New Hampshire

Bridget Sakowski is a human rights activist and practitioner working to increase and protect rights in the U.S., and the Middle East and North Africa. She most recently worked as a Program Associate for communities and governance at IREX. Bridget is currently seeking new opportunities to foster gender equality, inclusion, and rights in her native NH.

Emma Shapiro-Weiss is a field organizer currently working at Climate Action New Hampshire, a project of League of Conservation Voters. Emma mobilizes different communities to protect our most valuable resources through outreach and volunteer coordination. She believes that many people want to join the climate fight and just need advice on the best ways to make a difference. Emma has always been passionate about environmental justice, protecting the natural world, and bringing awareness to her community about climate and energy policy. Exploring the disproportionate impact climate change has on people of color and low income communities is of keen interest in her work.

Emma graduated with a degree in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic. Following school, Emma spent her free time volunteering for environmental organizations while working as a video editor for small businesses. After the 2016 election, Emma made the decision to become a community organizer because she could not imagine putting her efforts anywhere else. What started with a personal testimony at a city hall meeting, grew into lobbying all of her representatives to bring renewable energy infrastructure to New Hampshire a year later.

When she’s not working Emma enjoys kickboxing, listening to podcasts, and exploring the New Hampshire wilderness.

Ben Ernst is a Democratic campaign staffer and a new resident of New Hampshire. He believes that by lifting up good people, we can build a future that lives up to our ideals. He most recently worked as the Campaigns Director for the New Hampshire Senate Democratic Caucus when Democrats flipped five Republican-held seats to win a majority in the heavily gerrymandered chamber.

Before coming to New Hampshire, Ben worked on two successful State House campaigns and a gubernatorial campaign in his native Virginia, managed a successful New York City Council primary, organized for Hillary for America in the Iowa and Nevada Caucuses, and managed organizers in Virginia for the general election.

He has also worked as a legislative staffer for members of the Virginia House of Delegates. In that capacity, he worked on successful legislation to remove loopholes for perpetrators of domestic violence and improve the state’s child protective services family reunification process. He also managed the office, schedule, and correspondence and oversaw constituent relations.

In between campaigns, Ben likes to spend time with friends and family, hike tall mountains, read books, do crosswords, and make dad jokes. Ben graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2015 with a B.A. in Public Policy.

Cecilia's love for arts and community have led her through many experiences of leadership. As President and Co-Founder of Positive Street Art, her non-profit organization has beautified Nashua and inspired many. She currently works in the Mayor's Office for the City of Nashua as the Constituent Services and Cultural Affairs Coordinator. Through her fellowship as a member of Rotary and service on several committees and boards over the years demonstrates her affinity for giving back. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Nashua and is a recipient of Nashua's 25 Extraordinary Women Award.

As a Nashua resident of 31 years, Cecilia is deeply rooted and invested in her community and is looking forward to expanding her network throughout New Hampshire.

Christian Widmark is a native of New Hampshire and an alumnus of the University of New Hampshire, Durham. Christian graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA degree in history, where he was a member of the history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta.

After graduation he was hired as a district executive for the Boy Scouts of America in Canton, Massachusetts.  In this role, Christian worked with community leaders, business owners, and volunteers to promote and grow the scouting program.  Fundraising was a key responsibility, and each year Christian was responsible for raising over $20,000 to help support the program.  He also managed part time para-professions to administer scouting programs in low-income housing developments and worked closely with community leaders to bring scouting to at risk or underserved youth.
 

During his tenure with the Boy Scouts, Christian was a member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce and the Brockton Rotary Club, where he served as club treasurer for three terms.
Christian was promoted to senior district executive in 2014, but in 2015 he left the organization, returning to the University of New Hampshire to obtain a BS degree in applied mathematics.  He was inducted into the U.S. honorary national mathematics society, Pi Mu Epsilon and worked as a tutor at the university math center. He is currently employed as a data administration specialist for Lonza Biologics, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Daniel Gannon is a New Hampshire native currently living in Portsmouth. He is an innovative educator who has held many university positions over the years and is currently serving as the Associate Dean of STEM Foundations for Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).  His work is focused on supporting new and underserved student populations through the development and implementation of high-impact practices in the classroom. While at SNHU, Dan has led the design and launch one of the nation’s largest college orientation programs serving over 10,000 incoming learners every two months. Dan has also developed technical trainings and workshops for several hundred STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) adjunct faculty members to ensure they are properly prepared to teach courses and support students.

