Kristine Leslie is a Change Agent and Impactpreneur who works to make the world a better place through the [healing, performing, and fine] arts. She helps artists and cultural organizations thrive, promotes diversity and inclusion in the arts, and uses her expertise to ensure everyone accesses the healing and transformative power of creative expression. Whether managing arts programs, consulting, or teaching, Kristine's goal is to foster vibrant, culturally enriched communities while championing equity and well-being.

Mary Stober Murray (she/her) is a family caregiver and patient engagement professional in Mercer County. She holds an MS in Population Health from Thomas Jefferson University and is dedicated to health and wealth equity, especially for the 50+ population. Mary advocates for paid leave and job security in NJ, which are essential for balancing healthcare and daily activities without sacrificing income or well-being. Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marystobermurray/

Vivianne Woods (She/Her) is a Grassroots Community Organizer, Poet, and Lover of Life. Her work as a poet and organizer celebrates and prioritizes love, community, Black joy, and reframing the struggle of Black Americans within the context of Liberation Theology. Vivianne is committed to seeing a free Palestine and Puerto Rico, the complete liberation of Black Americans, and an end to American imperialism and white supremacy in her lifetime.

Terri Huggins Hart is a freelance writer, communications consultant, and speaker. She’s excelled as a storyteller, truth-finder, and empathetic interviewer for publications such as Real Simple, Parents, Good Housekeeping, and more. As a fervent advocate for marginalized groups, especially disabled, Black, and children-based communities, she is vocal about creating inclusive spaces. Through it all, she continues to follow her hack for living life with no regrets: do what you love, give love, and lead with love and hopes you’ll do the same.

La-Trenda Ross is an Entrepreneur, Personal Life Coach, Local Community Activist, Public Speaker, and Author with 30 years of experience as a social services professional. She is dedicated to helping vulnerable people and communities overcome challenges, improve their quality of life, and reach their full potential. La-Trenda is a passionate advocate for paid leave, believing it crucial for workers to have the time and financial support to care for themselves and their families. She is known for her kindness, compassion, and creative approach to sharing information to help others. La-Trenda has two daughters and four grandchildren and enjoys shopping, dancing, volunteering, and helping others in her community.

Angela McDermott is not new to advocacy work in New Jersey. When she was 19 years old, she began advocating for rape survivors in Hudson County while studying at New Jersey City University to become a Special Education teacher. After two years of further education, Angela was hired as a residential counselor in a psychiatric community residence in Passaic County. Throughout the years, Angela has been a strong advocate for individuals with mental health needs, promoting inclusion and combating stigma. She has also fought for students' rights to participate actively in classrooms. Her central goal is to combat injustices against people of all different faiths, backgrounds, cultures, races, and genders.

Lauren Fonseca is professional staff at Stockton University. She works with high-risk students establish good academic habits and navigate the higher education system. She has applied on several occasions for paid leave, including for her MS diagnosis and subsequent rehabilitation. Lauren understands how complex it is and want to help others understand it, to advocate for change, and to help others advocate for themselves.

Diana Remache (She/Her/Ella) is a Public Health professional with a passion in addressing inequities among disadvantaged communities. Majority of her work has revolved around educating, empowering, and supporting the Latine/Latinx community to break down barriers such as language in effort to close the health gap. Part of that effort is addressing the barriers communities face due to paid leave.

Lucia Ramirez is a mother of 4, born in Mexico and currently residing in South Orange, NJ.  With limitations in this country, Lucia feels it’s a necessity to find spaces where she is respected as a person. Lucia is driven to fight for other people and was previously involved in the campaign for driver licenses for all. Lucia got involved because these are not luxuries, these are basic rights that should be accessible to all. 

Tasha is a New York native passionate about people, policy, and progress. She is a Rutgers University- Newark graduate, one of the founding members of Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society, and a former Americorps service member and VISTA. Her current focuses include creating an intentional living community and advocating for single individuals as they have little representation in social service policies.

