Kate Bailey (she/her) is the Senior Policy Advocate at Voices for Vermont’s Children. She works both at the Statehouse and in Vermont communities to advance policies that promote justice and equity for children, youth, and families. Kate holds a strong background in policy, planning, communications, and advocacy. She served on her city’s School Board of Directors from 2022- 2024 and holds a master’s degree in Health Advocacy with a focus on reproductive justice and health equity. She learned to quilt in 2018 through a class at Access CVU and ramped up her hobby skills during the pandemic. She quilts as a creative outlet for self care and community care. In addition to sewing, she enjoys reading and searching for native wildflowers, especially in springtime.

janet e. dandridge (she/her) is a mother, Interdisciplinary Artivist, Arts & Activism Educator, Social Justice Organizer, Empathy Sustainer. She is a 2026 Vermont Arts Council Creation Grant recipient, 2025 graduate of Emerge Vermont Signature Training politics program, a 2023 Arts and Humanities Fellow for the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts & Humanities and is the co-host of Re – Flect / Calibrate, the podcast on The Genealogy of Artivism. Learn more about janet via https://campsite.bio/janetedandridge. Contact janet@janetedandridge.com.

Gretchen Elias (she/her) is the Coalition Manager for the Vermont Paid Leave Coalition, a statewide public education and advocacy campaign to advance a universal, equitable paid leave program. She has been an active member of the coalition since 2017, first as a representative for perinatal families in her role as Executive Director of Good Beginnings of Central Vermont (2017-23) and then as an individual advocate (2023-24). She is also a founding member of Lean Left Vermont, an all-volunteer grassroots group that empowers Vermonters to take action to strengthen democracy and protect votes in swing states. Gretchen has a master’s degree in public policy and lives in Central Vermont with her husband and two daughters. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and spectating at her kids’ many sports events.

Rachel Elliott (they/she) joined the Migrant Justice staff team following a lengthy period of involvement as an intern and volunteer. They bring a background in environmental justice and queer/trans organizing to the team. Rachel got involved with the organization through the Hannaford Milk with Dignity campaign, and now works as the Development and Communications Coordinator.

Bella Fearn (she/her) began her organizing journey in 2020 during the Battery Park moment in Burlington, working as a street medic supporting protesters and unhoused community members with medical mutual aid. She went on to serve as Director of Programs at the Peace & Justice Center, organizing racial, social, and environmental justice work across Vermont, before working on Burlington campaigns with the Progressive Party.

Today, Bella is an advocate with Vermont Harm Reduction Advocates and an organizer with the BTV Clean Up Crew. From the street to the statehouse to the sidewalk, Bella’s work is rooted in community care and the belief that everyone deserves dignity and support.

Hannah Fryczynski (she/her) is a Public Affairs Organizer with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England / Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund. Originally from New Jersey, she graduated from the Rutgers School of Public Health with her master’s in public health. She has a background working in disease response, having been a contact tracer and epidemiologist during the COVID-19 pandemic, and harm reduction. In her current role, she oversees the volunteer program and coordinates statewide organizing efforts for PPNNE.

Her passion for reproductive health started when she was a Sexual Health Advocate on her college campus and has continued through volunteering for Planned Parenthood and eventually taking on roles at PPNNE. She most enjoys being an advocate for reproductive healthcare access and organizing efforts to bring communities together. She currently resides in Burlington and loves exploring the Green Mountains with her dog.

Eli Kushen (he/him) directs VPIRG’s digital & new media efforts, informing and engaging its members and the public around their core issues and translating complex policy into easy-to-understand messages. A graduate of the University of Vermont, he started with VPIRG as a canvasser in 2018, working his way up to assistant canvass director in 2020 before joining us full time as Media Director. As a New Jersey transplant with a passion for good food and grassroots organizing, he is thrilled to be able to work for the common good in this great state.

Justin Marsh (they/them) joined VCV as Political Outreach Director in 2022, bringing a decade’s worth of communications, conservation, and campaign experience with them. In 2012, they ran for the state legislature and have worked on several historic campaigns since. They are a published editor (Tasteful Traditions, Red Barn Books, 2014), and have held or currently serve in several positions on local non-profit and municipal boards. In 2016, they helped write the grant known as The Silo Project, which transformed two abandoned concrete silos on preserved land into the largest outdoor public art installment in the state of Vermont. In 2020, as chair of Cambridge Conservation Commission, they were instrumental in the conservation of 51 acres of land now known as the Peter A. Krusch Nature Preserve. Prior to joining VCV, they were the lead organizer of the Pride Vermont Parade & Festival as well as Director of Communications & Development at Pride Center of Vermont. They are an alum of Vermont State University and currently reside in Cambridge on their family’s farm and sugar bush.

Autumn Moen (she/her) is the Legislative Policy Lead at Hunger Free Vermont. She works to advance Hunger Free Vermont’s legislative priorities at the State House during the session, and connects with partners and community members year-round to ensure the organization’s policy priorities are aligned with the needs of our neighbors facing hunger.

Originally from Iowa, Autumn graduated with a BA in Public Health and Spanish, and a Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Iowa in 2020. Following graduation, she served as an AmeriCorps member at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, working on food access programs throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, she relocated to Vermont to pursue her MS in Food Systems at the University of Vermont, which she completed in 2024.

