Fellowship

Representative Elizabeth Velasco is the first Mexican-born immigrant in the Colorado legislature and the first Latina to represent the Western Slope. She grew up in the Vail Valley, working in the service industry to support her family and put herself through school, and she brings that lived experience to her leadership today.

She understands first-hand the struggles and dynamics of the rural resort working class. Before getting elected, she ran an interpretation and translation agency for almost 10 years and became a wildland firefighter and public information officer. The lack of action from previous representatives to solve the ongoing challenges in her community led her to run for office. She now represents her community in House District 57 serving on 3 committees and as House Majority Co-Whip, and co-chairs the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus and the Wildfire Matters interim committee championing working families, climate resilience, and protecting our constitutional rights. In her first and second term she passed groundbreaking legislation to protect residents of mobile home parks, expand immigrant protections and language access in emergency response and government services, improve wildfire resilience in the state, and hold big polluters accountable.

Vanessa (she/her/ella) is the Vice President of Policy at COLOR: Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights. COLOR is a reproductive justice organization that empowers Latine communities across Colorado to speak out on the issues that directly impact our lives. COLOR approaches policy from an intersectional lens, advocating for bodily autonomy, access to abortion, and affordable health coverage, as well as economic justice, migrant justice, due process and data privacy.

Vanessa is a fourth-generation Mexican-American who was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has a strong community organizing background and much of her career has been focused on migrant justice, working to pass inclusive state and federal policy. She also worked in Mexico City, supporting governments and civil society partners in various Latin American countries to reduce the use of harmful, unnecessary immigration detention.

Beginning in 2019, Vanessa became more involved in the reproductive justice movement, motivated both by her personal experience navigating endometriosis and infertility, and by witnessing whole communities harmed in Nebraska when legislators attacked and eventually restricted gender affirming and abortion healthcare, denying individuals the right to make decisions about their own bodies.

Vanessa loves music and reading. She has undergraduate degrees in music and literature where she studied clarinet and literary translation.

Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith has long been a leading voice for gender justice and equality in Florida. Elected to the Florida Senate in 2024 after serving in the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2022, Carlos now serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, where he fights to dismantle systemic inequities and advance policies rooted in fairness and dignity. 

As Florida’s first openly LGBTQ Latino lawmaker, Carlos has been at the forefront of efforts to protect reproductive freedom, defend LGBTQ Floridians from discrimination, and expand access to healthcare and economic opportunity. His advocacy has earned him recognition from the League of Women Voters of Florida,  the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and the LGBTQ+ Center Orlando.  

In addition to his legislative work, Carlos is Senior Advisor to Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, where he continues to drive change on issues of gender equity and human rights. He also serves on the board of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and lives in Vista Lakes with his husband, Jerick Mediavilla, an educator from Corozal, Puerto Rico. 

Senator Smith represents District 17, including portions of Orange County, and the cities of Orlando, Belle Isle, and Edgewood.

Strategically positioned in downtown Tallahassee, Jon Harris Maurer keeps an eye on the Florida Capitol as Equality Florida’s General Counsel and Public Policy Director. In that role, he crafts and leads strategy on LGBTQ equality, HIV policy, and reproductive freedom issues at the state and local levels. He previously served as Equality Florida’s Government Affairs Manager and in nearly every volunteer role from petition signature gatherer to Statewide Board Co-Chair. 

A Fort Lauderdale native, Jon Harris moved to Texas to attend Rice University. He later served as a legislative aide in the Texas House of Representatives and then worked on the Annise Parker for Mayor campaign in Houston, which successfully elected the first openly lesbian mayor of a major American city. While in law school at Florida State University, he worked as a policy intern for the Florida House of Representatives State Affairs Committee and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. He then spent more than five years in private practice at a boutique environmental and administrative law firm, honing his skills in legislative analysis, compliance counseling, and advocacy 

Outside of Equality Florida, Jon Harris devotes time to various organizations including the Mayor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Council, Leadership Florida, and Children’s Home Society.  He also spends time with his growing family and trying to care for too many house plants. 

