Team
Amanda Litman, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director
Hillary Clinton’s email director. (The other emails.) Charlie Crist’s digital director when he ran for governor in 2014. One of the first employees at Organizing for Action as deputy email director. Email writer for Barack Obama’s re-elect. Northwestern University graduate. Bookworm. Book writer. Spends a lot of time talking as the host of the Run for Something podcast and Battleground. Feminist. Nationals fan. Dog owner.
Ross Morales Rocketto, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director
Progressive political operative with 15 years of experience in campaign management, grassroots organizing, and data/analytics. In 2016, was an advisor at For Our Future. Previously managed Wendy Carrillo for Congress in CA-34 and was Principal at STG. Got his start working for former HUD Secretary Julian Castro’s first campaign for Mayor of San Antonio.
Robert Wrasse, Development Director
Forward-thinking fundraiser for progressive candidates and organizations. Former Deputy Director of Finance at Organizing for Action; Builder of online fundraising programs for Democratic campaigns; Grassroots fundraising staffer on Barack Obama’s re-elect. University of Michigan alumnus. Self-proclaimed connoisseur of 90’s music and popcorn.
Cassandra Gaddo, Operations Senior Director
People and operations professional, helping to empower amazing teams from the inside. Former nonprofit executive, including executive director of Step Up Chicago. Even more former journalist. Alumna of Loyola University Chicago (BA in Journalism) and Northwestern University (Masters of Public Policy and Administration). Driven by the belief that you can’t be what you can’t see. Ask me about feminism, education, or Chicago.
Brandon Turner, Senior Regional Director
Seasoned political organizer with over a decade of campaign management experience. Former Head of Campaigns at Sister District Project. Served as Director of Candidate Development for a national advocacy group that helps teachers run for office. And proud Texas Alum (Hook ’em Horns). Brandon specializes in working with first time candidates, is passionate about access to education, and really dislikes vienna sausage.
Leslie Hauser, Director of Community
Politically energized in 2016, maker of 57 pussyhats, volunteer onboard team leader for Ameya Pawar for Illinois Governor. From Houston, lived in Chicago for 25 years, newly transplanted to Bay Area. Double Northwestern grad (College/Law School). Wine drinker. Fiction lover. Married, parent of daughter obsessed with “Hamilton” and graphic novels, soon adding a puppy to the family.
Kandice Harris, Midwestern Regional Director
Experienced political organizer with a background in movement politics, legislative advocacy, fundraising, voter mobilization, and political consulting for progressive campaigns. Firm believer in the power of grassroots and community driven campaigns. Passionate about empowering diverse voter bases and promoting women of color in campaign leadership. College football and chicken wing enthusiast. Proud resident of Chicago’s South Side.
Andrea Johnson, Western Regional Director
Progressive campaigner with two decades helping elect candidates from the statehouse to the White House. Alum of Moveon.org, Bill Bradley, Bill Richardson, Claire McCaskill, Maria Cantwell, and Jay Inslee + others. Now, back home in Kansas (Hillary Clinton’s KS state director), fighting to turn red corners of the state bluer. Lover of butterscotch baking chips, burnt ends, and buying second-hand scarves on eBay.
Manny Espitia, Northern Regional Director
Originally a So. Cal Native, Manny Espitia started working on campaigns in 2012 in New Mexico for President Obama’s reelection. Since then he’s worked on campaigns in LA, Chicago, and San Antonio until he found his home in Nashua, New Hampshire. Organizer for Hillary Clinton’s NH Primary campaign, congressional staffer, and NH State Director for Julián Castro. Ran for office himself and is now a State Representative. Princeton University Graduate. Always looking for the best Mexican food in the Northeast.
Marsha Gonzalez, Events Senior Manager
Watched The Wedding Planner in college and decided to pursue a career in event planning. Found a way to combine a love of planning with a passion for change and began organizing fundraisers. Formerly organized events for RAND Corporation and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, helping build programs and events for millennials. Can frequently be found doing cliché activities such as lounging in yoga pants at brunch wearing oversized sunglasses.
Tyler Goodridge, Digital Comms Senior Manager
Lifelong social justice advocate with a passion for digital activism. Formerly Planned Parenthood Action (PPFA) and the National Organization for Women (NOW). Graduate of Rutgers University (BA) and Georgetown University (MA). Current DC resident, but NYC native. Lifelong theater nerd. Womanist. Prone to long philosophical conversations about 90’s pop culture. Never ask me to participate in outdoor activities, the answer will always be no.
Ben Theodore, Candidate and Alumni Senior Manager
Program manager and metaphorical cheerleader. Formerly worked on supporting, retaining, and recognizing outstanding public school teachers in NYC and DC. Even more formerly, taught high school algebra. Local campaign volunteer, organizer, and Democratic agitator. Haverford College and George Washington University graduate. TFA alum. Mets fan. Sentient cat pillow. Wanderer of Brooklyn neighborhoods, parks, and museums.
Lavanna Martinez, Senior Political Manager
Wandering Jersey girl who caught the bug for activism in 2016 after participating in protests against police brutality. Retired salesperson. Former Women’s March of NYC organizer & Buttigieg staffer against the High Hopes dance. Howard alum. She cooks food for friends, family & Instagram. Plant & cat mom. Collector of books she’ll never read, tarot decks & cameras.
Ilysia Shattuck, Development and Events Manager
Fundraiser, grassroots organizer and campaigner. Ran 2020 General and Georgia Special voter canvasses for PPFA, UFCW and more. Former: LCV State Director, Patagonia Grants Manager, Sierra Club Campaign Director, PIRG Campus Organizer. Floridian by way of California and Alaska. Married and raising two incredible kids to make good trouble. Will always say yes to a hike or karaoke party.
Whitney Murray Brown, Communications and Special Projects Manager
Natural coalition builder, organizer, and comms strategist. Passionate about helping women and young people tell their stories to further their impact for good. Committed to building political power for Black and Brown women. Most recently the founding director of Faith in Public Life’s Women of Faith Campaign. Elizabeth Warren for President, Ruth’s List Florida & Florida Democratic Party alum. Policy nerd. Podcast enthusiast. Proud graduate of Florida A&M University and HBCU evangelist. Lover of books, dinner parties and cheering on the FAMU Rattlers with her husband and kid.
Flonja Hoxha, Programs Assistant
Graduate of DePaul University & organizing in the Chicago ‘burbs. Intern for Hillary for America and Daniel Biss. Canvasser for PPFA and ACLU. Over caffeinated & under rested. Storyteller, news junkie, and lifelong Illinoisan. Has absolutely no chill. Probably reading @commentsbycelebs.
Emma Hollier, Operations Manager
Doer and thinker who sees to the heart of it all. All things systems (building and breaking). Formerly of Kripalu, the Harry Potter Alliance, and the Museum of the American Revolution. Graduate of Montclair. You can find her handing out kids’ books on Halloween from her Philadelphia stoop. Grave Gardener, tea drinker, reader of books, and beekeeper. Will make sure you eat lunch.