Our Staff

Michael Mitchell is Executive Director for the Stonewall Democrats. Prior to joining the Stonewall team, Michael served as the advocacy and planning specialist for the Equality Federation and as the marriage campaign manager for the ACLU's LGBT Project. Before those positions, he founded and led Equality Utah. During his four years there, the organization was named "Organization of the Year" and he was recognized by the Utah Democratic Party with the "Voice of Reason" Award. Michael also served as a senior advisor to Donald Dunn's 2000 run for Congress in Utah, as well as Executive Director of the Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA), which he co-founded in 1995.

In addition to his professional roles, Michael has served on the national board of the Equality Federaton, the national association of LGBT statewide advocacy organizations; is board chair for the NY Innovative Theater Awards, which recognizes the achievements of Off-Off-Broadway; serves on the boards of the John Jasperse Dance Company (New York City, NY) and Center for Performance Research; and was board chair of the Plan B Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT). Michael was also the chair of the Community Advisory Board for Project ACHIEVE, a preventative HIV vaccine study trhough the New York Blood Center and the National Institutes of Health.

The son of an Air Force pilot and a homemaker, Michael was born in Austin, TX and raised in Preston, ID. He attended Utah State University on music and achievement scholarships, was All Greek Rush Chair, wrote for the Utah Statesman and was elected to serve as Associated Students of Utah State University Arts and Lectures Vice President. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, DC.

You can reach Michael at mmitchell (at) stonewalldemocrats.org.

Jenna Lowenstein is Director of Communications and Online Organizing for the Stonewall Democrats. Before joining National Stonewall Democrats, Jenna worked at a communications consulting firm, advising Democratic candidates and progressive non-profit organizations on messaging and online strategy. She’s also a volunteer organizer with DC for Marriage, a project of the DC Center committed to bringing marriage equality to the nation’s capital. Jenna previously served as an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the Georgetown neighbohood of DC, and has organized (both online and off) for a number of Democratic candidates, progressive organizations, and pro-equality ballot measures.

Jenna graduated with honors from Georgetown University, where she received degrees in Government and English and researched the intersections of politics, pop culture, and new media. While in college, she was Vice President of the DC Federation of College Democrats, as well as serving as a leader of her campus chapter of CDA.

You can reach Jenna at jlowenstein (at) stonewalldemocrats.org.

Brett Burnham is the Chapter Services Associate for the Stonewall Democrats. A native of Minneapolis, Brett works with chapters to develop their membership while providing service support from the national organization. He helps organize and execute local and national fundraisers; specializes in internal communications with the Board of Directors, the Leadership Council, and Chapter Leaders nationwide, and serves as liaison between local Stonewall leaders and the national office. He also works with local contacts to establish new chapters throughout the country.

In 2007, Brett received a B.A. in Biology from Franklin Pierce University (Rindge, NH). In the spring of 2009 he completed a masters degree from Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia) in Conflict Transformation with emphases in International Development and Restorative Justice.

In his masters coursework, Brett researched human rights abuses against the international LGBT community, specifically focusing on how and why LGBT protectorates are missing from the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and various strategic measures that could be taken in order to secure basic international LGBT protectorates. While attending a conservative Christian liberal-arts university during graduate school, Brett was one of only two openly gay students at Eastern Mennonite University. Nevertheless, he was a fierce LGBT advocate and organized the student body, faculty, and staff to hold forums and rallies concerning LGBT injustice within the Mennonite Church and university systems.

You can reach Brett at bburnham (at) stonewalldemocrats.org.

Marion Johnson is the Administrative Coordinator for the National Stonewall Democrats. In June 2009 she graduated with honors from Wellesley College, where she received a degree in English. As Administrative Coordinator, Marion manages the member database, communicates with members and chapter leaders, and organizes local fund-raising events. Marion is also in charge of hiring interns for the national office. She ultimately intends to pursue a Masters degree in public policy.

You can reach Marion at mjohnson (at) stonewalldemocrats.org.