Our Story

The Septima Project was co-founded by longtime friends and collaborators Kristina Gray-Akpa and Elizabeth Allin. We first met in 2002 organizing Ladyfest DC, a festival for women artists, activists, and performers.

In 2011, we formed the band Coup Sauvage & the Snips. The band became known as “the city’s newest protest music.” With songs taking aim at racism, gentrification, street harassment, and police brutality, we saw first-hand how dialogue can happen in the most unexpected places. 

Once the band wrapped up in 2017, we realized we missed working together and still had a LOT to say about race and equity. By then, we each had become new moms and found there was an even greater sense of urgency to have conversations about racism—especially with other parents. And despite discussions about equity becoming more widespread, so many people were still struggling to talk openly about race.

That’s when we decided to team up again and launch the Septima Project. As longtime activists, organizers, educators, and facilitators we wanted to share what we‘ve learned over the years working to advance social justice and help others have meaningful and actionable conversations about race that lead to long-term change.