Political Leadership Program for People of Color

Belinda Moreira
Director, Regional Impact (Houston), LEE
Facilitator

Belinda (she/her/ella) is a first-generation Latina with a proven track record in social impact, strategic planning, and leadership development. With experience working in K-12 education and nonprofits, she has designed training and engagement strategies that have reached 17,000 people and built strong relationships with key stakeholders. A former teacher and passionate advocate for racial and social equity, Belinda specializes in empowering leaders and creating data-driven, impactful campaigns.

Brandon Best
Director, National Candidate Recruitment and Development, LEE
Facilitator 

Brandon (he/him) is an educator turned policymaker and political strategist, focused on shaping public policy through education and civic engagement. His career began in the classroom, where he developed a passion for empowering young minds. Now serving on the DC State Board of Education, Brandon uses his teaching experience to mentor political aspirants and help drive meaningful change across various levels of government.

Diana Bonete Matzen
Director, National Candidate Recruitment and Development, LEE
Facilitator

Diana (she/her/ella) supports equity-driven leaders exploring public office. She recently served as a Senior Field Advisor for Jon Ossoff’s Senate campaign and has extensive experience in political roles, including Deputy Political Director and Latino Outreach Director for Ossoff’s congressional race. With over a decade of experience across presidential, congressional, and local campaigns, Diana is a first-generation Ecuadorian-American, Chicago native, and community organizer. She holds a BA in Political Science and Spanish from The Citadel and serves on the O.A. Thorp Elementary School Council.

Holly Lim
Director, Civic Leadership Development, LEE
Lead Facilitator

Holly (she/her) is all about shaking up the political status quo.  She is a former consultant with a 100% win rate for BIPOC candidates, and she has worked at a national PAC, training 1,500+ emerging leaders and helping 700+ everyday people find the courage to run for office. As the Program Director of Public Allies Bay Area, Holly also organized a leadership talk with Michelle Obama and young leaders. With a background in Political Science and Ethnic Studies, Holly’s research dives into the leadership styles of women of color in politics, uncovering paths that break barriers & make change.

Jemila Mitchell
Director, Regional Impact (Atlanta), LEE
Facilitator

Jemila (she/her) began her career in education, driven by a passion for empowering students to take control of their learning. After transitioning from teaching, she shifted to political action, organizing and training marginalized individuals to lead and run effective campaigns nationwide. With a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Philosophy from Howard University, Jemila now combines her education background, training expertise, and

Melissa Ait-Belaid
Director, Member Engagement, LEE
Facilitator

Melissa (she/her/ella) is the LEE Director of Member Engagement for Texas, Chicago, and the National Capital Region, where she connects members with opportunities to create change. She led fundraising for her campaign for the Princeton Independent School District Board of Trustees, emphasizing community engagement. Passionate about public service, Melissa focuses on campaign management and voter engagement in Collin County. She holds an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from American University and a B.A. in Spanish and International Studies from the University of Missouri.