Our Staff

Rachel (she/her) builds strategic partnerships and coalitions and works with MPA department leaders to set campaign strategy for electoral and legislative campaigns.

Rachel is Campaigns Director at Maine People’s Alliance. She previously served as Deputy Field Director at Bend the Arc Jewish Action. She got her start organizing in high school with the Sierra Student Coalition almost 25 years ago. Rachel loves camping and hiking, book clubs, co-ops, and breastfeeding.

Cate (she/her) leads the development of MPA’s policy agenda and legislative strategy, in close collaboration with members and allies, to advance our mission and meet the moment.

Cate has spent her career working to connect the people most excluded from state and local decision making to the process and supporting them in shaping solutions. She has worked on housing, hunger, consumer protections, fiscal policy, establishing universal benefits like retirement and paid leave, and many other issues. She holds a BA from UMaine and Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, which she’s using to ensure other people don’t need advanced degrees to feel like they belong in developing policy solutions. She lives in Isleboro with her husband and two children.

Jodi (she/her) organizes people of all faiths to build power.

Jodi has been grounding a community of faith in the discipline and practice of radical love for more than two decades. She served publicly as clergy voice advocating for justice and supported others in doing the same. Working with my people to nurture and develop a culture that recognizes hope, grief, joy, and holy rage as equally sacred expressions of love. Jodi grew up outside of Boston, attended seminary in Chicago, and was called to serve as the minister of First Universalist in Auburn.

With a bachelor’s degree in business management, Jackie (she/her) ensures smooth operations in the administrative department. 

Originally from Massachusetts, Jackie is driven by a strong passion for social justice and she aims to make a positive impact in her new community with her role at MPA. Outside of work, she enjoys immersing herself in the vibrant arts and music scene, frequently attending concerts and festivals. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she finds solace in camping, hiking, and exploring Maine’s scenic landscapes on ATVs. Her interests extend to holistic medicine, where she holds a certification as a Master Herbalist.

Gus (he/him) advances MPA’s policy agenda and grows the power of our members with lawmakers and administration officials.

Gus joined MPA as Legislative Strategist in 2025. His experience in organizing began advocating for state-level climate action and expanded when he banded together with his fellow EMTs and paramedics to unionize his ambulance agency. After four years in emergency medicine, he pursued a master’s degree studying policy and political economy to address the social structures causing the problems he saw as an EMT. He has since organized on political campaigns and advocated for universal economic rights like childcare and healthcare; workplace and democracy in the form of unions, workers’ rights, and employee ownership; and progressive monetary policy. Gus is an avid reader, writer, backpacker, guitar-player, sailor, lifter, and triathlete.

Nora (she/her) leads MPA’s communications and media programs.

Nora is honored to bring the voices, perspectives and concerns of MPA’s members into the public sphere, and to bring a strongly progressive voice into the state conversation. Nora holds a BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an MA in Anthropology from the University of Michigan. Before she worked at Maine People’s Alliance, Nora was an award-winning public radio reporter and host for 20 years. She lives in southern Maine with her family and enjoys thrift shopping, movies, and crafting.

Kate (she/her) designs and implements communications strategies and projects, including running our social media platforms.

Kate started at MPA in 2023 and has worked in writing and communications in one capacity or another since earning her BA in journalism in 2014. Her writing has been published in the Washington Post, Teen Vogue, SELF, Bustle, and many Maine newspapers and magazines. She first combined her love of storytelling and desire to make the world better in 2018 when she started working at the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund as a digital organizer. Kate loves reading and has more books than her house can hold. She lives in Portland with her husband and their cat.

Jesse (he/him) helps lead MPA strategy, organizational management, and fundraising. He staffs the MPA board of directors.

Jesse grew up in Weld, Maine, and started working at MPA shortly after graduating from college in 1999. During his time at MPA Jesse has worked as a door-to-door canvass director, community organizer, Associate Director, Executive Director and Co-Director. He runs MPA’s longest running campaign to hold Holtrachem accountable for dumping mercury into the Penobscot river, and has a successful track record of wins within that campaign. Jesse lives with his family in Bar Harbor and can be found playing basketball at the MDI YMCA in his free time.

Amy (she/her) helps lead MPA strategy, organizational management, and fundraising. She staffs the MPA board of directors.

Amy started her career in social change knocking on doors and community organizing with MPA in 2001. Over the past two decades, Amy has helped grow MPA’s field, organizing and communications programs. She served in many roles at MPA before becoming Co-Director, including managing the successful ballot initiative campaign to increase Maine’s minimum wage. She is a graduate of Bates College, lives with her family in Freeport, and spends her free time running, watching her sons play baseball and hockey, gardening, and cross country skiing.

Mohamed (he/him) leads the immigration work for the organization. He spends his time building partnerships and networking with leaders of different immigrant communities in Maine.

Mohamed speaks four languages fluently and wants to learn a fifth one. He is passionate about how new Mainers could have a seat at the decision-making table and build a progressive youth leadership.

