ALISON NIHART
Co-Chair (VT)

Alison began volunteering with Rights & Democracy in 2016 and quickly felt that she had found her “political home.” In addition to her role on the board, she also serves as a member of the Vermont Leadership Committee and the Vermont Movement Politics Committee (which leads electoral strategy and candidate endorsement processes). She is passionate about building accessible and transparent systems that facilitate broad democratic participation in RAD’s work, and enjoys the process of figuring out how to design and maintain those systems. (Term: 2018-2019)

AMY HATHAWAY
Co-Chair (NH)

Amy comes to this work with early experiences with activism at home. She grew up in a liberal Quaker Meeting in CT, and observed her mother’s deep involvement in the Sanctuary movement of the 1970’s and 80’s. She moved to New Hampshire in 1980 to attend a small Quaker school built on active and intentional community, focused on integrating farming, communal living and progressive education. She has been inspired by RAD and has grown into a leadership role over the last two years, and she is excited to continue my learning as an organizer and be an active part of making decisions that feed RAD’s vision and goals. Above all, she values building community and collaboration. (Term: 2019-2020)

GRIFFIN SINCLAIR-WINGATE
Secretary (NH)

During the 2016 elections Griffin pressured presidential candidates to take stronger stances on climate through birddogging, banner drops, and disruptions. While working for 350 Action in the 2016 primaries, Griffin learned how to engage with candidates in order to change the national narrative. During his time at 350NH he’s learned an incredible amount about what it takes to organize community volunteers. Similar to RAD, 350NH is an organization driven by volunteers. He’s learned how to craft a strategy that incorporates the broad range of ideas volunteers bring to the table. (Term: 2018-2019)

CLAUDE DELUCIA
Treasurer (VT)

Claude is a retired accountant who volunteers at his local public access television station in Bennington, VT, and is interested in social justice issues. He is an active member of RAD’s Bennington Organizing Team. (Term: 2019-2020)

SEBASTIAN FUENTES
At-Large (NH)

Sebastian, an immigrant from Peru, landed in NH right after 9/11. During those hard times, Sebastian started to understand the meaning of being an American and what it represents. In 2016 he became a U.S Citizen and started to being passionate about issues that affect him directly like Immigration and Racism. By studying those issues Sebastian realized all other issues were interconnected. Criminal Justice, Economic Justice are some of them. He joined the Occupy Inauguration Team with the Equality Coalition out of Philadelphia protesting the Donald Trump Inauguration in D.C. Came back to Northern NH and together with a group of local progressive activists they started a Community group called For the People by the People. They organized rallies and marches across northern NH.  Sebastian also volunteers for the ACLU and goes around to give an Ask an Immigrant Anything discussion where people of all areas ask questions regarding his personal experience. He joined Rights & Democracy because they were the only organization to went up to the North Country and listened. RAD has the tools and the people to truly give us a voice. (Term: 2019-2020)

TEDDY WASZAZAK
At-Large (VT)

Teddy has been involved with Rights & Democracy since early in 2017, and has spoken out at press conferences, assisted in organizing, testified before the legislature, and more. He worked hard on the Raise the Wage Coalition and specifically within the Raise Up Vermont team within RAD. During the 2018 elections, he was the campaign manager for Democratic gubernatorial primary candidate Brenda Siegel and later worked for Christine Hallquist, the Democratic nominee.  He’s also been an intern for economic justice issues for Lt. Governor David Zuckerman. His philosophy boils down to this: In order to make change, we have to make sure that all folks are being listened to. Teddy says, “The ideas we are pushing are not radical, and listening to folks and helping them understand that we stand for the working and lower classes, that we stand for lifting up the economy for everyone, then we can make real progress.” (Term: 2019-2020)

ANDREW TRIPP
At-Large (VT)

Andrew has spent much of the last 30 years involved in the struggle for a more just society. From demonstrations against US support of Apartheid South Africa and wars in Central America in the 80’s, to his first job in politics organizing to try and defeat the passage of NAFTA in 1993, to the anti-WTO demonstrations of the 90’s, to organizing unions for most of the last 20 years. His professional life has been as a Union, Community, and Civil Rights Organizer, nationally and in Vermont. For 20 years, in 28 States and four countries, he has organized unions, negotiated contracts, run strikes, built and run organizations and campaigns, worked to elect candidates, and passed legislation. (Term: 2018-2019)

ERIC RASMUSSEN
At-Large (NH)

During the 2016 election season, Eric had a political “awakening”, and became more than just a voter. He started canvassing, hosting volunteers, baking cookies, and more for the Bernie Sanders campaign. After the election, he joined the Francestown Democratic Committee, where he is now the vice-chair, worked to re-establish, strengthen, and coordinate with other town Democratic committees across Hillsborough county as part of the D38 Alliance, started volunteering for Rights & Democracy, and have continued to canvass for candidates throughout 2017 and 2018. He believes strongly in the issues championed by Rights & Democracy and is leveraging his decades of experience in the non-profit world to help shepherd RAD’s growth during the critical time leading up to the 2020 elections. (Term: 2019-2020)

BARBARINA HEYERDAHL
At-Large (VT)

Barbarina is a long standing activist and funder particularly focused on how citizens and government can work collaboratively to address today’s vexing societal problems—from tackling climate change to systemic racism to growing inequality. She believes government is not the “problem” but the “prize,” especially when it helps ensure the wellbeing of all citizens, provides education and creates opportunity for all, builds and maintains necessary infrastructure, and acts as a bulwark against corporations that would rig the economy. In the era of “big money” in politics, she believes citizens must be deeply engaged in “big organizing,” and working to un-rig the economy and government at all levels. (Term: 2019-2020)

KERRY CLOCK
At-Large (NH)

Kerry is a retired educator who has been involved in political causes since his opposition to the Vietnam War and his support of the civil rights movement in the ‘60’s’. As a former local president, NEA-NH Vice President, NEA-NH Director and NEA Board member in Washington, DC, he has led efforts to support and defend public education. Kerry participated in the preliminary efforts to organize a New Hampshire RAD chapter and currently serves as RAD NH’s registered grassroots lobbyist in the State House. (Term: 2018-2019)

PAT KINNE
At-Large (NH)

Pat has more than 40 years experience in human services. As a case manager she support individuals with the goal at times of living within a $700/month social security income. She knows the system and knows it’s shortfalls, which is why she support Medicare for All, increasing Social Security benefits, providing quality public education for all and increasing the minimum wage. She started the Charlestown Democratic Committee in 2004 and chaired the Sullivan County Democratic Committee for seven years. As a steering committee member of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign she became painfully aware of the extent of the power of the two-party system and the corporate influence on the parties. RAD’s mission fits her interests of social justice and holding our elected officials accountable. (Term: 2019-2020)