WOKE DEBT
A review of the public records on the Student Borrower Protection Center (“SBPC”) and the Debt Collective was conducted on the respective organizations’ structures, financials, leadership, news footprint, social media presence, etc., which have revealed several noteworthy liabilities that can be interpreted or presented as problematic for the entities.
In first examining the Student Borrower Protection Center, among the most prominent liabilities comes from its “fiscal sponsorship” from other leftist foundations, through grants. Individual tax filings from either the SBPC or the Debt Collective were not located, as they appear to be advocate branches of other foundations/groups. Knowing this, tax filings from identified parent groups or supportive foundations have revealed that the SBPC has transitively received funds from George Soros and his Open Society Foundations. They have also, more recently, received grants from a former Enron executive who fancies himself as a “new George Soros” who has financially supported criminal justice reform initiatives.
Further, the SBPC’s leadership is comprised with former Obama/Biden administration alumni, with previous experiences with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Executive Director, Mike Pierce, started the SBPC after leaving the CFPB in protest, against the Trump administration, and he has since presented a mixed rhetorical record on the Biden administration’s record on student loan debt cancellation. Other executive members of the SBPC have a record of supporting radical Liberal officials, such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as working in tandem with members of the Squad.
Compared to the Student Borrower Protection Center, the Debt Collective (formerly “Debt Strike”) is much more radical and vocal in its public advocacy/activism. Also funded with Soros money, the Debt Collective has called on the cancellation of ALL debts, i.e. medical debt, back rent debt, etc. Additionally, their leadership structure is designed to be socialistic and de-centralized, with the entity itself claiming to be “socialist.” Executive members have been arrested at debt cancellation protests in Washington, DC, have spoken at the convention for the Democratic Socialist of America, have publicly supported Palestine and college encampment protests, and have publicly supported the calls to “defund the police.”
STUDENT BORROWER PROTECTION CENTER
Individually designated IRS Form 990s for the Student Borrower Protection Center (or “SBPC”) have not been identified as being publicly available. However, tax filings from other entities show that SBPC has been provided with grants funding, via a “fiscal sponsor.” Tax filings from the Shared Ascent Fund show that it has provided certain administrative services to the SBPC, as recently as 2021/22
In 2023, counsel for the Student Borrower Protection Center wrote a brief of amici curiae, in support of US Education Secretary, and it shows that SBPC is “a fiscally sponsored project of the Shared Ascent Fund”
Among the leadership team for the Shared Ascent Fund is its President, Avi Garbow, who has experience in the Biden Administration as the former Senior Counsel for the EPA Administrator, as well as serving as general counsel there during the Obama years
From his time at the EPA during the Obama Administration, Avi Garbow is directly tied to every Obama environmental rule and regulation, which include implementation of the Clean Power Plan, the Climate Action Plan, and related emissions regulations
Avi Garbow has publicly spoken in favor of the Green New Deal, while delivering a 2019 symposium keynote address at the University of Virginia, his alma mater
Among the leadership of the Shared Ascent Fund is Christopher “Kim” Elliman, who is the CEO of the Open Space Institute. Elliman served as CEO of Open Space Institute for over thirty years, doing which time the Institute was funded by billionaire financier George Soros
The Resource Legacy Fund was an early fiscal sponsor to the Student Borrower Protection Center. Tax filings from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation show a grant of $274,953.00 was provided to the Resources Legacy Fund in 2022, with the purpose “to launch the Student Borrower Protection Center and the Student Loan Law Project”
Earlier, in 2018 tax filings, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation provided a grant of $401,294, awarded to the Resources Legacy Fund, to support the Student Borrower Protection Center
John Arnold, of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, has self-reportedly been called the “next George Soros”, having initially earned his fortune when starting his career in 2001 with Enron
Since 2019, John Arnold has spent more than $46 million toward criminal justice reform, largely towards a program that utilizes an algorithm in recommending bail
Mike Pierce, Executive Director (SBPC)
Mike Pierce currently serves as the Executive Director for the Student Borrower Protection Center. He is a co-founder of the SBPC and previously served as its Policy Director and Managing Counsel from its founding in 2018 until becoming Executive Director in Oct. 2021