Representative Lydia Glaize is a dedicated legislator, educator, and community advocate serving Georgia’s 67th House District. She is a member of the Appropriations, K-12 Education, and Higher Education Committees, where she champions policies that expand education funding, improve student support services, and strengthen workforce development. 

Glaize is the sponsor of House Bill 59, which aims to lower the student-to-counselor ratio, and House Resolution 68, advocating for fairer school funding formulas to better serve Georgia’s students. A former elected official in the City of Fairburn, she has also led initiatives to expand voter access, support veterans, and invest in community growth. 

With a passion for education equity, economic opportunity, and student well-being, Rep. Glaize continues to advocate for policies that uplift her district and create lasting change for Georgia families. 

Jasmine Bowles is the Executive State Director of 9to5 Georgia, a member-led, non-profit organization dedicated to building a powerful, statewide movement of women and non-binary people of color and their families. As a justice-driven leader, Georgia-rooted advocate, and lifelong learner, Jasmine is passionately committed to transforming living and working conditions  for Black people in the South by achieving economic, educational, climate, and workplace justice, driven by principles of care, equity, imagination, and love for all. 

In her home state of Georgia, Jasmine is at the forefront of critical economic and worker justice advocacy by fighting for the “Well Working Woman.” Alongside the Georgia Coalition for Paid Leave, Jasmine and 9to5 GA spearhead the statewide efforts to secure comprehensive, universal paid leave for all working Georgians and advocate relentlessly to eliminate harassment and discrimination in the workplace, fostering dignified and safe workplaces for women across the state. She also champions systemic changes to ensure equitable access to affordable, high-quality childcare and fair wages for care providers, foundational components of a family’s economic well-being. Her advocacy further extends to supporting Medicaid expansion, reproductive rights and fighting for safe and affordable housing. In Southwest Georgia, Jasmine and the 9to5 team lead efforts in climate justice, empowering communities impacted by environmental racism to advocate for affordable energy, weatherized homes and clean air while integrating civic engagement to amplify the voices and voting power of Georgia’s most marginalized communities across the state. 

Jasmine approaches her work with deep intention, blending visionary leadership with practical solutions, and ritualizing reflection as a key leadership trait. She moves fluidly between policy, grassroots organizing, and personal practices of healing. She believes in rest as resistance and curiosity as a tool for liberation, and embodies this through her practices as a certified yoga instructor, doula and elected school board member. 

Fun Fact: Jasmine is not only the youngest person ever elected to serve on the Clayton County Board of Education, but she is also the only alumni member of the school district to hold that position. Beyond her public service, she hosts free monthly yoga classes for teachers and parents in Clayton County, reflecting her holistic commitment to care and well-being for women, educators, and families.

First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018, Delegate Emily Shetty has been the Chair of the Appropriations subcommittee on Health and Social Services (HSS) since 2023. In her role as HSS Chair, she oversees 40% of Maryland’s budget. Key issues in recent sessions included addressing pediatric hospital overstays, investigating Maryland’s child neglect and abuse deaths, maintaining Medicaid funding, and securing funds for the intellectual and/or developmental disabilities community. In addition to her role as Chair of the HSS subcommittee, Delegate Shetty also serves as the House Democratic Caucus Chair and is a member of the Rules and Nominations Committee.

Delegate Shetty is also deeply committed to fighting for vulnerable Marylanders. Across her time in Annapolis, Delegate Shetty successfully led efforts to codify consent in Maryland’s criminal code, protect access to preventive health services, and pass one of the nation’s first laws to ensure 100% of child support payments go directly to families receiving TANF assistance.

In her free time, she enjoys painting with different mediums. 

