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Democracy Rising Staff
Maria Perez
Co-Director
Born and raised in Ecuador, Maria Perez emigrated to the US where she's spent the last two decades healing communities: first in healthcare then as a practitioner of grassroots leadership where she transforms dreams of democracy into lasting solutions.
In her career, Maria has led major democracy initiatives — serving as Campaign Lead and Interim Hub Manager for The California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities (East Oakland), Director of FairVote New Mexico, and Campaign Manager for Common Cause New Mexico — all confirming her theory of change for the nation's eroding democracy and thus inspiring her co‑founding of Democracy Rising. As Co-Founder, Maria is creating an infectious sisterhood where homegrown leaders can dream, plan and implement a democracy that represents all of us.
Grace Ramsey
Co-Director
Grace Ramsey is a leading architect of democracy reform who combines pragmatic policy with implementation, education and long-lasting change. Grace cut her teeth with Minnesota FairVote and as Deputy Director of Outreach at FairVote National where she specialized in turning complex voting policy changes into clear, usable practice. Over the past decade, Grace’s expertise has aided campaigns from Alaska and Maine to New York City and 23 municipalities in Utah. As cofounder of Democracy Rising, she designs trainings, runs candidate and voter education, and helps communities practice new voting systems – ensuring implementation is inclusive, practical, and grounded in local power.
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Lashae Copeland
Director of Learning
Lashae is a practitioner of joy who takes pride in her southern roots. She is gifted in holding and creating space for folks to exist. She is an educator who believes in the future and her work was led her to crafting liberatory spaces across generations in the U.S and abroad.
She has an educational background in political science, public administration/policy and educational leadership.
Faith Frye
Democracy Transformation Program Manager
Faith Frye is an experienced Program Manager with a communications and campaigns focused background. Informed by her understanding of culture and her lived experiences, Faith develops strategies, initiatives, and programs to serve impacted communities. With a passion for social and cultural transformation, she brings a unique blend of experience in reproductive justice, labor organizing, and Black liberatory work. Faith holds a Bachelors in Communications and a Google Project Manager Certificate. Outside of work, Faith enjoys going to the park, attending poetry slams, and roller skating.
JennaRose Forte
Administrative Coordinator
Jenna Forte (she/they) is an Administrative Coordinator working through her company, JR Forte Solutions LLC, where she specializes in identifying operational challenges, creating organization systems, and implementing effective backend solutions. Jenna ensures systems run smoothly behind the scenes and acts as a key liaison with fiscal sponsors to maintain financial clarity and accountability. She also supports collaborators and consultants to both Grace and Maria of Democracy Rising. With a strong foundation in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), conflict management, facilitation, and accessibility frameworks, Jenna brings a deeply human-centered approach to systems work. Her experience as a teacher, as well as years living and working on farms and in intentional communities, have shaped her ability to adapt, collaborate, and foster environments of mutual support and clear communication. She is committed to creating inclusive and communicative environments where collaboration can thrive. By blending strategic coordination with creative expression, Jenna brings both precision and purpose to every project she takes on.
Advisory Board
Robin Ye
Robin Ye is a political organizer and proud Chinese American son of immigrants who has dedicated his professional career to building a more inclusive, multiracial democracy through policy advocacy, electoral politics, and community organizing. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon and founded his political consultancy, RYVerb Civic Strategies, LLC. He served as a Portland Charter Review Commissioner (2020-2022) and Field Director for the Portland United for Change November 2022 ballot measure campaign to pass proportional representation. He has previously worked as a Political Director at East County Rising Action Fund, APANO, and Oregon Futures Lab, and served as Chief of Staff to Representative Khanh Pham in the Oregon Legislature.
Kelli Ann Thomas
Kelli Ann Thomas is a native of Miami, FL with over 10 years of grassroots and electoral organizing experience. In 2020, she was elected to Community Council 14 which handles land use and zoning decisions in southern Miami Dade County. She is a recent graduate of Barry University, graduating cum laude with a degree in Political Science. In the fall, she will be teaching social sciences for Miami Dade County Public Schools.
