Rachael DeCruz (she/her) is a filmmaker and racial justice organizer. Her work centers on how familial and community bonds fortify people to push back against racist systems. She directed The Panola Project, a short film chronicling how an often-overlooked rural Black community in Alabama came together in creative ways to survive the pandemic. The film was an official selection of over 35 festivals including Sundance, HotDocs, and BlackStar, and received 12 festival awards. Rachael was the former Chief of Staff at Race Forward, the country’s largest multiracial racial justice nonprofit.