Dan is always searching for intersections between civic engagement, leadership development, and post-secondary education. He believes that it is through these pathways which individuals are able to develop new perspectives on their identity and their role in society while leveraging their newfound professional skills for the betterment of their community.

Dan studied at Keene State College in New Hampshire where he earned two bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Theatre. Shortly thereafter, he earned his master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in Massachusetts while serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the New Hampshire College and University Council. In alignment with his belief of continual growth and development, Dan recently became a certified professional coach. After many years working in higher education, he is hopeful to begin shaping perspectives and policy about civics education and to enable accessible and equitable education for all.

In addition to his work in higher education, Dan also serves as board chair, teacher, and troupe member of Stranger Than Fiction, an improvisational comedy troupe and school in New Hampshire. Dan has found through his work in this area that the skills developed in improv performance such as change management, flexibility, respect, and humor are essential to success in leadership. In his free time, Dan enjoys spending time outside with his friends and family, traveling, collaborating on the NYT crossword, playing with his terrier, Appa, and making people laugh on and off stage!
 

Derek is a History Lecturer at Southern New Hampshire University. He also works as an Assistant to the Student Center Director at Phillips Exeter Academy. Focusing on the history, society, and culture of the diverse ancient Mediterranean (dominated by Greeks & Romans), Derek recently co-hosted a “Humanities Profanities” talk at the SNHU Women’s Center on the history of male domination in Greco-Roman politics and society, while showing how modern America has been heavily influenced by that ancient patriarchal system. As a Board Member of the NH Rockingham County Young Democrats, he has canvassed, and phone banked, for numerous Democrats between Concord and Portsmouth (almost all of whom won their election).  

Derek has been an active member of Exeter Rises, a local progressive group that has raised money for Puerto Rico, attended various protest marches for women & immigrants, and helped raise support for numerous causes led by the NH ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Derek recently joined Exeter’s Racial Unity Team, and he is specifically part of the Event Team organizing the 5th annual Racial Unity Day & arts festival next September 2019; he is also helping the Racial Unity Team provide critical public feedback to the NH Department of Education, as they are currently updating their Social Studies Curriculum. Derek is eager to make the NH Social Studies Curriculum more inclusive. And Derek is also a member of the Exeter town committee organizing the 1st annual Exeter Literary Festival April 5th & 6th, 2019. Derek has championed literacy, having worked at JumpStart and Head Start preschool programs in low-income areas of Boston, organizations that work to improve literacy. In college,

Derek worked as a tutor for the Boston University Upward Bound program, a college preparatory program for first-generation college and low-income Boston Public High School students. Before that, he was a City Year Boston AmeriCorps corps member, tutoring and working with diverse middle school students to engage in community service activities around their local community.

Ericka is a New Hampshire transplant from Illinois who lives and works on the seacoast. Working as an eligibility case manager for SNAP, NH Medicaid, and family assistance programs, she is aware of the issues low-income individuals and families face locally. Her passion is meeting each person exactly where they are at and has used this approach for over 12 years. She has worked as a case manager for organizations like the State of NH and Rosecrance, a large nonprofit substance abuse and mental health center in the Midwest.

She is currently a board member and facilitator for Seacoast Outright, an organization that provides a weekly support group for LGBTQIA youth and hosts the annual Portsmouth Pride each summer. This past Pride, a rainbow-clad Ericka wielded a megaphone to line up a sea of rain-soaked marchers into rainbow order.

Ericka graduated from Northern Illinois University with Bachelors in Fine Arts and no clear way to integrate her art into a career plan. While it was tempting to hide all her paintbrushes after surviving art school, she used her creativity to help her connect and engage with the individuals she served. She eventually created her own art again and began participating in various art shows in the Midwest. She co-curated a collaborative art show with her best friend in the winter of 2012. Through that experience and her professional career, she realized she has a knack and a drive for inspiring and supporting others in need. When she is not creating art, she enjoys hiking, exploring local coffee shops and bookstores, and reading with her tiny dog curled up on her lap.
 

Erin Allgood grew up with a fierce love of food, passion for women’s rights, and commitment to social justice. A lifelong Granite Stater, Erin currently resides in the Seacoast region and works as a social change consultant throughout New England and beyond.

