Phoebe VanCleefe
Director of Programs, Board President
Phoebe VanCleefe has a background in direct service work and counseling for QTPOC youth and young adults experiencing housing instability. As a founding former member of the National Youth Forum on Homelessness and sex worker, Phoebe has a wealth of knowledge in homelessness and sex work activism. Phoebe aspires to bring about a world in which Black trans and gender variant people are able to thrive and be protected holistically.
Phoebe is also a singer-songwriter, and fills her downtime with creating captivating performance art within the Drag and Ballroom scenes of Philly. Phoebe stand as the Senior Program officer for True Colors United.
Bri Garvey
Board Secretary
Bri has been organizing since 2014 toward black liberation and has held several leadership roles for the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement and African People’s Socialist Party. Bri currently sits as the Board Secretary for Bantu Safe Haven and is an active member of the International house of Juicy Couture in the ballroom scene. She’s is a plant mom, snake mom, and also a mother a 5 beautiful queer children. Bri envisions opening a cafe to host as a community space for Black Trans and queer folks.
AnDrea Williams
Director of Communications, Board Treasurer
AnDrea Williams is a plus-size Black trans woman and activist with the dream of changing the world and leaving her mark on the community. She is a freelance makeup artist and performer who is taking the nightlife scene by storm. She serves diligently as the Director of Communications and Treasurer for Bantu Safe Haven. Originally from New York, she moved to Philadelphia in her youth knowing she would make her mark. Since then she has served on several community boards across Philadelphia to help create a more inclusive and safe community with a prioritization on Black Trans Folx. AnDrea is a daughter, a mother, and a friend. She is here to all that may need her comedy, advice, or just a listening ear.
Damien Brinson
Executive Director, Board Vice President
Damien Brinson is a multi-hyphenated artist activist and healer from Fort Lauderdale Florida his passion for community and liberation centered politics can be seen all throughout his work. He founded Bantu safe haven in 2019 which was then known as “sage legacy project” where he provided over 100 self-defense tools to combat the many gaps in safety for black trans women and femmes. Damien has served as the coordinator of the Freedom Beyond Imagination Coalition and believes in working together with to build power for the black trans community across the country. Today he sits as the Executive Director of Bantu Safe Haven as well as Vice President of our Board.