Dr. Rae Stevenson is a writer, cultural organizer, and educator whose work focuses on creating participatory, justice-centered spaces where young people and their communities are empowered to tell their stories, critique systems, and imagine radical futures. Rooted in bell hooks' framework of love as a radical act and a practice of freedom, Rae's projects prioritize relational accountability, creative expression, and youth power.

Through arts-based organizing and youth participatory action research (YPAR), Rae designs projects that challenge systemic harm while exploring alternatives to extractive models of research, education, and policy. Her work spans classrooms, summer programs, and grassroots initiatives, always centering collaborative storytelling and creative expression as tools for social change. She has created and supported numerous youth-led research and storytelling initiatives, including the 2021 New Orleans YPAR Academy and ongoing collaborations with the Center for Youth Equity at Tulane University.

Rae holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from Tulane University's interdisciplinary City, Culture, and Community program. Her dissertation research culminated in a youth-led graphic novel that explores racial inequity in New Orleans schools—embodying her commitment to making research accessible and community-centered. She's also the author of The Light through the Woods, a children's picture book about grief, and has contributed graphic stories to indie comics anthologies.

When she's not teaching youth to stick it to the man, you can find her making (terrible) art, reading graphic novels, and enjoying the company of her sweet little family.