Kali Schumitz is the Vice President for External Relations at the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, overseeing the organization’s communications and relationships with nonprofit and government partners. Through her work at MDCEP, Kali has helped advance state legislation to increase the minimum wage, expand access to paid leave, increase wage transparency and equal pay protections, and improve economic security for families. 

Prior to joining MDCEP in 2015, Kali worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 13 years, including covering local and state government in Virginia for Post Community Media. She also has an extensive background in nonprofit communications and management, having provided board and volunteer support to several organizations.

A former competitive roller derby athlete, she currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, the sport’s international governing body. Kali holds a B.A. in Mass Communication from Towson University.

Representative Natalie Price comes from a long line of strong women who taught her that grit, compassion, and community are the foundation for change. Rep. Price’s grandmother, Marie, stepped into the role of caregiver at just 14, raising her siblings after her mother’s death. Rep. Price’s mom went back to school after her divorce to become a social worker, always fighting for the most vulnerable. Their examples shaped Rep. Price as she built her own family in Berkley with her husband and two young kids. What started as a search for connection—teaching a parent-tot class when no one else would—grew into organizing projects like the Backyard Playroom and leading service initiatives that showed her how much we can accomplish when we work together.

As a state representative, Rep. Price carries those lessons into her work every day. She has prioritized education, equity, and the environment—securing historic school funding, co-sponsoring the Michigan Clean Energy and Jobs Act, and championing tax policies that put people first. Her commitment to gender justice runs through all of it: fighting for reproductive freedom, paid family leave, maternal health equity, and affordable child care. Inspired by Mothering Justice’s Mamas’ Agenda, Rep. Price is focused on building a Michigan where every mom, every child, and every family can thrive.

Anne Kuhnen is the Kids Count policy director at the Michigan League for Public Policy, where her work focuses on early childhood, family economic security and youth voice. Prior to joining the Kids Count team, she served as the League’s tax policy analyst where her research focused on policies to make Michigan’s tax code more equitable for workers, families and communities. She works on advancing more family-friendly policies in Michigan, including improved access to high-quality and affordable child care, paid family and medical leave and a state child tax credit. 

Anne began her career in education, teaching high school math and computer science at a Title I School in Eastern Kentucky and supporting a bilingual vocational program in the Netherlands. She also previously worked for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas, a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins, and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton, where she concentrated in economics and public policy.

In her spare time, Anne likes to visit museums and historical sites, explore Detroit by bicycle and attempt the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle. As of this writing, she has a 27-day crossword streak.

Assemblymember Cecelia Gonzalez is a state legislator representing Assembly District 16 in the heart of Las Vegas and is the Chair of the Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus, a K-12 teacher, and a first-time mom. Her legislative work has focused on criminal justice reform, education, and supporting new moms, including championing a groundbreaking law to expand preventative care for incarcerated individuals. As a teacher and advocate, she has worked to create inclusive classrooms and policies that ensure all students feel seen, supported, and valued.

Cecelia is a PhD student in Multicultural Education at UNLV and a proud daughter of immigrants. She is biracial, with Thai and Mexican heritage, and draws on her lived experiences as a mother, educator, and community advocate to guide her work. Her passion is building a world where every person feels safe, represented, and empowered, particularly those whose voices are too often overlooked.

Outside of her professional and legislative work, Cecelia loves hiking, traveling, and exploring the outdoors with her family.

For the past decade Jagada Chambers has made his home in Las Vegas, Nevada after being introduced to civic engagement during the 2016 General Election in his Northern California hometown. Jagada was led to Las Vegas by community organizer Leslie Turner and joined her vision of building out the Mass Liberation Project, a directly impacted-led, Black Liberation organization. Together the pair have been able to build an organization that is branded as “The Community’s Organization” in the greater Las Vegas Valley. Mass Lib has been immersed in each of Nevada’s elections dating back to the 2018 June Primary. 