Mike Pierce worked at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, DC, from Oct. 2011 to Sept. 2018, as Senior Advisor to the Student Loan Ombudsman. He also served in the capacity of Deputy Assistant Director from Dec. 2015 to Nov. 2017
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was founded by the Obama Administration in the wake of the 2008 financial crash, and Elizabeth Warren was tasked to lead the steering committee of the newly formed Bureau
In Aug. 2018, it was reported that both Mike Pierce and Seth Frotman, the student loan ombudsman at the CFPB, resigned from the Bureau because of “new political leadership” under the Trump Administration that “undercut and undermined” staff. Soon after their resignations, both Seth Frotman and Mike Pierce would go on to create the Student Borrower Protection Center
While attending law school, Mike Pierce worked at the US Department of Education as a program specialist for federal student aid
From 2007 to 2011, Mike Pierce worked on Capitol Hill, serving on the official staff of US Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), focusing on policy on loan forgiveness
Mike Pierce has shared often conflicting sentiments on the activities of President Joe Biden, as they have related to student debt relief/cancellation. Pierce has appeared to praise Biden for rhetoric that is complimentary to debt relief, even if the relief is less than total for debtors
Despite previous praises, Pierce has also criticized the Biden administration for slowing any forward momentum on debt relief
Mike Pierce has made nineteen (19) individual small-dollar donations to ActBlue, with some contributions being earmarked for the campaigns of Elizabeth Warren for President, among others. His federal contributions have totaled $136.50
Persis Yu, Deputy Executive Director/Managing Director (SBPC)
Persis Yu has served as the Deputy Executive Director and Managing Counsel for the Student Borrower Protection Center (or “SBPC”) since Oct. 2021
Persis Yu often publicly speaks on behalf of the SBPC, advocating for federal relief on student loan debt
Persis Yu has invoked race and ethnicity into discussions of loan applications and repayments, saying loans have “disproportionately” affected those of colors
Persis Yu is an attorney by trade, with years of prior legal experience as it related to consumer protections. Prior to her role at the SBPC, Yu worked at the National Consumer Law Center where she served as Director of the Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project
In June 2020, Persis Yu participated in the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Boston, in response to the police-involved death of George Floyd. She posted a photo to social media, showing her participating with a child by her side
Winston Berkman-Breen, Legal Director (SBPC)
Winston Berkman-Breen currently serves as the Legal Director for the Student Borrower Protection Center, coming from a legal background in consumer protection and advocacy
Since 2023, Berkman-Breen has also taught at New York University as an adjunct law professor, teaching courses in state consumer protection law and financial regulation
Winston Berkman-Breen has made sixteen (16) individual contributions to ActBlue, some of which were earmarked, via ActBlue. His federal contributions have totaled $4,535.30
Aissa Canchola-Banez, Policy Director (SBPC)
Since March 2024, Aissa Canchola-Banez has served as the Policy Director for the Student Borrowers Protection Center, previously serving as its Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy
Prior to her involvement with the Student Borrowers Protection Center, Aissa Canchola-Banez led the legislative efforts for US Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), a member of the “Squad” in Congress
While Aissa Canchola-Banez served as her Legislative Director, US Rep. Ayanna Pressley pushed for legislation/resolutions on federal student debt cancellation, seeking to cancel up to $50,000 for borrowers
Aissa Canchola-Banez spent over ten years in Washington, working for several congressional members and committees with her legislative focus on consumer protections
Cancola-Banez also held a short stint at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, serving as an outreach and Engagement Specialist from June 2016 to March 2017
Aissa Canchola-Banez has made at least six (6) individual contributions to federal campaigns, some of which were earmarked, via ActBlue. Her federal contributions have totaled $675.00
Amy Czulada, Outreach & Advocacy Manager (SBPC)
Since July 2021, Amy Czulada has led outreach and advocacy for the Student Borrower Protection Center, serving as the Outreach & Advocacy Manager since April 2022
On behalf of the SBPC, Amy Czulada has cited the student debt crisis as a “civil rights crisis”
Amy Czulada previously worked as a research analyst for the SEIU
Amy Czulada has exclusively contributed to the 2020 presidential campaign of US Sen. Bernie Sanders on seventeen (17) occasions, totaling $241.27. She has not contributed to any other federal candidate/committee
