Marcellus Seals
Director of Equity & Access
Marcellus Seals (they/them) brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by young queer people of color in rural areas, particularly at the intersections of race, generational trauma, gender identity, and poverty. As a Black-Indigenous person and member of The Choctaw Nation, with ancestry from The Chickasaw and Muscogee (Creek) peoples, Marcellus identifies as Gender-Non Conforming and uses they/them pronouns.
Growing up in Southern Oklahoma, Marcellus survived life as a biracial teen with complex PTSD (C-PTSD), lower income, and neurodivergence. Their parents struggled with addiction and mental health issues, leading to challenges in accessing services. Facing homelessness while in college, and living in a rural area with little representation and resources, created significant barriers for Marcellus. These experiences propelled them to advocate for social justice and create resources for marginalized communities.
Despite facing discrimination in high school for cultural expression, including being placed in detention and almost having their graduation revoked, Marcellus continued to advocate for themselves. They researched laws related to The CROWN Act, reached out to civil rights organizations, and shared their experiences nationally through news articles and journalists. With the support of numerous organizations, they successfully defended their rights.
In the fall of 2020, while enrolled in college, Marcellus became homeless. Their hometown lacked resources such as housing and mental health services tailored to their needs, including trauma-informed therapy and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth housing services. Due to these inaccessible resources, Marcellus relocated to a bigger city to access youth services. They stayed in shelters and hotels, actively worked on their mental health, and sought employment. Marcellus eventually secured transitional housing and used their advocacy skills to join The OKC Youth Action Board (YAB), where they advocate for unhoused youth and work with community partners on best practices and policies regarding youth services.
As Director of Equity & Access, Marcellus helps ensure that IMPACT405’s initiatives, including the Oklahoma Resource Hub, remain inclusive, accessible, and rooted in authentic community connection. Working in close collaboration with the Director of Community Resources, Marcellus supports outreach to underrepresented and rural communities, promotes equitable representation across resource listings, and contributes to the development of culturally responsive practices that guide our volunteer and intern engagement.
With a background in community engagement, social justice advocacy, research and analysis, and public speaking, Marcellus Miller understands that genuine change starts with engaging communities and identifying their needs. IMPACT 405 provides a platform for organizations, nonprofits, volunteers, and philanthropists to network and benefit from community outreach.
As Audre Lorde stated, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”