ABOUT US
95 Counties is actively creating space and offering support so that Descendants can step into their own strength and agency.
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OUR STORY
Founded by Stephanie Johnson in 2023, 95 Counties emerged from her discovery of her own family history tied to enslavement in the United States. The feeling of knowing her own history was something she wanted to provide to other Descendants. Along the way, she began discovering the unique needs of Descendants that permeate almost every sphere of influence. As the planet finds itself in a crisis, so do the Descendants who are deeply connected to it.
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Stephanie and her team work tirelessly to reconnect Descendants to a history that they have been purposely disconnected from and to use that history as an empowering force to galvanize them to sound the alarm on the many issues deepening the gaps facing our communities. 95 Counties is rooted in the belief that knowing where we come from can help us better understand where we are and give us greater agency in determining where we go next.
meet
our team
STEPHANIE JOHNSON
With over 20 years in building and leading movements and organizing. Stephanie leads our efforts to improve the lives of American Descendants of Slavery.
Founder
& Executive Director
Madeline SoineyÂ
Madeline has been a volunteer with 95 Counties since 2024, and has transformed how we communicate through our digital newslewtter by making it nuerodiverse friendly.
Neurodiversity Accessibility Editor
TAMEKA MILLER
Tameka started volunteering with 95
Counties in 2026. She takes American Descendants of Slavery through a one-hour journey through their family trees. Helping Descendants expand on their prior research.Â
Genealogist for
The Harriet Project
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Maria De Fatima Alejo
Maria has volunteered with 95 Counties since 2026, coming on to help show the real harm that American Descendants of Slavery have experienced through digital maps exclusively created to tell the Descendant story.
GIS & Cartography
YVONNE KIRITU
Yve has volunteered with 95 Counties since 2026 creating our brand identity and re-design our social media.