MEET OUR STAFF
Rachel E. Nunes
Executive Director (they/she)
Rachel joined the TMC in February 2023. Previously they were President of United Steelworkers Local Union 3657, employed by the Strategic Campaigns Department at the United Steelworkers International Union, co-founder a Pittsburgh-based community mental health care cohort, and were a direct action organizer with over 10 years of experience fighting for racial, gender, and economic justice at the interpersonal as well as structural levels.
As TMC’s Executive Director, they use their leadership and activism experience to carry forward the TMCs mission of growing activism to combat systemic injustice incurred by BIPOC communities. Through increasing community engagement and educational and skill-sharing opportunities for BIPOC activists and organizers, and simultaneously strengthening and growing organizational partnerships, campaign capacity, they believe these activities will secure the center’s future as a resource to our community.
As President of my Local Union, they oversaw and directed the work of board and committee members, and managed a long-term strategic plan with a goal to increase member engagement and develop future leaders. They achieved many of those goals, primarily through an intersectional and horizontal approach that consists of facilitating difficult conversations around privilege and power dynamics in the union, and taking the time to educate and reach consensus as much as possible so that the Local could move forward in unity. They utilize these strong organizational, administrative and communication skills in their work to advance the TMC’s mission and grow its capacity, and partnerships.
Their activism experiences include leveraging privilege and resources to support the
work of Black women-led efforts, and they believe that relationships based on trust and mutual respect should be the building blocks of a vibrant activist community. While coordinating safety efforts for actions, They make the time, even when little is available, to mentor, empower and share skills that help volunteers and organizers feel confident and capable in their roles. They bring this ethic to their role as Executive Director and efforts to increase community engagement and educational and skill-sharing opportunities.
Samey Jay
Community Organizer (she/her)
Samey Jay is a passionate organizer who joined the TMC team in 2024. Invigorated by her early experiences during the Occupy movement and her working-class background, she
believes that our activism must be accessible, impactful to, and most importantly, grassroots-led.
She was a founding member of Fight Back Pittsburgh, a community-labor affiliate organization of the United Steelworkers local 3657. Through her work in labor she led students in supporting, and winning the first-ever adjunct faculty organizing efforts at Point Park University. This work led to a cross-campus organizing effort establishing a city wide student coalition of young activists.
Samey has developed digital organizing strategies and communications for local campaigns around Affordable Housing, Environmental, Racial, and Economic Justice, and has coordinated marshalls and volunteers for marches and public demonstrations around Pittsburgh for over 6 years. Her work found her in BIWOC-led spaces focused on intersectional movement building meant to amplify and support the voices and work of WOC, trans-women, non-binary and gender non-conforming people.
Samey’s activism is informed by intersectional ideals that prioritize wellness above all else. Her work is emphasized by the knowledge that the way in which we work in collaboration with one another reflects the world we want to see. Our movement spaces must prioritize the voices and work that currently exist. She believes we must embrace a culture of camaraderie and solidarity while also prioritizing the mental and physical health and safety of ourselves and our communities.
Address
1256 Franklin Ave,
Pittsburgh, PA 15221