Ashley Spillane: The Strategist Behind Lil Jon’s DNC Performance
TL/DR –
Ashley Spillane, founder of social impact and creative agency Impactual, is known for her work in linking pop culture to civic responsibility, most recently orchestrating rapper Lil Jon’s performance at the Democratic National Convention. Spillane expanded her company by creating an entertainment division that will work with athletes, artists, and celebrities to build social responsibility and civic engagement initiatives and connect them to nonprofit organizations. To aid this expansion, Spillane recruited Marc Keiser as director of athlete and artist engagement, and former Michael B. Jordan chief of staff CiCi James as director of artist and celebrity engagement.
Lil Jon’s DNC Performance and the Strategy Behind It
Atlanta rapper Lil Jon‘s memorable performance at the Democratic National Convention was orchestrated by veteran social impact strategist Ashley Spillane. Spurred by memes surrounding Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential choice, Tim Walz, she leveraged her connections in politics and pop culture to create a memorable moment.
Uniting Pop Culture and Civic Responsibility
Spillane, founder of D.C.-based social impact agency Impactual, has a knack for merging pop culture with civic responsibility. Impactual has masterminded numerous initiatives, helping to alleviate poll worker shortages amidst the pandemic, and securing over 100 media placements across ideologically diverse outlets.
Expanding Impactual’s Reach
This election season, Spillane broadened Impactual’s horizons by introducing a new division to work with athletes, artists, and celebrities, helping them build their own social responsibility initiatives. The division will also pair nonprofit organizations with influential individuals to amplify their causes.
To bolster this expansion, Spillane has recruited Marc Keiser, co-founder of fashion brand Keiser Clark, and CiCi James, former chief of staff for Michael B. Jordan.
A Lifetime Commitment to Civic Responsibility
Spillane credits her upbringing in West Hyannisport, Massachusetts, for sparking her interest in community engagement and civic responsibility. From organizing neighborhood events to building a robust network of support for various causes in high school, she has always been deeply engaged with her community.
Spillane’s time at George Washington University in D.C. marked the beginning of her professional journey. Encouraged to work on a presidential campaign, she volunteered for John Kerry’s, falling in love with the political process. This experience put her on the path to becoming the president of Rock the Vote, where she revitalized the organization through digital marketing campaigns.
The Power of Pop Culture in Politics
Through her work, Spillane has proven the effectiveness of engaging the youth through celebrities and influencers. The Civic Responsibility Project, her bipartisan nonprofit, has organized events across multiple states to get people excited about voting. Looking forward, she’s excited about the potential of Impactual’s new division. “We’re able to blend our skills in social responsibility with their desire to create change — and we know how to turn their ideas into actual impact,” she says.
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