BGG2SM is a Black woman and genderqueer-led, Southern-based Reproductive Justice organization dedicated to dismantling how white supremacy, patriarchy, and cultural bias distort healthcare and deepen disparities. We center the voices of Black women, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those impacted by carceral systems—exposing how these systems reinforce health disparities, workplace discrimination, and inadequate care.
Meet the Alchemists
TJ Mikell - She/Her
Research Fellow and Community Scholar
TJ Mikell (she/her) is a community scholar, systems designer, and social impact technologist focused on community wellness and health equity. With a background in data architecture and current studies in Health Science, TJ brings a mixed-methods approach to research, combining data analysis, participatory design, and storytelling to support community-centered initiatives. Mikell’s work spans grantmaking, program evaluation, and building infrastructure that enables under-resourced communities to access and shape capital.
Alex Jane - She/Her
Director of Communications and Cultural Strategy
Alexandra Jane is a writer, curator, and arts worker based in Durham, North Carolina. She serves as Director of Communications and Cultural Strategy for Black Girls’ Guide to Surviving Menopause, shaping the organization’s voice, messaging, and public engagement. Her practice brings art and storytelling into conversation with Black feminist thought and cultural memory.
Mawiyah - She/Her
Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations
Mawiyah Patten is an operations wizard, writer, outdoor enthusiast, professional overthinker, cat guardian, and mixologist. She also considers herself a wonderful sister, daughter, and friend, and it must be true since no one has said otherwise. She was born and raised in Southern California, and while she misses her family, the Pacific Ocean, and the food, her ancestry and curiosities about family, place, Blackness, and liberatory social movements called her to the South. She made North Carolina her home in 2012. Since then, she has worked as a facilitator, trainer, and organizer around issues of race and gender equity.
Azzan Quick - He/Him
Communications and Research Project Manager
Azzan Quick (he/him) is a filmmaker, storyteller, and communications professional based in Paris, France. Since 2017, Quick has worked as a multimedia storyteller. His work ranges from documentary to installation films, typically focusing on the stories of marginalized people. He firmly believes a major part of his purpose is helping organizations and individuals convey compelling stories that drive missions and change lives.
Leigh Reed - She/Her
Administrative Director
Leigh Reed is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as the Administrative Director for Black Girls’ Guide to Surviving Menopause, where she plays a key role in keeping the organization organized, efficient, and on track to achieve its goals. Passionate about professional growth, Leigh recently earned her Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification, further strengthening her expertise in project management and operational excellence. Outside of work, she is an avid reader, dedicated runner, and enthusiastic traveler who enjoys exploring new places and experiences.
Claire Alexandre - She/Her
Web and Social Media Designer
Alexandra Jane is a writer, curator, and arts worker based in Durham, North Carolina. She serves as Director of Communications and Cultural Strategy for Black Girls’ Guide to Surviving Menopause, shaping the organization’s voice, messaging, and public engagement. Her practice brings art and storytelling into conversation with Black feminist thought and cultural memory.
Julian Wilson - He/Him
Director of Research and Narrative Shift Strategies
Durham-based artist, multimedia journalist, and organizer Julian Wilson (they/he) has spent more than a decade honing their practice as a professional image-maker and storyteller. Rooted in Julian’s experience growing up in “the ghettos” of America, his work is raw, intimate, and frequently somber, confronting the social and political conditions that shape how people move through the world. Since earning a Master’s in Visual Communication from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media in 2023, Julian has increasingly centered his practice on transgender people impacted by North Carolina’s carceral system.
