Meet Jack
Award winning transformational leader
Jack Knoxville is the first Trans Masc candidate to have run for political office. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Trans Empowerment Project and a multi-award winning leader for change.
Before running for office, Jack was a club promoter who enjoyed creating marketing campaigns for small businesses.
Jack Knoxville – Bio
Jack Knoxville (He/They) is a multiple award-winning transformational leader for the progressive movement.
As a Disabled, multracial, melanated, Trans/Intersex individual, he got his start as a leader for change in 2002, when he heard about the use of antiquated sodomy laws being pushed to criminalize homosexuality in South Carolina.
From there, Jack started Free2Be, an organization whose mission was to fight violence and hate crimes through education and awareness, which earned him a spot on the Wall of Tolerance as well as a certificate signed by Rosa Parks in recognition of the work he did.
Jack also became the first Trans masc candidate to run for political office in the Southern United States, when they ran for Mayor of Knoxville, TN in 2015.
Aside from being an activist Jack is a digital strategist who specializes in building power by centering marginalized communities in collaborative systems of support. Outside of this work, Jack’s focus has been on celebrating the joy of being reunited with his twin flame and raising their fur babies.
“I have worked with Jack at Planned Parenthood on a variety of projects. Jack is incredibly focused, diligent, kind and holds a strong values and skills alignment on every project we complete — making him not only an incredibly useful addition to any team, but also a delight to collaborate with no matter the occasion. I’m constantly learning from Jack’s vision, rigor, generosity, and insight.
Madeleine Durante, Director, Direct Response Retention”
What Kind of Work do I do?
I offer DEIB trainings and leadership development trainings for organizations and businesses who would like to build actual equity into their work places.
I also offer digital strategies and organizing support for scalable campaigns.
Whether you’re looking for a leadership coach or someone to ensure that your work is truly equitable, you’re in the right place!
Qualifications & Awards
Jack is an outspoken, award winning activist and advocate whose career has spanned across several different key areas of interest for creating change, from Trans rights to LGBTQIA+ rights, Environmentalism, Reproductive Rights, Homelessness, and more.
Recognition
- Wall of Tolerance Award Recipient
- GAIN Power Award for Transformational Leadership
- LGBTQ Nation’s Hometown Hero of the year
Experience
- Founder, The Homegrown Zine
- Founder, Free2Be
- Founder, Trans Empowerment Project
- Distributed Organizing Technology and Digital Communities Manager, Sierra Club
- Engagement Coordinator, Sierra Club
- Digital Organizer, Planned Parenthood Action Fund