Amy Czulada has long been involved with activism, focusing on immigrant rights and wage theft. While residing in Denver, she served as a Board Treasurer of the Denver Justice & Peace Committee
Amy Czulada is publicly vocal on the subject of US imperialism
Jackie Filson, Head of Communications (SBPC)
Jackie Filson has served as the Head of Communications for the Student Borrower Protection Center since April 2022
Jackie Filson has creating digital content for SBPC, advocating to “cancel student debt”
Jackie Filson has indicated that she is pro-Palestine, via social media
Prior to her work was SBPC, Jackie Filson worked for non-profits to combat monopolies and to address safe/clean water sustainability
Jackie Filson’s portfolio featured photography of events, which feature US Sen. Bernie Sanders, US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as themes for supporting the Green New Deal and protesting fracking
Despite her political activism and involvement, Jackie Filson has a limited record of federal campaign contributions, having only donated three (3) times, to a total of $95.00
In Jan. 2014, Jackie Filson tweeted a joke about “black ice” and “black guys”, with the hashtag “#WatchOutForBlackGuys”
THE DEBT COLLECTIVE
The Debt Collective was originally founded as Strike Debt in 2011, at the height of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Strike Debt was re-organized in 2014 as the Debt Collective. Its founders aimed to cancel debts, such as those from student loans and medical debt
The Debt Collective has been cited as a “socialist debtors’ union”
The Debt Collective has promoted its members of debtors to refuse to pay off their student loans, as a form of protest and “mass civil financial disobedience”
The Debt Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is financially supported/sponsored by the Sustainable Markets Foundation
The Sustainable Markets Foundation has received grants from George Soros’s Foundation To Promote Open Society, with the explicit purpose for the funds “to support the Debt Collective”
The Sustainable Markets Foundation also funds other radical leftist organizations, such as 350.org, an environmental activist group that is supplementally funded by George Soros and his Open Society Foundations. 350.org has received supplementary funding from George Soros, through his Tides Center/Foundation
The method of the group’s debt cancellation has been through its Rolling Jubilee Fund, a public education initiative to purchase debt on secondary debt market and then erasing them
The Debt Collective, with its Rolling Jubilee Fund, often chooses what debt to purchase to cancel, based on racial demographics, favoring debt held by Black/Brown borrowers
The Debt Collective proudly touts its political work with hyper-Liberal members of Congress, including US Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as US Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Pramila Jayapal
The Debt Collective has called for all forms of debt to be cancelled, including medical debt, back rent debt, etc.
The Debt Collective has voiced their collective displeasure at the Biden-Harris administration’s failure to universally pause debt payment or to unilaterally cancel all student loan debt
The Debt Collective has expressed criticism and condemnation against the State of Israel, citing them as committing “genocide” in Gaza against Palestinians
The Debt Collective’s social media presence is active in accusing Republicans and Conservative public officials/figures of being fascists or pushing fascism
The Debt Collective has also accused Democrats of fascism, as well as criticizing President Joe Biden’s less-than-aggressive stance on debt cancellation as fascist and a sign that he hates debtors more than he hates fascism
Thomas Gokey, Co-Founder/Policy Director (Debt Collective)
Thomas Gokey was a co-founder of Strike Debt/Debt Collective, while active in the Occupy Wall Street movement. He current serves as the Debt Collective’s Policy Director and Case Worker
Thomas Gokey is a visual artist, who studied Fine and Studio Arts at Bethel University and later taught art at Syracuse University. He often used art to protest student debt, as he during the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City in 2011
As an active organizer of the Debt Collective, Thomas Gokey has interacted with congressional members of the “Squad,” including US Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley, to push legislation to cancel student debt and to encourage the White House to issue executive action to this end
Thomas Gokey has made fifty-six (56) individual small-dollar donations, largely to the Justice Democrats PAC, with some contributions being earmarked through ActBlue. His federal contributions have totaled $2,317.00
In May 2024, Thomas Gokey was arrested in Washington, DC, and charged with “Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding” during a Debt Collective-organized protest for debt cancellation/against Israeli military activities
Astra Taylor, Co-Founder (Debt Collective)
Astra Taylor is among the co-founders of the Strike Debt/Debt Collective, while active in the Occupy Wall Street movement
