center for Popular Democracy ● Carl Lipscombe, Black Alliance for Just Immigration ● Crystal Peters, Center for Popular Democracy ● Chinyere Tutashinda, The Center for Media Justice ● Malkia Cyril, The Center for Media Justice ● Pete Haviland-Eduah, Million Hoodies Movement For Justice ● Kesi Foster, Urban Youth Collaborative ● Montague Simmons, Organization for Black Struggle ● DeAngelo Bester, Workers Center for Racial Justice ● Dorian Warren, Center for Community Change ● Dara Cooper, National Black Food and Justice Alliance ● Brandon King, Cooperation Jackson ● Linda Tigani ● Anja Rudiger, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative ● Cathy Albisa, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative ● Karl Kumodzi, Black Youth Project 100, Blackbird ● Steven Pitts, National Black Workers Center ● Richard Wallace, Workers Center for Racial Justice ● Benjamin Ndugga-Kabuye, Black Alliance for Just Immigration ● Erica Smiley, Jobs with Justice ● Patrick Mason, Ph.D., Florida State University, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative ● Beatriz Beckford, National Black Food and Justice Alliance ● Rose Brewer, PhD, University of Minnesota ● Ife Kilimanjaro ● Toussaint Losier, Chicago Anti ­Eviction Campaign ● Mya Hunter, Spirit House ● M. Adams, Freedom, Inc. ● Jonathan Stith, Alliance for Educational Justice ● Lumumba Bandele ● Emmanuel Caicedo, Demos ● Viviana Bernal, Demos ● Damon L. Daniels, Demos ● Trupania Bonner, Open Democracy Project/Crescent City Media Group

Rally against Kemp

A Rally against Kemp–A voting rights rally in the Ga. state capitol rotunda Nov. 11 2018 ended when police aggressively arrested some 16 people for making noise while the legislature was holding a meeting. The principal target seemed to be Southerners On New Ground leader Mary Hooks, who had been emceeing the rally and leading chants.

Police shoved a 70-year old MADSA member to the ground while charging into the crowd toward Hooks. They also arrested two New Georgia Project canvassers; a man who had been especially vocal during the speeches; comedienne “the real Donna J. Trump”; a staffer for Men Stopping Violence; and State Sen. Nikema Williams. All arrested were charged with misdemeanors; Williams was also charged with obstruction.

SONG staff

Southerners On New Ground staff As of 2015;

• Paulina Helm-Hernandez - Co-Director
• Caitlin Breedlove - - Co-Director
• Kate Shapiro - Membership Coordinator
• Mary Hooks - Regional Campaign Coordinator
• Hermelinda Cortes - Communications Coordinator
• Serena Sebring - Campaign Organizer
• Salem Acuna - Regional Organizer
• Elias Lyles - Fundraising Coordinator
• Asa King - Staff Attorney
• Roberto Tijerina - Deputy Director

Democracy Alliance

Weston Milliken, Maria Rodriguez Florida Immigrant Coalition, Chris Kromm Institute for Southern Studies, Mary Hooks Southerners On New Ground, Tamieka Atkins ProGeorgia, took part in a panel "The South's evolving progressive power" at the Democracy Alliance Spring 2018 conference.

Comrades

Alexis Murphy June 2013;

With Probably Lyles, Jazz Franklin, Jadebroo KS, Mara B. Collins, Jess St. Louis, C. Saenz Becerra, Alexander Hollinghead, Pat Hussain, Jess Jude, Vanessa Faraj, Lucia Leandro Gimeno, Taryn Danielle, Kai Barrow, Gracie Aghapour, Aaron Kemmerer, Suzanne Pharr, Miguel Maria Caritu, Salem Abraham Acuna, Caitlin Breedlove, Hermelinda Cortes, Kate Shaps, Pressley Matt, Holly Hardin, Paulina Hernandez, Ashe Helm-Hernandez, Mary Hooks, Stephanie Guilloud and Laila Nur.