Charlotte (she/her) builds power with parents and child care providers to fight for a child care system that children, families, and educators deserve.

Charlotte started at MPA in June 2025 as a community organizing fellow and became a community organizer in January 2026. She also works as a program director in early childhood education and has over a decade of experience in the field. She has helped lead statewide organizing efforts, lobbied on federal child care legislation, and contributed to policy and coalition work advancing workforce stabilization, family affordability, and universal child care. Charlotte serves on the Scarborough Board of Education and the National Early Childhood Education Workforce Early Educator Advisory Board. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, and paddle boarding with her two kids.

Carrie (she/her) discovers and develops leaders in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Carrie initially joined MPA by volunteering to knock on doors for universal home care, and then stayed to lobby legislators on just about everything. She loves little more than using her editing background to help other Mainers speak their truth in their own words. She has her PhD in English, lives in Lewiston with her family (consisting of husband, two school-aged children, and dog), and can be found singing soprano in the Maine Music Society Chorale and reading novels of dubious literary merit.

Nyawal (she/her) oversees housing organizing projects with MPA and manages Housing Justice Maine, a statewide coalition.

Nyawal joined MPA as the housing community organizer in June 2023 after having been a part of Housing Justice Maine since 2021. As the housing organizer, Nyawal oversees and collaborates with organizers and activists throughout the state to help amplify the experiences of people directly impacted by housing. A huge part of her role consists of engaging tenants monthly and hosting community conversations around tenant rights. Prior to working at MPA, Nyawal organized for several years in the Portland area, focusing on issues such as education reform and immigrant housing rights. Nyawal lives in Portland with her husband and three children and enjoys being active in her South Sudanese community of Maine as often as possible.

Genevieve (she/her) joined MPA in 2005 knocking on doors, and now serves as Organizing Director. She is the co-founder and President of Movement Building Maine.

She began with MPA leading our civic engagement campaign in 2008 and registering 4,000 new voters. Since then, she has worked on organizing campaigns on the issues of healthcare, affordable housing, worker justice, and fair taxes, at the local, state, and national levels. Her desire to work for social change has been shaped both by her education and her life experiences. Since she was a young child, Genevieve has traveled, volunteered and studied in more than 20 countries in Europe, and in Haiti and Ghana. She traces her commitment to and grounding in community building to her Waldorf education and the guidance of her parents, both long-time social activists. Genevieve loves working in her vegetable garden, cooking, writing, biking, snowboarding and spending time with her family and friends. She lives in her hometown of Lewiston.

Drew (he/him) runs our Portland canvass, which is currently focused on talking to people about climate change and finding new MPA members.

Drew started at MPA as a field canvasser in 2025 and was quickly promoted to Portland canvass director. He previously worked with adults with intellectual disabilities and also worked on the re-election campaign for Sen. Sherrod Brown in Drew’s home state of Ohio. While earning his degree in political science at Ohio Northern University, Drew was president of the student body, president of the College Democrats, and worked for the Institute for Civics and Public Policy. He was drawn to MPA for the opportunity to talk to people, bridge the gap, and do everything possible to stop America’s slide toward authoritarianism. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, climbing, kayaking, exploring new places, and cooking.

Logan (he/him) runs our state canvass, which is currently focused on identifying new MPA members and donors.

Logan joined MPA in 2023. He comes from a long line of political activists and union organizers. Previously, he lived in the Netherlands, where he owned and ran restaurants for more than 15 years. When he returned to the U.S. he got involved in political work, doing everything from phone canvassing to campaign management. Before coming to MPA he worked with the Center for Popular Democracy, an MPA partner. He specializes in deep canvassing and is passionate about workers rights, climate initiatives, and taxing billionaires. Logan lives in Bangor with his wife and two cats, and outside of work he enjoys boxing, reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors. 

Mike (he/him) supports people in Western Maine to build relationships and take action. 

Mike was a founding member of the Norway MPA Chapter and later joined the staff to help develop our membership throughout Western Maine, a place he was born and raised. Mike has had stints as an Outward Bound instructor, alternative education teacher and a small business owner. He took A Rising Tide’s campaign leadership training course in 2004 and has worked on local candidate and statewide issue campaigns ever since, even landing a spot on the MSAD17 School Board in 2024. Off the job, Mike loves playing music, community theater, running, biking, Nordic and backcountry skiing, and getting curled up on the bed with his wife, daughter, two cats and the dog. (No chickens inside the house!)

Leah (she/her) runs our canvass team, which is currently focused on upcoming ballot initiatives and finding new MPA members.

Leah started at MPA in the summer of 2025 as a senior field manager before being promoted to canvass director in the fall. She enjoys canvassing because of the opportunity to learn from people about how politics impacts their lives and empowering them to impact policy. Leah earned her BA in political science from Boston University and got her start in politics by advocating for a red flag law in Massachusetts, working on fossil fuel divestment campaigns, and organizing the Portland Climate Strike in 2022. Leah grew up in Denmark, ME, and Andover, MA, and currently lives in Portland. Outside of work, she enjoys improv comedy, watching live music, snowboarding, dancing, and figure skating.