Victor Is a Community Organizer & Spiritual Guide with an Associate’s degree in Environmental Studies from Hudson County Community College. Victor has several years of frontline experience in Housing Environmental Justice work.

Catherine is a longtime Ocean County native, as well as a veteran spouse and a caregiver, who serves as an advocate for veteran households through her work as an outreach specialist for homeless veteran nonprofit Community Hope. Catherine leads a peer support group for veteran spouses through Recalibrate, serves in the American Legion Auxiliary, and is a lifelong learner and helper. Before the creation of NJ Paid Family Leave benefits, Catherine was in a position where she would have qualified for the support of the program, but it did not yet exist, leading to a period of struggle for her household while she was ill. Catherine especially appreciates learning about resources, and sharing them with folks who may need that support, and is excited to be a part of a 2nd year of the Paid Leave Organizer program, this time as a mentor. Reach out to Catherine at catherine.galioto@yahoo.com.

Carl Boyd is a dedicated family man and the oldest brother in his family, deeply committed to supporting his five nieces and three nephews. Professionally, he has built a strong career in community advocacy, holding various roles at Center for Family Services, including Male Involvement Coordinator, Family Service Advocate Support Specialist, Safe Corridors Coordinator, and currently, Community Liaison. In these positions, Carl has worked to enhance fatherhood engagement, support family service advocates, and represent the community at large. His involvement extends to numerous boards, advisory groups, councils, and committees, where he collaborates with partners at community, county, and state levels. Carl's greatest achievement is the strong family bonds he maintains, which have been nurtured through the support of his parents and siblings. These relationships have allowed him to mentor his nieces and nephews with genuine love, reinforcing his belief in the importance of family as a foundation for his community work.

Danica Lafortune is a community doula and community health worker has always shared information about Paid Family Leave in NJ. In 2020, Danica gave birth to her daughter and benefited from Paid Family Leave. As a working mother, Danica understands the importance of caring for her family and wants to advocate for this continued benefit so others are able to access paid family leave. Danica can be reached via social media @labor_of_love_doula_d

Alreema Vining started off her doula career as a postpartum doula in 2011 to later becoming a certified full spectrum doula. She is a Certified Doula under midwife Shafia Monroe as well as a Certified Medicaid Doula provider for the state of New Jersey and Virginia. As a dedicated mother to three beautiful children, Doula Alreema knows first hand how much families can benefit from having additional support during all trimesters including labor and delivery. Assisting over 100+ families and being an active community member, Alreema prides herself on creating a peaceful and loving environment for parents whether new or seasoned. She is the founder and owner of Nurturing BayBees and Nurturing Families Two Family Centered Agency targeted to families utilizing insurance including Medicaid. She has an undeniable specialty in postpartum, meal planning, cesareans and bereavement support. Alreema is passionate and everything nurturing!

Carl Boyd is a dedicated family man and the oldest brother in his family, deeply committed to supporting his five nieces and three nephews. Professionally, he has built a strong career in community advocacy, holding various roles at Center for Family Services, including Male Involvement Coordinator, Family Service Advocate Support Specialist, Safe Corridors Coordinator, and currently, Community Liaison. In these positions, Carl has worked to enhance fatherhood engagement, support family service advocates, and represent the community at large. His involvement extends to numerous boards, advisory groups, councils, and committees, where he collaborates with partners at community, county, and state levels. Carl's greatest achievement is the strong family bonds he maintains, which have been nurtured through the support of his parents and siblings. These relationships have allowed him to mentor his nieces and nephews with genuine love, reinforcing his belief in the importance of family as a foundation for his community work.

Catherine is a longtime Ocean County native, as well as a veteran spouse and a caregiver, who serves as an advocate for veteran households through her work as an outreach specialist for homeless veteran nonprofit Community Hope. Catherine leads a peer support group for veteran spouses through Recalibrate, serves in the American Legion Auxiliary, and is a lifelong learner and helper. Before the creation of NJ Paid Family Leave benefits, Catherine was in a position where she would have qualified for the support of the program, but it did not yet exist, leading to a period of struggle for her household while she was ill. Catherine especially appreciates learning about resources, and sharing them with folks who may need that support, and is excited to be a part of the Advocates program. Reach out to Catherine at catherine.galioto@yahoo.com.