"Not one more deportation" Atlanta protest

Kate Shaps November 21, 2014:

With Amilcar Ernesto Valencia, Juan Evans, Eshe Shukura, Catherine Han Montoya, Eunice Cho, Jess St. Louis, Anna Simonton, Carter Ture, B. Loewe, Ade Nicholls, Mary Hooks, Paulina Helm-Hernandez and Vanessa Faraj.

Mary Hooks birthday

Kate Shaps January 19, 2014 ·

Last weds High on a mountaintop Mary Hooks welcomed in her 32 trip around the sun. We love u!!! We love walking this path w you. 2014 is y/ours, take it! And like u and yr cake say: Turn Up!! #32LooksGoooodOnYou #TurningItALLTheWayUp — with Mary Hooks, Serena Sebring, Salem Abraham Acuna, Jazz Franklin, Suzanne Pharr, Caitlin Breedlove, Probably Lyles, Hermelinda Cortes and Paulina Helm-Hernandez.

Dre connection

Mary Hooks, Dre Normando Love

The Movement for Black Lives

The Black Lives Matter "Movement for Black Lives" conference was held in Cleveland Ohio, July 24-26, 2015.

Free From Fear: Dangerous Homosexuals Building Power in Da' South to address profiling and the municipal court, Bri Carter, Brinn Frazier, Southerners On New Ground: Mary Hooks, Cazembe Jackson, Mickey Jordan, Serena Sebring, Eshe Shakur, Tiffany Smith, Dean Stead, Kiesha Webb, Rebecca Wooten.

1st Anniversary of the #Ferguson Uprising

Maurice Moe Mitchell August 5, 2015,

1. UnitedWeFight: 1st Anniversary of the #Ferguson Uprising - National Conference Call. Thurs. 8PM EST / 7PM CST Register at http://bit.ly/uwfcall — with Justin Hansford, Scott A. Roberts, Mary Hooks, Kayla M. Reed, Diamond Latchison, Kareem Jackson, Bukky Gbadegesin, Katrina Gamble, Tanya Lucia Bernard, Tory Russell, Cedric Lawson, Alicia Garza, Leslie Mac, Charlene Carruthers, Patrisse Cullors, Cherrell Brown, Dante Barry, Waltrina N. Middleton, Damon Turner, Marbre Stahly-Butts, Ash-Lee Henderson, Damon Davis, Thenjiwe Tameika McHarris, Mari Morales-Williams, Mervyn Marcano, Nicole Lee, Elandria Williams, Opal Ayo, Jonathan Pulphus, Dara Cooper, Michael McBride, Umi Selah, Osagyefo Sekou, Tara Tee, Rose Berry, Sistufara W. Muhammad, Purvi Shah, Cid Nichols, Ingrid Benedict, Jade Ogunnaike, James Hayes, Anita Nichole, Joe Worthy and The Movement for Black Lives.

Revive Love tour

the #ReviveLove tour starts in a week w/a sneak peak at Highlander Center this weekend!!! whether or not you can join us, chk it out and make a donation to make it happen here: http://www.faithify.org/projects/revive-love-tour/ <3 — with Hermelinda Cortes, Jay-Marie Hill, Sara Green, India Danielle, Caitlin Elly Breedlove, Paulina Helm-Hernandez, Lena K. Gardner, Mary Hooks, Chris Buice, Osagyefo Sekou, Leslie Mac, Kate Shaps, Cel Living, Lsa Piercy, De Vandiver, Julie Taylor, Ruth S. Idakula and Probably Lyles.

Revolutionary Strategies to Beat the Rising Right Wing

Revolutionary Strategies to Beat the Rising Right Wing, was a nationwide conference call organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Sunday October 30, 2016.

What's the nature of this right-wing threat? What has this election cycle changed about the political terrain we're fighting on? How do we need to prepare for whats coming after the election? Hear about these crucial questions from our panel of top political strategists, including Nelini Stamp, Bill Fletcher, Jr., Linda Burnham, and Sendolo Diaminah.

Those invited, on Facebook included Mary Hooks.

Now What? Defying Trump and the Left's Way Forward

Now What? Defying Trump and the Left's Way Forward was a phone in webinar organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization in the wake of the 2016 election.

