"We can't get kicked out of rooms that we build and maintain ourselves."

Last week, our co-founder Ainslee Johnson-Brown received the J. Maynard Dickerson Community Service & Activism Award for the Class of 2025 Buckeyes Under 40, presented by The Ohio State University Black Alumni Society. We couldn’t be more proud.This distinguished recognition highlights young alumni who are making a powerful impact through service, leadership, and community engagement. It’s no wonder they thought of Ainslee. She was honored alongside an inspiring group of leaders and change-makers from across the country. Organizing builds resilience and independence.While accepting her recognition, Ainslee shares an important and timely reminder: we can’t get kicked out of rooms that we build and maintain ourselves.The Ohio State University Black Alumni Society has leveraged “the room they built” by loudly pushing back against SB1 and other attacks to free and fair education. They’ve been working overtime to protect Black students from being denied education and career opportunities while statehouse politicians do everything they can to undermine their futures. That is exactly the kind of bold leadership that this moment requires.Plus, they’ve got great taste in Awardees.Listen to Ainslee’s comments, and maybe even show her some love by donating to Ohioans Against Extremism in Ainslee’s name.Keep shining, Ainslee.Thanks for reading. Please consider supporting our work.We don’t paywall, and we don’t have billionaire friends. Our work is sustained through small dollar donations from fellow Ohioans against extremism.Will you help us keep going and growing?Support & Follow Ohioans Against ExtremismDonate | Substack | Podcast | Facebook | Instagram | X | BlueSkyThanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Ohioans Against Extremism at ohagainstextremism.substack.com/subscribe