As the founder of ELA Consulting, Erin seeks to create a more sustainable future by helping leaders articulate their vision and align their strategy for social change. As a strategist and consultant, Erin helps socially-conscious organizations and individuals with their business and leadership development, communications, and marketing. Additionally, Erin offers workshops and trainings on the topics of leadership for social change, women’s business development, and sustainable food systems.

Prior to starting ELA Consulting, Erin worked as a food systems consultant. In this work, Erin focused her energy by helping farmers, anti-hunger advocates, and food business owners deepen their impact.

Erin dedicates her time to progressive organizations throughout New England. She serves as an advisor to New Hampshire Youth Movement and 350 New Hampshire and has volunteered with Seacoast Eat Local since 2010. She is active in the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility, and Farm to Institution New England.

Erin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, a Master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of New Hampshire, and certificates in Leadership in Sustainable Food Systems and Sustainable Business, both from the University of Vermont. She is currently working on a second Master’s degree in Leadership for Sustainability through the University of Vermont.

Dr. Jasmeial “ Jazz” Jackson is the Associate Dean of First Year Experience and Retention Programs at Southern New Hampshire University. He serves as a collaborative partner throughout the institution and ensures a holistic, intentional onboarding experience that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully transition to college work and achieve their academic goals. He works on strategic teams across the college to coordinate college-wide retention initiatives including general education curriculum redesign, AACU LEAP core skills mapping, interoperability learning models, alumni mentorship, academic recovery and experiential learning.

Prior to joining SNHU, Dr. Jackson served as a business and technology dean where he developed new strategies for recruiting and retaining a diverse, underrepresented student body and managed initiatives to enhance program quality. He took an active role in teaching, research, curriculum development, and accreditation compliance. Under his leadership, Dr. Jackson took on one of the most challenging tasks in saving a struggling program from loss of accreditation. Within three years, he developed and implemented initiatives that help improved student retention from 47% to 73%, a record high for the institution. Dr. Jackson welcomes new opportunities where he can continue to make an impact on the lives of others while continuously learning and leveraging his strengths of focus, command, learner, significance, and individuation.

Dr. Jackson began his career in project management where he oversaw the development and building of commercial structures. When he thinks about his career journey, he often says he went from “building structures to building people.”

Dr. Jackson holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University, an MBA from William Carey University, and a B.S. in Construction Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a Certified Professional Coach.

Dr. Jackson is passionate about developing people through volunteerism and philanthropy. He serves as the Communications Chair and Chair-Elect for the UPCEA New England Regional Committee, Secretary on the executive board of the Young Professionals Network of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, and Vice Chair for the SNHU Diversity Council. He also serves as a mentor at Northeastern University and a Big Brother at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manchester, New Hampshire. He lives by a quote by Mahatma Gandhi “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”  

Jess is a passionate advocate for social change with experience in community organizing, event planning, marketing, and graphic design. She works as a Community Engagement Coordinator at New Futures and mobilizes advocates around public health policies through New Futures strategic model of education, collaboration, and advocacy.

Jess was raised in NH and started community organizing in high school. She co-founded a local nonprofit raising money for a rare neuromuscular disease and assisted in organizing multiple large fundraising events. She also engaged in advocacy projects promoting Lyme disease awareness throughout her town and school district.

Jess attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 2015 with bachelor’s degrees in Communication and Women’s Studies and minors in Sociology and Race & Ethnic Studies. During her sophomore year, she co-founded a student organization affiliated with Planned Parenthood that focused on feminist and social justice issues on campus while supporting comprehensive sexual and reproductive health resources for students. She also served as an undergraduate student representative on the UNH President’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Jess was an intern for NARAL NH in the spring of 2013 and organized a student production of The Abortion Monologues on campus. She was also an intern for Planned Parenthood NH in the spring of 2015 and wrote a 13-monologue performance based on interviews she conducted with community members about how access to reproductive healthcare affected their lives, which she then co-performed at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s 25th Anniversary celebration.

Jess is open about her struggle with chronic illness, and how it has shaped both her life, her worldview, and her work. She has always had access to the healthcare and mental healthcare she needed when she needed it, and she knows she would not be where she is today without that. She is most passionate about working toward a world where everyone has access to the healthcare, community resources, and social supports they need in order to live their best lives.

In her spare time, Jess enjoys watching comedy and Youtube, visiting local breweries, drinking too much coffee, and going on road trips. She lives in NH and has three cats: Zena, Moon, and King.