Asra Taylor has been described as a “socialist intellectual” and the Debt Collective has been cited as a “socialist debtors’ union”
Astra Taylor has stated that animal consumption should be viewed through “a feminist lens”, in letting animal rights be part of the socialist argument against capitalism
Astra Taylor joined the Democratic Socialists of America in 2016 or 2017
In 2021, Astra Taylor was a featured closing speaker at that year’s Democratic Socialists of America (“DSA”) convention
Astra Taylor has called the Black Lives Matter movement a “needed” movement in society
Astra Taylor has expressed dissatisfaction with the US Supreme Court, saying “liberal complacency and romanticism about this judicial branch” has recently become an issue
Astra Taylor has expressed support of US Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign’s plan to cancel student debt while running for President
In May 2024, Astra Taylor expressed support for the Gaza Encampment for Gaza protest in New York City, for which she was presented and dressed “in full outside agitator regalia”
In Aug. 2021, Astra Taylor called for the Defense Department/Pentagon to be “defunded”
In June 2020, Astra Taylor expressed pleasure in seeing the growing calls to “defund the police”, following the police-involved death of George Floyd
Astra Taylor called the illegal activities of riots, including the removal of statues, “democracy in action”
In May 2024, Astra Taylor was arrested in Washington, DC, and charged with “Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding” during a Debt Collective-organized protest for debt cancellation/against Israeli military activities
Luke Herrine, Co-Founder (Debt Collective)
Luke Herrine is a co-founder of the Debt Collective, having been educated at Yale University and earning a Ph.D. He earned his Juris Doctorate from NYU Law
He also was previously involved with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, serving as a legal intern
In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, Luke Herrine sought higher education, as he was “disgusted with the political system” and sought to learn more with a law school viewpoint
While a Ph.D. candidate at Yale Law, Luke Herrine wrote that the Executive branch had power to unilaterally cancel student debt, without the consent of congressional leaders
Luke Herrine has made thirty-six (36) individual donations, with some contributions being earmarked through ActBlue. He has also contributed to the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders. His federal contributions have totaled $990.00
Braxton Brewington, Press Secretary (Debt Collective)
Braxton Brewington is the Press Secretary/Spokesperson for the Debt Collective, who is responsible to lead public messaging and social media traction for the group
Prior to his involvement with the Debt Collective, Braxton Brewington was active in Democratic campaign politics, having served as senior communications lead for the Georgia Democratic Party in 2020, as well as managing congressional campaigns in North Carolina and working for Cory Booker’s 2020 presidential campaign
Despite his Democratic political background, Braxton Brewington was also an Honors Program Participant for the American Enterprise Institute in 2018
Braxton Brewington has indicated that he is pro-Palestine on his social media
While denouncing the Biden/Harris administration’s fallacies, as it relates to student debt cancellation, Braxton Brewington praised the Palestinians for its high literacy rate and emphasis on education, “despite living under military rule and apartheid”
Braxton Brewington praised the student encampment protests on American college campuses, saying they “honored the memories of Palestinian victims” while protesting Israel and the US’s support of Israel defense
As the spokesperson for the Debt Collective, Braxton Brewington has cited the group’s plan to encourage members against resuming payments on student loans in 2023
In 2017, Braxton Brewington wrote a Law and Ethics paper about the First Amendment, in which he cites social media providers being allowed to censor free speech, as well as other circumstances
Braxton Brewington has cited the Bible and Christian doctrine, in support of canceling and forgiving student loan debt
Braxton Brewington has called for a “racial and moral reordering of American society” that would require canceling household debts and providing reparations to descendants of slaves
In June 2020, Braxton Brewington called for Wilmington, NC to “defund the police”
Braxton Brewington has made twenty (20) individual donations to ActBlue, with all contributions being earmarked to federal campaigns/committees. These federal contributions have totaled $275.00
Hannah Appel, Co-Founder (Debt Collective)
Dr. Hannah Chadeayne Appel is among the co-founders of the Debt Collective. She is an economic anthropologist at UCLA, who has advocated that debt relief has been based racial/ethnic and gender discriminatory practices
Hannah Appel’s research was inspired by the works of Robin D.G. Kelley, whose own research on racial/gender inequality inspired the later movements of #MeToo and Black Lives Matter