Welcome New (and Familiar) Faces to Rights & Democracy Staff!

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We had a great conversation on our membership call Sunday night, where we discussed upcoming actions you can take to help us pass a strong minimum wage bill and paid family and medical leave insurance.

We also let folks know about our upcoming membership appeal, and why it’s important to become a member and support Rights & Democracy’s (RAD) important, intersectional organizing work.

RAD is the region’s major membership based organization, uniting people and organizations to ensure that our elected official deliver on behalf of the people of Vermont. We’re fighting for justice—economic, racial, gender, environmental, housing and health care— while also taking on corporate power and big money. We are fighting to improve the lives of our neighbors and our communities.

As a member, you help build a sustainable movement. Learn more about becoming a monthly donor or making an annual contribution.

But, we also announced some important staff updates.

Elise Greaves rejoined RAD as our Political Engagement Coordinator. Elise has been working at RAD since 2015 and was previously our Lead Organizer. She has taken on much of the work handled by Isaac Grimm, who has moved next door to New Hampshire and is now RAD’s New Hampshire Organizing Director. Stepping into the role of Lead Organizer in Vermont is Emma Schoenberg, who joined RAD last year as a Grassroots Organizer.

Here’s the list of new staff who’ve joined our team in the past few months. You can read their full bios and see their staff photos:

  • KATE LOGANDirector of Programming and Policy (bi-state). Kate is a feminist social and political theory scholar, specializing in family policy, participatory democracy, and human rights, as well as a having a background in labor and community organizing and nonprofit management. Working for Rights & Democracy gives her the opportunity to put all of these passions and skills to use in helping to build a more just and sustainable future. You can reach her at kate@radvt.org.
  • JAIME CONTOISDirector of Strategic Development (bi-state). Jaime worked as a community organizer in NH and VT for over ten years, leading campaigns for living wages, health care reform, affordable housing, labor and LGBTQ rights, and addressing systemic racism. She has worked in NH as Director for Working Families Win, MoveOn.org, and led a campaign that defeated the radical right in the State House. You can reach her at Jaime@radnh.org
  • JOHANNA DE GRAFFENREIDProgram Director, Jobs, Justice Climate Campaign. Johanna found her roots in the environmental justice movement while working for Greenpeace USA in 2009. For more than a decade she has worked as a grassroots trainer, street medic, campaign director, and policy expert with grassroots, regional, & national organizations. You can reach her at johanna@radvt.org.
  • CHUCK PIZERDirector of Community Engagement (bi-state). Chuck Pizer is RAD’s Director of Community Engagement. Prior to RAD, he worked as the Community Engagement Director for Vermont PBS for six years. During that time he rapidly expanded its partners – and presence – throughout all fourteen counties of the state. You can reach him at chuck@radvt.org.

Thanks for your ongoing support of Rights & Democracy as we all know that there is a lot to do in order to win on some of today’s most pressing issues facing our communities.