Joseph (Joe) Lavoie is an associate at Sulloway & Hollis, a law firm in Concord, New Hampshire, where he handles a variety of civil litigation matters. He was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, and he currently resides in Concord. Joe attended UNH Durham where he earned a degree in Philosophy. After college, Joe did what most fathers fear will happen after their child declares philosophy as a major—Joe promptly moved into a homeless shelter. This move, however, was intentional. The shelter was a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality, and Joe moved in as a staff member.  Joe spent the next year working in the drop-in shelter, participating in workshops at Rochester’s Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, and engaging in various social justice efforts. Joe then decided to seek his riches through AmeriCorps. With AmeriCorps, he worked as a domestic violence court advocate and for an inner city public school. Because of these experiences Joe maintains an interest in theories of non-violence, non-violent communication, and dispute resolution.

Joe attended University at Buffalo School of Law and moved to Concord with his wife in 2017. When not in the office, Joe can be found hiking in the White Mountains. If it’s raining, you’ll find Joe either researching legal issues related to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology or developing a website with a friend from law school.

Josie Pinto grew up in a small historic town called Kinderhook in the Hudson Valley of New York. She became interested in the health field in high school and spent her senior year in a Scientific Research & World Health early-college program at the University of Albany School of Public Health. She went on to study Public Health, with a focus on LGBTQ+ and reproductive health at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She worked at the LGBTQ+ Center at UMass for three years in event planning, education, and advocacy positions before graduating in 2017.

Through her studies and work, she discovered her passion for reproductive justice advocacy and the power of uplifting stories in order to create meaningful change. She served as President of UMass Students for Reproductive Justice, a campus chapter of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. The group organized a show called Nostras Voces (Latin for “Our Voices”) where students wrote and performed pieces that related to a wide range of identities. These stories inspired a desire to work towards concrete change. She surveyed students about their experiences with the Women’s Health Center on campus. With these results, she worked with the administration to increase their competency around LGBTQ+ patients and survivors of sexual assault, and they agreed to provide free rides to Planned Parenthood for students in need of an abortion. She was involved in campus organizing for a wide range of social justice issues. Other leadership roles included Event Coordinator for UMass Coalition to End Rape Culture, Campaign Coordinator for the UMass Democrats, and co-chair of the Civil Liberties and Public Policy reproductive justice conference.

She moved to Concord, New Hampshire for a job as Public Affairs Associate with Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund. She has spent the year working alongside an incredible team of volunteers & staff to fight back against attacks on our care and community through legislative and advocacy work. As this grant-funded position comes to a close, she is excited to explore other opportunities that will keep her engaged in the New Hampshire political landscape she has come to love over the past year.

Kelly Boyer is a passionate public servant who has volunteered and worked in the nonprofit sector for most of her life. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois; she moved to New Hampshire in 2008 while serving with AmeriCorps. After working for two years for the Corporation for National and Community Service, she remains heavily involved with local nonprofits. She has been involved with organizations in NH such as Girls at Work Inc., The Goffstown Lions Club, the NH Food Bank, Families in Transition, the Manchester Animal Shelter, Volunteer NH, and the YWCA of Manchester. She also served as an international volunteer to help orphaned children overseas and served on the Board of Directors for NH Roller Derby.

Prior to moving to NH, Kelly stayed close to home for college to get a B.A. in Communication and Non-Profit Management and later working towards a degree in Human Resources Management from Southern NH University. Kelly currently works as a Human Resources Information Specialist at an Ascentria Care Alliance, a non-profit in Concord, NH and was elected in 2018 to the Goffstown Board of Selectmen. As a Selectwoman, Kelly has been noted as the first LGBT representative for Goffstown, the first woman elected in over 10 years, and presumably the youngest elected Selectman in the history of the town. She strives to be efficient in her role as well as being highly involved in her community. She is very committed to connecting with residents through active service. Kelly has put much effort into cultivating a new relationships by being accessible, engaged, and actively keeping residents up to date and well informed. Aside from the day to day responsibilities of public service, Kelly has tried to implement new and innovative ways to interact with residents with initiatives like her “Coffee with Kelly” events. She hopes that being a NLC fellow will give her new skills and new perspective to take her service to the next level.

Kelly lives in Goffstown, NH with her wife, two dogs, and flock of chickens. She enjoys spending time with family, good coffee, kayaking, woodworking, and listens to copious amounts of audio books.