Nicole Lawson is the owner of N. Lawson & Associates, LLC which offers uplifting entertainment, virtual retail services and opportunities for mothers to create their own home based business. Mrs. Lawson is a proud mother of 4, step mother of 2 and life partner of 1! She lives by something that she loves to call “Crazy Faith” and expresses to all that if your mind can conceive it and you are willing to trade your Ego for Equity then you CAN achieve it! Connect with Nicole Lawson aka #Nicolyboo at www.NicoleLawson.com

LaVonia Abavana is the proud mother of three amazing children. Her amazing journey into advocacy and parent leadership began when her youngest child was bullied in school because of his Tourette syndrome. That traumatizing experience opened her eyes to all the supports available to families and made her become dedicated to helping other families in challenging situations. She advocates on multiple systems that support families across the State of New Jersey.

Jessica is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Paid Leave Advocate in New Jersey. She believes that all workers deserve access to paid leave to take care of themselves and their families without sacrificing their financial security. Jessica is committed to educating and advocating for policies that support paid leave for all workers. Having benefited personally from taking paid leave after giving birth to her two children and after being involved in a car accident, she understands firsthand the importance of paid leave in helping individuals manage their health and family responsibilities while maintaining their employment.

Angie Tamayo León (she/they) is a community organizer and educator. She has a bachelor's in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from The College of New Jersey and a commitment to social justice issues that impact her immigrant community. As a first generation student, she's experienced barriers to accessible language and education regarding paid leave policies and works to bridge that gap for her Spanish-speaking peers. You can connect with Angie via Instagram (@angietamayo_) or through email: tamayoa2@tcnj.edu.

LaTanya Marchell resides in Union County. She is a child support worker for the County of Union. She has a 20 year old daughter. The reason why she became an advocate for paid leave is because 2 years ago her mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. LaTanya knew that she would do anything in her power to be her mother's caregiver, and that would include her taking time off from work and would be confronted with emotional and financial hardships just so that she ensure that her mother was obtaining the best healthcare possible. She is extremely passionate about raising awareness so that others will not have to have the challenges she faced while caring for a loved one.

Habibah Johnson is an administrator at Rutgers University, a Parent Leadership Council member with Advocates for Children of New Jersey, a higher education administrator for over 15 years, a wife, and a mother to four wonderful children. She has been advocating for children and families for the last five years in her role as a volunteer parent advocate in New Jersey. She hopes to integrate her studies and passion for advocacy to continue to advocate for policy changes. 

Taiwo is an outdoor person and her strength comes from the people around her. She is a lover of children. In her life, Taiwo seeks for resources that can help people around her. 

Ediza Lahoz Valentino is a Licensed Social Worker and HealthySteps Specialist who is passionate about improving infant, child and maternal health outcomes.

Diana is a community based doula, with a passion for reproductive justice, maternal health, and paid leave for all. Daughter of El Salvadoran immigrants, wife, advocate, and mommy to 2 kitties.

Lashette Pennington is the owner of an aromatherapy brand, single mother of four, and a has a full-time career in higher education. While navigating the struggles of work/life balance that came with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, LaShette found herself inquiring about her options for paid leave to care for a sick family member and her own mental health. She is passionate about educating others, specifically individuals in the black and brown community, on the resources available to ensure their health and wellness is of the highest regard. 