Jagada has been at the forefront of Nevada’s Rights Restoration movement since its inception, serving as the state’s Rights Restoration Coordinator with democracy organization Silver State Voices. Outside of engaging, educating and activating formerly incarcerated potential voters, Nevada has also witnessed tremendous strides with in-jail voting. Efforts have produced election booths in the state’s largest jail facility for both early voting and General Election Day voting.

Jagada is in his 20th year of freedom after completing a 65-month sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections in 2004.

He is a loving husband to his wife of 20+ years and an intentional father to his 14-year-old son who is beginning high school in Las Vegas.

Senator Sophia Chitlik has spent her career building cross-sector companies that scale opportunities for women, young people, and families. After unseating a six-term incumbent, Sophia is currently in her first term representing Durham in the North Carolina State Senate, where she is the only member with a toddler at home. Relatedly, she is one of the body’s leading advocates for early childhood education. She serves on the Education, Education Appropriations, Regulatory Reform, and Judiciary Committees.

Sophia’s career began as an organizer on the Obama Campaign. She later went on to serve in the White House and in the Department of Labor as one of the youngest political appointees in the Obama Administration. After leaving Washington, Sophia worked for nonprofits as a Chief of Staff, rising to become a Chief Operating Officer of an eight-figure education innovation organization. Sophia has spent the past eight years as strategic planning consultant, philanthropist and investor, partnering with CEOs around the world to organizations anchored in network theory. 

Sophia graduated magna cum laude from New York University, where she made her own major in Political Community Building in America. When not putting her degree to work, Sophia can be found doing a lot of hosting, running after her son on his balance bike, and reading. 

Tracy D. Wright is the National Projects Director with the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA). In this role, she oversees NCCASA’s national projects portfolio, which encompasses providing technical assistance (TA) to 56 state and territorial anti-sexual assault coalitions, serving as the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) Administrator TA provider, and coordinating TA to 29 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges. Through this work, Tracy partners with national entities to strengthen a coordinated response to ending sexual violence, while addressing emerging issues and developing initiatives that uplift and support communities of color coalition staff within the anti-sexual violence movement.

Tracy’s academic background reflects her commitment to leadership and storytelling. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Shaw University and a Master of Science in Print Journalism from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Currently, she is a third-year doctoral student in the Organizational Leadership program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where her research and professional practice intersect around leadership, equity, and advocacy.

Beyond her professional and academic endeavors, Tracy serves as the project lead for the Young Advocates Institute, a service-learning initiative that convenes 200 youth, ages 13–17, for an intensive weekend of prevention education and leadership development. This program is designed to empower young people with the tools to lead in their schools and communities while promoting healthier, safer environments.

A fun fact about Tracy: she is a proud middle-aged sneaker connoisseur. Whether attending national meetings or youth programming, she often pairs her leadership presence with a fresh pair of sneakers, blending style with substance and reminding others that leadership can be authentic, approachable, and uniquely personal.

Tausha Bonner-Johnson is the Policy and Advocacy Manager for New Voices for Reproductive Justice. Tausha plays a critical role in advancing Reproductive Justice-informed policy and legislation in support of Black women, Black queer folks, and Black marginalized people throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as to the broader national Reproductive Justice movement. She is a goal-oriented and passionate leader committed to helping strengthen, inform, and educate her community on a local, state, and federal level through policy advocacy and leadership development. Prior to her start with NewVoices for Reproductive Justice, Tausha worked closely with the Pittsburgh public school system, children and youth service, and Juvenile Probation as an intervention specialist and a direct care worker for young mothers. 

Tausha was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and enjoys arts and crafts, playing kickball, and spending quality time with her family.

Senator Tameika Isaac Devine is a trailblazing public servant, attorney, and community advocate representing Richland County in the South Carolina Senate. A lifelong champion for equity and justice, Senator Devine has dedicated her career to advancing policies that uplift families, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure that women and girls have the resources they need to thrive.