Kelly Moss lives in Salem, NH with her husband and three young sons. Growing up in neighboring Massachusetts, Kelly fell in love with the granite state during family vacations to the White Mountains and summer trips to Canobie Lake Park.  While her education and early career took her around the country, when it came time to raise her family, she chose New Hampshire to put down roots and has been living in the state since 2013. She graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Discrete Mathematics and received a Master’s degree in Math Education from Columbia University Teacher’s College. Kelly spent her early career as a teacher of both computer skills and mathematics before moving into her current role as a Transparency Reporting Manager for a medical device manufacturer. In her free time, Kelly enjoys camping, crafting and spending time with her kids.

Kelly’s interest in progressive politics developed over time during her travels around the country.  From concern for the environment made clear while living in the Pacific Northwest, to concerns for public education developed while teaching in the New York City public schools, to concerns about our broken healthcare system realized while dealing with personal and family illness and injury, Kelly became increasingly eager to get off the sidelines and become a part of the solution.  In 2018, Kelly turned her passion into action by stepping up to run for NH state representative. Although unsuccessful in her first attempt, Kelly is eager to stay involved in New Hampshire politics and to champion the causes that she feels passionate about.

Oscar Reid is a lifelong resident of New Hampshire, currently residing in Manchester. Following four years in Boston for school, he returned to NH in the Summer of 2018 to accept a position with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan’s district office.

Oscar first became interested in government and politics after being given the opportunity to appear in an ad for then Governor Hassan’s 2014 reelection campaign. He went on to intern and work as an office assistant in the New Hampshire Governor’s office for several summers, focusing on researching the opioid epidemic and how it has affected Granite Staters, as well as supporting budget proposal efforts. While in Boston, Oscar interned in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, assisting Representative Mary Keefe in her efforts to pass justice reinvestment legislation. Oscar is eager to expand his health care policy profile specifically in mental health, as well as gaining a better understanding of how to support entrepreneurs in the state. He is looking to reinvest time in supporting the communities of NH and ensure that they have support from federal and state levels to move New Hampshire forward.

Oscar studied political science and international relations at Emmanuel College in Boston. While there, he served as president of Political Forum, a political discussion group that aims to expand respectful dialogue between students across campus. In his free time, he enjoys visiting friends in Boston, taking day trips around New England, and watching Parks and Recreation.

Stephanie grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire and is thrilled to be back in the state after a time away. She has an eclectic background in activism, horticulture, landscaping, retail management, writing, and digital media. After a 6-year career working in greenhouses, Stephanie wrote for the American Horticultural Association’s bi-monthly magazine, and was a store manager at Anthropologie in Alexandria, Virginia, before deciding to return to New Hampshire.

Currently, she works for Heinemann Publishing in Portsmouth, NH, an educational publishing house dedicated to engaged teachers and curious students. She creates daily written content and produces the weekly podcast that allows educators to share their latest thinking with an international audience.
 

Stephanie holds a B.A. from UMass Amherst in Communication (Rhetoric) and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. While at UMass, she was an active member of an activist group that pushed the university to adopt trauma-informed policies on sexual misconduct and assault.  

Through all her professional, academic, and personal experiences, Stephanie has found the constant motivating factor to be the people around her. It is her peers, friends, and community members that are her inspiration for finding creative ways to build community and create platforms for people share their stories.
 

In her free time, she enjoys watching Law and Order SVU, drinking coffee, reading, gardening, crocheting, and having long conversations with her friends. She lives in Dover, NH with her cat, Calliope.

Willis is the Head Soccer Coach at New Hampton School where he also teaches in the Academic Support Program. His work at the independent high school involves working with students in one on one or small group settings to develop their executive function and English skill set. Life at NHS includes several other roles such as advisor, dorm parent, and JV basketball coach.

In addition to his job at the school, Willis is the elected State Representative for Manchester's Ward 11. He ran his campaign focused on the opioid crisis, public education, and family-friendly policies. Willis’ legislative priorities include working for affordable healthcare, housing, and childcare, supporting a better funding formula for public education, making New Hampshire a more attractive place to young people, and developing a grassroots solution to the opioid crisis.

The New Hampshire native graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Political Science where he was also a member of the Big Ten soccer team. At Northwestern, Willis was a member of Alternative Spring Breaks where he led a team to an intentional community in Tennessee to plant a permaculture food forest and participated in a trip to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation to assist with a Christmas toy drive.

Upon graduation, Willis returned to the granite state to complete his Master in Public Policy from UNH. While in Durham he captained the soccer team during their run to the Sweet Sixteen of the Division 1 national tournament.