Cecile Edwards, M.Ed has a passion for maternal/family wellness and believes it is a cornerstone to a well society. Cecile is a Postpartum Doula Maternal Equity Consultant and Maternal Wellness Advocate assisting organizations and companies in creating space, systems and benefits that improve maternal wellness. Cecile's looks forward to improving her knowledge of state law and advocating for paid family leave to assist families in improving their overall wellness. Cecile has a 13 year old and lives in Somerset, NJ. Cecile also blogs and is passionate about environmental concerns. You can reach Cecile at nurture@mommyevolve.com or via social media @mommyevolve

Rebeca Four is a political refugee, a single mother and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has been helping parents meet their infant feeding goals since 2004 by providing education and support to families in Northern New Jersey, as a private practice provider, as a former Breastfeeding Coordinator for WIC of Hudson County, and as a former Trustee on the NJ Breastfeeding Coalition. As an entrepreneur, she has a personal vested interest in expanding the protections of paid family leave to cover New Jerseyans who are self employed, independent contractors, and gig workers. In her work supporting families, she sees first hand the impact that appropriate paid family leave can have on health outcomes of the parents she support and also on their ability to lactate and thereby the health outcomes of their babies. You can reach Rebeca via social media at @thelactationplace

Alicia Jenks is based in Ocean County and she has a Bachelor’s of Science from University of Rhode Island and Master’s Degree in Child Advocacy and Policy from Montclair State University. During the pandemic her family learned the importance of paid leave, as her husband had to take time to care for their young children at a time when there was not any other caregiving options. Her husband having access to paid leave ensured that Alicia could focus her efforts on her full time position as a Quality Manager at a CCR&R with the peace of mind that her children were safe and nurtured. Alicia’s goal is to advocate on behalf of New Jersey families to ensure that there is equity and accessibility to quality care for young children and to ensure that all families understand their rights to the paid leave. Alicia welcomes the opportunity to hear how paid family leave has affected your family or someone that you love. Through storytelling and building community relationships Alicia believes changes can be made.

Danica Lafortune is a community doula and community health worker has always shared information about Paid Family Leave in NJ. In 2020, Danica gave birth to her daughter and benefited from Paid Family Leave. As a working mother, Danica understands the importance of caring for her family and wants to advocate for this continued benefit so others are able to access paid family leave. Danica can be reached via social media @labor_of_love_doula_d

Ashley Rodgers is a full-time Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Peer Advocacy Leader, in the state of NJ. Ashley has worked in the field of addiction and mental health for over seven years, providing supportive services and advocating for various populations. Professionally, Ashley also has training as a Wellness coach and Perinatal doula. Ashley’s goal is to continue building communities by providing education and support that promotes individual wellness and health. You can reach Ashley via social media Facebook- Ashley Rodgers, Instagram @sewbriety360

Danica Lafortune is a community doula and community health worker has always shared information about Paid Family Leave in NJ. In 2020, Danica gave birth to her daughter and benefited from Paid Family Leave. As a working mother, Danica understands the importance of caring for her family and wants to advocate for this continued benefit so others are able to access paid family leave. Danica can be reached via social media @labor_of_love_doula_d

Lauren Zucker, PhD, is a new parent and New Jersey educator who is grateful for the paid leave benefits that allowed her to take time off from teaching to recover from birth and bond with her family. After navigating her own process from pre-pregnancy through her return to work, Lauren grew passionate about improving information and access to resources for others. Through her advocacy work with the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), Lauren helped to launch their Lactation Rights Task Force and hopes to continue to work with the NJEA to support fellow educators in her capacity as a Paid Leave Leader. Lauren writes about her work at laurenzucker.org.

Ashley Rodgers is a full-time Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Peer Advocacy Leader, in the state of NJ. Ashley has worked in the field of addiction and mental health for over seven years, providing supportive services and advocating for various populations. Professionally, Ashley also has training as a Wellness coach and Perinatal doula. Ashley’s goal is to continue building communities by providing education and support that promotes individual wellness and health. You can reach Ashley via social media Facebook- Ashley Rodgers, Instagram @sewbriety360

Rebeca Four is a political refugee, a single mother and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She has been helping parents meet their infant feeding goals since 2004 by providing education and support to families in Northern New Jersey, as a private practice provider, as a former Breastfeeding Coordinator for WIC of Hudson County, and as a former Trustee on the NJ Breastfeeding Coalition. As an entrepreneur, she has a personal vested interest in expanding the protections of paid family leave to cover New Jerseyans who are self employed, independent contractors, and gig workers. In her work supporting families, she sees first hand the impact that appropriate paid family leave can have on health outcomes of the parents she support and also on their ability to lactate and thereby the health outcomes of their babies. You can reach Rebeca via social media at @thelactationplace

