Ben Christiason
Senior Account Manager
A Midwest native, Ben uses the intersections of narrative change, storytelling and organizing to build sustainable and engaged movements for social change. As someone who constantly challenges their own assumptions and seeks new ways of understanding and envisioning a more liberatory future for all, Ben centers queer, racial and gender justice into their work.
Whether providing strategic communication guidance, research and analysis, or campaign planning, Ben centers real community-driven collaboration and leadership across all issue areas they work on. Some of his recent projects include: providing communications support for ACLU state affiliates prior to the 2022 midterm elections; shifting media narratives around key climate change issues; advancing health equity and combatting vaccine hesitancy with organizations such as the African Family Health Organization and the National Network of Public Health Institutes; partnering with the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, FLARE Project and Dove to launch the Campaign for Size Freedom to advance size freedom and combat body size discrimination; and supporting the advancement of public interest technology with the Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation to create a cross-sector field for a more just tech future. Ben co-leads Spitfire’s EDI committee, working to advance internal equity, accessibility and belonging while nurturing continuous inquiry into how to combat systems of oppression.
Prior to joining Spitfire, Ben interned with Theresa Greenfield’s Senatorial campaign, the Mayor of Chicago’s Press and Communications Office, and the Human Rights Campaign, earning hands-on communications and political advocacy experience. As an undergrad at St. Olaf College, Ben conducted policy research on LGBTQIA+ healthcare disparities and advocated for the implementation of gender-neutral housing.
Ben graduated with a double B.A. in English and in gender and sexuality studies from St. Olaf College. In his spare time, Ben enjoys exploring new restaurants in Chicago, cooking dinner with friends, writing speculative queer fiction and attempting to play the violin.