Melody Oliphant: Georgia Youth Justice Coalition Leader Nominated by Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams nominated Melody Oliphant, 35, executive director of the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition (GYJC), for CULTURED's 2026 Young Activists list. GYJC, formed in 2021, blocked the "Don't Say Gay" bill and secured millions for Title 1 school repairs. Under Oliphant, GYJC knocked 150,000 doors in 2025 Public Service Commission elections, flipping 22 Trump-voting counties for a Democrat—the first state-level flip in nearly 20 years. Oliphant started as a finance assistant for Abrams's 2018 gubernatorial race. GYJC trains marginalized youth in advocacy, combining data, policy, and community relationships. Oliphant emphasizes hope as a practice and cites moments like 400,000 new Democratic primary voters in Texas and the firing of Kristi Noem as signs of ordinary people achieving the extraordinary. She calls for believing in young people and supporting year-round organizing.