Joíní James (she/they) is an avid learner, author, artist, and inspired educator. Joíní is a Madriella Certified Birth/Postpartum Doula, Yoga Teacher, photographer, PAILAdvocate, lactation educator as well as a certified Gentlebirth hypnobirth childbirth educator. Joíní has also undertaken training for cultural competency and became trauma informed in order to build a vast network of resources for all families no matter their birth outcome. Joíní is the proud Director of The Resting Garden, a space for all families but specialized to help non-traditional birthing parents and families of color. Joíní and her team currently serve Northern New Jersey as well as parts of NY. As a paid leave leader, Joíní hopes to continue to advocate for new parents who deserve the right to bond with their child or recover from their bereavement period. You can reach Joíní at therestinggardencorporation@gmail.com or via Instagram @therestinggarden

Syeda Faryal Najeeb is a Community Engagement Specialist, a substitute teacher and an avid advocate for women and children’s rights to universal home visitations for first time mothers, equal healthcare for women of color and affordable childcare for all. In her advocacy work, Faryal has met with local, state and federal policymakers and stakeholders to demand change at grassroots level for the greater good of communities. As a Paid Leave Leader, Faryal hopes to disseminate pivotal information to minorities and people of color based in NJ, who may not be aware of the local laws and their rights to paid leave, due to language barriers and lack of access to proper channels of communication. Faryal holds a Masters in Mass Communication from the University of Karachi.

Cecile Edwards, M.Ed has a passion for maternal/family wellness and believes it is a cornerstone to a well society. Cecile is a Postpartum Doula Maternal Equity Consultant and Maternal Wellness Advocate assisting organizations and companies in creating space, systems and benefits that improve maternal wellness. Cecile's looks forward to improving her knowledge of state law and advocating for paid family leave to assist families in improving their overall wellness. Cecile has a 13 year old and lives in Somerset, NJ. Cecile also blogs and is passionate about environmental concerns. You can reach Cecile at nurture@mommyevolve.com or via social media @mommyevolve

Alicia Jenks is based in Ocean County and she has a Bachelor’s of Science from University of Rhode Island and Master’s Degree in Child Advocacy and Policy from Montclair State University. During the pandemic her family learned the importance of paid leave, as her husband had to take time to care for their young children at a time when there was not any other caregiving options. Her husband having access to paid leave ensured that Alicia could focus her efforts on her full time position as a Quality Manager at a CCR&R with the peace of mind that her children were safe and nurtured. Alicia’s goal is to advocate on behalf of New Jersey families to ensure that there is equity and accessibility to quality care for young children and to ensure that all families understand their rights to the paid leave. Alicia welcomes the opportunity to hear how paid family leave has affected your family or someone that you love. Through storytelling and building community relationships Alicia believes changes can be made. To reach Alicia please contact her at Alicia.Jenks@yahoo.com

Tanasha Cockburn has a bachelor degree in electrical engineering, a cosmetology license, and worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree while working as a breastfeeding peer counselor at WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). After the birth of her 1st child during the pandemic, she realized how little paid family leave was prioritized in our society. Unfortunately, as soon as her daughter was born, she returned to work the very next day because she was unaware of her options to take paid leave. She is happy to have the opportunity to be a voice for mothers that did not have a choice about how soon they had to return to work.

Ashley Gonzalez resides in Hudson County. She is a Medical ICU and Emergency Room Nurse and has been in the healthcare field for over 13 years. She also serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. She recently became a mother and without access to adequate paid leave she was confronted with financial (and other) hardships just so she could stay at home with her newborn. She is passionate about helping others so that they do not experience such challenges when needing to take care of a loved or bond with a new child.