Alyson Martinez
(NLC South TX Frontera 2020)

Alyson Martinez is a lawyer, community advocate and Director of the Webb and Zapata County Community Supervision and Corrections Department in South Texas. She previously served six years as a public defender, representing underserved communities in the criminal legal system.

A native of Laredo, Texas, Martinez is deeply committed to strengthening her hometown through public service and leadership development. She is the 2025-2026 President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and also serves on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors. A 2020 alumna of the South Texas Frontera Chapter, she also is an NLC LEAD facilitator with New Leaders Council.

Chris Fadeff

Chris Fadeff is the Chief Compliance Officer at Galvanize Climate Solutions, a climate-focused multi-strategy investment firm. Chris has worked for Galvanize Co-Chair Tom Steyer or entities he founded since 2013. Prior to joining Galvanize in 2021, Chris was Vice President of Fahr LLC and Chief Operating Officer of Steyer’s presidential campaign. Prior to that, Chris served in senior roles at NextGen America, formerly NextGen Climate for five years.

Chris holds a J.D. from the University of California, College of the Law. Chris is a Truman National Security Project partner and is a Senior Adviser to NextGen Policy. In his spare time, Chris enjoys traveling, biking, and reading.

Dexter Horne
(NLC Kentucky 2018)

Dexter Horne is a Leadership Development Specialist at the Council of State Governments, designing conflict resolution and civil discourse workshops for state policymakers across all government branches. He focuses on bridging political divides to enhance effective governance nationwide.

Currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Kentucky’s Martin School, Dexter researches state and local economic development and social welfare policy. He will begin teaching Social Policy to undergraduates in fall 2025.

With expertise in public policy analysis and conflict resolution, Dexter advocates for constructive political conflict as a driver of public good. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Politics from Centre College (2016) and his MPA from the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration (2018).

Joel Alvarado
(NLC Atlanta 2016)

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Joel Alvarado is an Afro-Latino first-generation college graduate whose career is predicated on social + economic justice, equity, movement work, and transformational leadership. A well-respected nonprofit executive, he serves as Vice President of Strategy and Engagement at Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), a regional social justice organization dedicated to advancing racial equity and shared prosperity in the American South. Academically, he earned a B.A. in History at Morehouse College and an M.P.A. in Public Policy at Clark Atlanta University.

Alvarado serves on numerous boards, such as Atlanta Housing, Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, Latin American Association, and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, and son Nation.

Kylie patterson
(NLC New Jersey 2015)

Kylie Patterson serves as a Senior Vice President at Citi, where she partners to advance policy with center-left organizations. Prior to Citi, she served as a Deputy Assistant to President Biden on the White House Domestic Policy Council; an appointee for CHIPS for America; and as a Director on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.

A sought-after speaker on policy, politics, financial services, technology, and economics, Kylie has spoken most recently at Yale University, SXSW, and The Aspen Institute. She is a 2015 NLC-New Jersey alum, former Spark! coach, NLC LEAD facilitator, board member of the NLC-Maryland, and co-chair of the NLC Women’s Caucus.

Lance Bennett

Lance Bennett is a Senior MBA Prep Coach for Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). He is responsible for working with and guiding MBA ready prospective students through the MBA admissions process and helping them reach their goal of being admitted to top MBA programs. Prior to MLT, Lance was the Director of Diversity Admissions at the Kellogg School of Management where he led diversity admissions across all MBA programs.

Lance is a certified Leadership Practitioner and is the Founder and Managing Partner of L.E.B. Partners; a consulting firm helping organizations build more inclusive and equitable leaders and environments. He is known for his passion for helping others and his ability to build and foster relationships across a wide spectrum of identity groups.

Leonard Hammonds II

Leonard Hammonds II serves as BMe’s Leadership Communities Director and plays a major role in overseeing their network of 700+ trusted leaders across the nation. Leonard, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has worked in the Non-Profit industry for 20+ years, with experience in Leadership Development, Crisis Management, Conflict Resolution, and Strategic Innovation. From public service, as the former District Office Director for the 19th Legislative District of Western Pennsylvania, to nonprofit leadership, Leonard carries forward a deep commitment to community and progress.

He has spent the last 7 years developing and building BMe’s various leadership communities. In his current role at BMe, Leonard helps leaders expand upon their knowledge, influence, and networks to maximize their full potential in striving towards their aspirations.

Michelle Roberts
(NLC San Francisco 2017)

Michelle Roberts is a licensed clinical social worker who has been honored to spend the last 15 years in the Bay Area bringing behavioral health services to vulnerable, underserved, and often unhoused individuals. She is deeply passionate about housing and health care as human rights and has dedicated her life to work for social, racial, and economic justice.

Michelle holds a Bachelors in Psychology and Religious Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and a Masters in Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work. Michelle’s self care includes time with friends, cooking, baking, hiking, backpacking, crafting, fitness, and all things nerdy. After seven years of service to the NLC San Francisco Chapter she is elated to be joining the NLC national board.

Parshan Khosravi
(NLC Orange County 2020)

Parshan Khosravi is an education advocate, community organizer, and business leader with over a decade of experience in public policy advocacy and nonprofit leadership. He serves as the California Policy Director for uAspire, a national leader in college affordability policy.

Active in politics, Parshan is the Treasurer of Iranian American Democrats of California and Western VP of Young Democrats of America. A proud Zoroastrian, he also leads within his faith community as Chair of the California Zoroastrian Chamber of Commerce, and Advocacy Chair of Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America.

Parshan is a graduate and former co-director of NLC Sacramento, and co-founder of NLC Orange County. He holds a double BA in Education and Political Science from UC Irvine and an MPP from UCLA.

Toni cook
(NLC Arkansas 2022)

Toni Cook is chief of staff for Walmart’s Last Mile Platform, where she helps drive execution and supports strategic initiatives that strengthen the company’s parcel delivery network. She previously led procurement initiatives for Energy Transformation and Innovation at Walmart, and earlier in her career directed procurement strategies at the City of Little Rock with a focus on increasing minority spend.

Her achievements have been recognized nationally with honors including Rising Star Awards, Walmart’s Making a Difference Award, and selection as one of the Top 100 Government Influencers in the country.

Cook is a passionate advocate for equality for women and for expanding opportunities for small, minority-owned businesses. Outside of work, she is an avid traveler, a foodie, devoted sports fan, and self-proclaimed “space nerd.”