Autumn is passionate about the complex intersections of food, health, and the environment and appreciates the opportunity to make changes at the policy level that address the root causes of hunger. In her free time, she loves to bring people together for a meal and conversation, enjoys exploring the beautiful Green Mountains, and working on numerous craft projects!

Alison Nihart (she/her) is the Executive Director of Rights & Democracy Vermont, where she leads the organization’s statewide organizing, training, advocacy, and electoral programs. She holds a masters of Natural Resources from the University of Vermont (UVM). She previously held positions with the UVM Food Systems Initiative and UVM Extension.

Jack Pitblado (he/him) joined VNRC as its first Climate Action Coordinator in February 2025, bringing with him a background in electoral and environmental organizing. After working at VPIRG as a canvasser and assistant canvass director in the summers of 2022 and 2023, Jack joined the Vermont House Democrats as a campaign coordinator to support candidates, events, and campaign fundraising efforts. He then served as Organizing Director for the Vermont Democratic Party’s 2024 Coordinated Campaign. Jack is passionate about engaging community members and elevating their voices in support of bold climate action. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science. In his free time, Jack enjoys playing music, reading, and spending time with his partner Carly, and cats Gilbert and June.

Hillary Rich (she/her) joined the ACLU of Vermont as its first legal fellow in October 2021. After graduating from the State University of New York at Geneseo, Hillary worked as a research coordinator in Rochester, New York, managing projects studying reproductive healthcare and abortion access. She received her law degree from Cornell Law School, where she focused on the intersection of immigrants’ rights and gender justice. Prior to joining the ACLU of Vermont, Hillary represented asylum seekers and detained families at the U.S. southern border as an immigration staff attorney with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.

Mieke Riddlebarger (they/them) is an Organizing Co-Director and Communications Lead at 350Vermont. At 350Vermont, Mieke oversees the organization’s policy goals, legislative campaigns, and communications, facilitates several volunteer working groups, and works collaboratively with the staff collective to manage organizational responsibilities. 

Mieke studied Political Science, Public Policy, and Economics at Simmons University in Boston, MA.  They are particularly interested in the intersection of policy and identity, with a focus on rural life and culture. Mieke lives in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom with their two housemates and has found it to be similar to their hometown in Appalachian Ohio. When not criss-crossing the state with 350VT, they can be found making jewelry, watching movies at the Savoy, or cuddling with their cat, Azula, and their snake Zuko. 

As a mixed-race Black woman, Mia Schultz (she/her) brings a wealth of personal experience and unwavering commitment to her role as President of the Rutland Area NAACP, advocating for truth, healing, and reconciliation within Vermont’s diverse communities. 

Originally hailing from the southwestern deserts of Arizona, Mia embarked on a transformative journey from Southern California, eventually finding her home in the town of Bennington, Vermont, in 2016. Her dedication to advancing civil rights and education has earned her prestigious accolades, including being recognized as a human rights champion by both the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Education Association.

Mia’s dedication to uplifting marginalized voices extends beyond her role as Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner. Currently, she serves as the President of National Advancement for the Association of Colored People (NAACP), a volunteer position that requires an intricate understanding of civil rights, policy, legislation, and advocacy for disenfranchised and often invisibilized communities. Mia’s influence also resonates through her participation on various boards including service to the State of Vermont Ethnic and Social equity standards working group which was tasked with developing educational standards that are inclusive to all students.   This service coupled with her development of culturally appropriate curricula addressing issues of race and racism has demonstrated a dedication to equity within Vermont schools.

Beyond her leadership in formal institutions, Mia has dedicated herself to training and empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women, BIPOC, people with disabilities, and those with intersecting identities, in the art of leadership development. Her work as a community organizer has mobilized communities to address systemic issues and enact positive change.

Logan Snow (she/they) is the Advocacy Manager with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England / Planned Parenthood Vermont Action Fund. Born and raised in Bennington, Vermont, Logan believes in advocating for Vermont to be better for all people who call this state home. She has been an advocate in the state for many years and has previously worked on efforts related to menstrual equity, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, civilian oversight of police departments, and prioritizes anti-racism work in everything she does. Logan currently lives in Bennington with her partner and their beloved senior dachshund. 

Kaitlyn Trottier (she/her) loves to connect with community members on shared values and visions of a liveable future as VPIRG’s Communications and Development Associate. She’s a true Vermonter that started as a Summer Canvasser in 2022 building support for the Keep Vermont Cool campaign, and has since canvassed on Make Big Oil Pay and Protect our Pollinators. She graduated from the University of Vermont as a global studies major, but her time spent biking around Vermont during the summers is what truly solidified her love for organizing and our beautiful state.

Pamela Wilson (she/her) is a visual artist and community organizer. With a practice based out of Studio Place Arts in Barre City’s historic downtown, she focuses on place-based making, materials studies and traditional handcraft techniques. In addition to making and exhibiting throughout New England, she organizes art-gatherings and third-space art experiences that invite participants to engage in collective handwork and intergenerational learning. Her current third-space projects include long-term residencies at the Aldrich Public Library, the White River Craft Center and Green Mountain Linen. Her work is available to view at www.pamelalynnwilson.com and on Instagram at @pamelawilsonstudio.