Chris Hughes
Chris Hughes is the Senior Director of Policy and General Counsel for the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center. He has contributed to RCV legislation and regulation in more than twenty states, including laws passed in Maine, Utah, and Virginia, and assisted with ranked-choice voting implementations in dozens of jurisdictions, from Newton, Utah (population: 794) to New York City. Chris also co-produces the RCVRC's podcast, RCV Clips. Chris is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
Darshan Goux
Darshan Goux is the Senior Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Prior to joining the Allen Lab, she was Chief Program Officer at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate and Director of the American Institutions, Society, and the Public Good program at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. An experienced strategist with expertise in American democracy, public opinion, and research methods, she has advised candidates and nonprofit, corporate, and political organizations around the globe. Darshan has held positions at IBM, Partners HealthCare, the University of California Berkeley, and the University of British Columbia. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale University.
Victoria Pelletier
Victoria Pelletier is an organizer, public speaker, consultant, and democracy reform advocate, currently working in strategic partnerships at RepresentWomen. With a passion for community engagement and racial equity, Victoria recently completed her first term as a Portland, Maine City Councilor, making history as the second Black woman ever elected to her city’s council seat.
Her lived experience as a Black woman in politics has provided invaluable insight, allowing her to collaborate on projects with diverse organizations, local schools, municipalities, and businesses. Together, they’ve worked to address key community needs, advocating for policies that promote equity and opportunity for marginalized groups.
She has actively participated in and led numerous panels and discussions on critical issues, from representation to systemic reform. Victoria believes in advocating for a more inclusive, intersectional approach at all levels of government.
Victoria is committed to dismantling systems of oppression by sparking honest conversations and empowering communities through increased civic engagement. Outside of her advocacy work, you can find her listening to Cowboy Carter and pursuing all aspects of Black Joy.
Jaqueline Castañeda
Jaqueline Castaneda is an experienced community leader, policy advocate, and organizational strategist who is deeply committed to equity, ethical leadership, and public service. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Organizational Leadership, focusing her research on how the pressures of local elected office affect leadership identity and the mental well-being of public officials.
With a robust background in grassroots organizing, campaign management, and leadership development, Jaqueline has effectively directed electoral strategies, mentored emerging leaders, and mobilized coalitions to promote systemic change. Her work represents a unique blend of academic insight and frontline advocacy, rooted in personal experience and a profound understanding of the communities she serves.
As a proud first-generation Salvadoran American and lifelong resident of Washington, D.C., Jaqueline is dedicated to creating pathways for underrepresented voices in government and ensuring that public leadership reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.
Brittany Buford
Brittany Buford is a catalytic leader, movement architect, and political strategist who has spent over 15 years at the forefront of democracy renovation, civic transformation, and campaign innovation. As the Managing Partner at Partners In Democracy, Brittany drives a visionary strategy to reshape state-level democracy systems to unlock federal impact—designing and leading the organization's hallmark Catalytic Impact Program, a multi-phase model for democratic renewal grounded in policy reform, civic power, and community-led governance. Brittany’s leadership has produced groundbreaking infrastructure and tools such as the Democracy Scorecard.
As a founding partner of Coded Impact Strategies, Brittany advises campaigns and organizations through a justice-centered lens—elevating underrepresented voices, developing narrative strategies, and supporting strategic readiness in electoral and issue-based campaigns. Her experience spans presidential to local races, public health campaigns, and field-based civic learning programs.
Through her thought leadership, she has been called to speak about democracy, strategy, and civic transformation. Political engagement is a path to real power where everyday people have a voice that is a vital force in shaping how communities and this country are governed.
Based in Orlando, FL, and a single mother of two, Brittany is a former collegiate athlete and lifelong learner. She enjoys reading, traveling, and napping. Her work reflects a deep belief in truth-telling, people power, and a future shaped by those too often excluded from decision-making.
