The Futures Institute develops and advances policies that offer a bold vision for our future—one that provides all communities with genuine safety and all youth with equal opportunity. Our primary focus is on advancing transformative, equity-centered policy change through out-of-the-box strategies and cross-disciplinary coalition-building.
Community Safety
Through our Community Safety work area, we uplift preventative policies that keep communities, including young people, safe—without landing more people behind bars. This work includes creating resources, guides, and policy proposals for both advocates and policymakers. It includes maintaining a searchable database for federal grants. It means supporting a coalition of national organizations that are all working collaboratively to advance community safety. And it means supporting organizers and movement organizations who want assistance in making these policy changes.
See here for more information regarding our Community Safety work area.
Youth Opportunity
Meet Our Team
Thea Sebastian
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Prior to her current role, Thea worked mostly on social and educational policy, including stints in local government and in the White House Domestic Policy Council. She also spent three years in the classroom, most notably two years teaching special education in the South Bronx.
A graduate of Harvard College, Oxford University, and Harvard Law School, she sits on a few boards—including the boards of Harvard University, which she joined as a petition candidate running on climate divestment, and the Appleseed Network. In her free time, she is passionate about hiking (the more vertical, the better), yoga, creative writing, and dancing bachata.
Raeghn Draper
STORY TELLER
Inspired by the visionary works of Octavia Butler, Raeghn’s writing delves into the intricate realms of social justice and equality. Their prose sheds light on pressing issues, challenging the status quo and igniting conversations that demand change.
In parallel to their writing pursuits, Raeghn is a fervent community organizer specializing in narrative strategy and a tenacious advocate for labor rights in the hospitality sector. Overall, they are a skilled writer and advocate whose work is informed by their lived experiences and commitment to social justice.
Rose Sebastian
WEB DESIGN & EDUCATOR ENGAGEMENT
Rose is the founder of Spedhelper.org, a practicing special education teacher, a teacher educator, a web designer, and an educational researcher. Her work on engaging families, culturally sustaining special education, and teacher agency has appeared in Teaching and Teacher Education, Phi Delta Kappan, the High School Journal, and the Urban Review among other journals.
She is passionate about making special education work for all students and teachers– and uplifting the stories of the amazing teachers in our classrooms. She is always on the lookout for fabulous special educators to hear their stories and spread their wisdom, so please reach out it you are one– or know any!
She has taught or done research in schools in New Hampshire, Virginia, California, and Massachusetts– and received degrees in almost as many states! Back in the classroom after a stint in academia, she wants all the future teachers out there to know that teaching really is the most fun job there is– and special education is the most fun of all. Where else can you go from solving the dilemma of the not self-cleaning bunny poop to teaching the mysteries of self-regulation to persuading students that classes might not be more fun than vaping in a bathroom– but attending them sure has less negative consequences– in one day?
Janae Ivory
POLICY ASSOCIATE
Janae Ivory is driven by a deep commitment to equity and community empowerment. Originally from Long Beach, CA, she made Mobile, AL, her home over a decade ago. Her professional journey reflects her commitment, with impactful roles in organizations championing racial justice and criminal justice reform.
Janae has also held roles in local government structures where she created programs facilitating resource mobilization and simplified access to government assistance. With a desire to see an inclusive community safe for all community members, Janae provided policy recommendations and amendments to existing ordinances that purposely excluded constituents from equitable treatment.
With a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration concentrating in Nonprofit Management, Janae has a strong foundation in community engagement, organizing, and advocacy.