In the legislature, Senator Devine has focused on addressing South Carolina’s maternal health crisis, particularly the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates faced by Black women. She is the sponsor of legislation to expand dignity and health protections for pregnant people in the justice system and has been a leading voice for reproductive justice, access to quality health care, pay equity, and stronger protections against gender-based violence and harassment. With South Carolina ranked among the lowest in the nation for women’s health outcomes, Senator Devine has been a consistent advocate for solutions that center women’s voices and lived experiences in policymaking.

Beyond the Statehouse, Senator Devine is a partner in the female-owned law firm Jabber & Isaac, PA, where she practices in the areas of probate, real estate, and personal injury. She is also a sought-after speaker on leadership and civic engagement and has mentored countless women entering public service and the legal profession.

A fun fact: Senator Devine is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is part of 3 generations of Deltas.  Her mother was a 1968 initiate at Johnson C. Smith University.  Senator Devine was initiated in 1992 at Hampton University and her daughter was initiated in 2025 at American University.   All 3 generations pledged the sorority while sophomores in college.

Ashley Lidow is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN), South Carolina’s leading advocacy organization advancing gender justice. In this role, she leads WREN’s policy and advocacy strategy, guiding campaigns that address some of the most pressing challenges facing women, gender-expansive people, and families across the state. Ashley’s work focuses on reproductive freedom, including protecting access to abortion care, contraception, and maternal health, as well as advancing economic justice through policies such as affordable, high-quality childcare, paid family and medical leave, and workplace equity. She collaborates closely with lawmakers, community partners, and grassroots leaders to shift systems and build collective power, ensuring that South Carolina’s policies reflect the realities and needs of its people.

Ashley has spent more than a decade working in policy advocacy, coalition building, and community engagement. Her approach is rooted in the belief that lasting change happens when those most impacted are centered in the process, and when organizations work in partnership rather than in isolation. She is committed to making complex policy issues accessible, and to equipping advocates across the state with the tools to take action.

A fun fact about Ashley: she absolutely loves the grocery store and treats every trip like a treasure hunt. She has a knack for finding hidden gems—whether it’s a specialty ingredient, a quirky snack, or the perfect gift for someone—which makes her both a thoughtful gift-giver and the friend you want on any shopping adventure.

Delegate Katrina Callsen represents Charlottesville in the Virginia House of Delegates. She is an attorney and working parent who has dedicated her life to creating a better future for the next generation. In Richmond, Katrina has sponsored legislation to fix our criminal legal system, support families, prevent gun violence, and fix crumbling schools 

Katrina came to Charlottesville for law school, only to discover deep family roots there—roots severed by Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage in the 1960s. Her parents, an interracial couple, dropped out of high school in 1984 but instilled in her the value of education. Katrina’s dad joined the military, and she grew up as a proud military brat in a large enlisted family that struggled financially but stayed committed to service and learning. 

At Yale, she supported herself through jobs ranging from Waffle House to communications and public affairs. After graduation, she joined Teach For America, teaching middle school math in Massachusetts. Working with students facing challenges like poverty, immigration issues, and housing insecurity fueled her passion for advocacy. This experience led her to pursue law, focusing on children navigating the legal system. 

Katrina is the Former Chair of the Albemarle County School Board and Former Deputy City Attorney for the City of Charlottesville.

Narissa Rahaman is an experienced advocate and campaign manager who currently serves as Executive Director of Equality Virginia, an organization focusing on transgender justice. She previously served as Associate Regional Campaign Director for the Human Rights Campaign, managing legislative and electoral efforts across southern states. She brings 10+ years of experience in long-term strategic planning and implementation of organizing efforts, legislative advocacy, strengthening of partnerships, coalition management, and staff development.  

Fun fact: Narissa has been an avid bowler since 2nd grade and has been chasing the elusive perfect score of 300 since. While she hasn’t hit 300 yet, she’s come close with a max of 215.