Now what? We’re all asking ourselves that question in the wake of Trump’s victory. We’ve got urgent strategizing and work to do, together. Join Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson of the Movement for Black Lives and Freedom Road, Calvin Cheung-Miaw, Jodeen Olguin-Taylor of Mijente and WFP, Joe Schwartz of the Democratic Socialists of America, and Sendolo Diaminah of Freedom Road for a discussion of what happened, and what we should be doing to build mass defiance. And above all, how do we build the Left in this, which we know is the only solution to the crises we face?

This event will take place Tuesday November 15, 2016 at 9pm Eastern/8pm Central/6pm Pacific.

Those invited, on Facebook included Mary Hooks.

Awid Forum 2016

Paris Hatcher September 9, 2016:

Black Feminisms. Black love. Black power. Squad ❤️ forever. — feeling Black Feminist Bliss with Stephanie J. Alvarado, Charlene Carruthers, Morathi Adams, Mary Hooks, Alicia Garza, Tanya Lucia Bernard and Lynn Roberts at Awid Forum 2016.

""Introduction to Black feminism"

"Intro to Black Feminism" hosted by Sendolo Diaminah Cazembe Jackson, and Adrienne Maree Brown.

Tuesday, August 15 at 8:30 PM

Created for Black August Practice Group.

Sendolo Diaminah August 15, 2017;

Black people! Tonight my beloved sister Adrienne Maree Brown is leading a web discussion about Black Feminism as part of a series of Black August political education sessions hosted by Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and BOLD.

Those expressing interest on Facebook included Mary Hooks.

Amandla Training

Sendolo Diaminah February 1 2018

Hey Black organizers & those who love us: BOLD has re-opened our application period for Amandla, our organizer training program. We have just a few more slots we wanted to make available, so now is your chance if you missed the deadline!

Alicia Garza, Ajamu Dillahunt, Aaron Gamal, Whitney Maxey, Hashim Benford, Ociele Hawkins, Bryan Proffitt, Bennett D. Carpenter, Courtney Sebring, Cazembe Murphy Jackson, Reece Chenault, Charlene Carruthers, Chanelle Croxton, D’atra Jackson, Dove Kent, Fresco Steez DeLaflyy, Maria C. Fernandez, Aiden Riley Graham, Kaji Reyes, Laila Nur, Theo Luebke, Maria Poblet, N’Tanya Lee, Taliba O Njeri, Orisanmi Burton, Quinton Harper, Roberto Tijerina, Mary Hooks, Serena Sebring, Adaku Utah, Vanessa Moses, Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Thomas Wayne Walker, Jayanni Elizabeth, Jayda Rasberry, Amber Evans, Dara Cooper, Yotam Marom.

Black Ideological Struggle Webinar

Black Ideological Struggle: Radical, Liberal, Conservative Public · Hosted by Sendolo Diaminah and Cazembe Jackson

Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 8:30 PM

Created for Black August Practice Group

Join Sendolo Diaminah for a conversation about why Black radicals can and must learn how to effectively engage liberal and conservative ideologies among our people.

September 2, 2017. Hey family! Here is the final recording from the Black August webinars! Sendolo Diaminah took lots of patience and creativity breaking down Black Ideological Struggle for us.

Those expressing interest on Facebook included Mary Hooks.

Black August Bailout

Kate Shaps August 29, 2017:

1. DreamTeam #BlackAugustBailout #AnotherBlackWomanFree #EndMoneyBail — with Karen Mosley, Pat Hussain, Kim Berly, Angie Wheelis, Shanti Moore, Shawn Easley, Micky Bee, Mary Hooks and Akiva Hibel.

Defeating SB 452

Kate Shaps March 30 2018:

Yes we did! SB 452 is dead and done. Those good old boys couldn’t take the heat. Blessed are the defiant ones! Gnight!

Come Out Destroy Fear Unleash Power — with Olivia Celia, L.M. Harrison, Eshe Shukura, Tomas Martinez LA Voz, Jovan Julien, Ade Nicholls, Mary Hooks and Eztli Macehualli.