Esther (she/her) organizes the MPA project Maine Student Action, oversees MPA’s internship program, and is one of the hosts of the Maine Beacon podcast.

Esther grew up in Western Maine and credits her energy for political activism to her parents instilling a need for justice in her from a young age. In 2016, Esther interned at MPA while getting her Masters in Social Work and waiting tables. Her first project as an intern was working on the minimum wage campaign. She spoke to reporters, gave testimony, presented in classrooms, and much more. Now she gets to help other students and young people have similar experiences! Esther currently lives in South Portland with her rescue dog Barney where she is currently planning her next Halloween costume and trivia night.

Jennie (she/her) oversees major organizational projects and coordinates with all of our administrative staff.

Jennie has worked with MPA since 2009 first as a community organizer leading our chapter in Portland and our statewide healthcare work. She then worked as the Campaign Manager for the successful Medicaid Expansion ballot initiative in 2017, for which she received a national “Health Advocate of the Year” award from Families USA for her work empowering Medicaid recipients to provide leadership in the expansion of Medicaid coverage in Maine. She served as MPA’s Organizing Director from 2018-2022. She lives in South Portland with her husband, daughter, dog and two cats, and loves reading and being outdoors.

Julie (she/her) connects people in York County who want to create a more just and fair world, developing new leaders along the way.

The first time Julie used her voice to stop injustices was at 8 years old when she sent a postcard to protest the baby seal hunt in Canada. Throughout her life, she has attended numerous protests and rallies in DC and other cities and has volunteered with a variety of nonprofits. She started at MPA in 2025 and loves meeting new people and connecting them to the work they are passionate about. Originally from upstate New York, Julie now lives in Saco with her husband and multiple pets. She loves to be outside and can be found hiking and walking the beach in warmer weather. She also loves to bake and cook, and is a big fan of car racing. Her happy place is at a drag show.

Jordan (he/him) runs our Bangor canvass, which is currently focused on talking to people about climate change and finding new MPA members.

Jordan started at MPA in 2024 as a field canvasser and became the Bangor canvass field manager in 2025. He previously worked in sustainability and energy planning and has a degree in earth and environmental science from the University of Texas at Arlington. He became interested in environmental activism while growing up in Arlington and seeing the effects of urban fracking on people’s health and wellbeing. He was drawn to MPA by the deep canvass on developing an offshore wind power port as well as the opportunity to reach people across Maine. Outside of work, Jordan enjoys backpacking, kayaking, and learning about local ecology.

Megan (she/her) brings a wealth of electoral organizing experience to MPA and develops leaders in the Bangor area.

Megan was previously Chair of the Penobscot County Democratic Committee and has firsthand experience as a candidate for the state legislature. She has also worked on local campaigns, including most recently, Mike Tipping’s State Senate campaign. She also joined the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016 and previously spent 14 years as an E-rate consultant, helping school districts secure federal funding for essential technology needs. Megan grew up in Vassalboro and has deep roots in the Penobscot Valley. Her journey as a single mother at 17 gives her a unique perspective on the challenges many Mainers face today. With Maliseet heritage through her mother, Megan also maintains strong connections to Maine’s tribal communities. She has a deep love for live music and has a profound appreciation for film and the art of storytelling to make change. In her free time, Megan cherishes quality moments with her family, friends, and pets.

Channa (she/her) writes and manages content for MPA’s online news publication, Maine Beacon.

Channa joined MPA in 2024 after earning her Masters in Journalism at Northwestern University. Her passion for storytelling and media is rooted in a desire to understand humans, share marginalized voices and build connections. While previously reporting in Kansas City, she won awards for her coverage on youth entrepreneurs and religion. As a second-generation immigrant, Channa cares deeply about creating a safe and welcoming community for everyone. Outside of the professional realm, Channa is working on becoming an amateur figure skater and semi-expert coffee connoisseur.

Bridget (she/her) leads our administrative and field teams, making sure the organization runs smoothly and that we have tens of thousands of conversations with Mainers across the state every year.

Bridget has been canvassing, fundraising, and managing for 30 years. She has had leadership roles in every campaign MPA has run since 2006, including overseeing signature collection and petition management for every ballot campaign. Bridget lives with her family in Gorham.

Sophia (she/her) supports MPA’s day-to-day operations in our Portland office.

Born and raised in Virginia, Sophia moved to Portland in 2023 after graduating from Smith College with degrees in dance and Italian. She started at MPA in 2026 and is very excited to bring her skills in administrative work to an organization that supports her passion for fighting for progressive issues and building working class power. Sophia is the vice chair of the Portland Tenants Union and spends a lot of her free time thinking about how to build tenant power in Portland and beyond. Outside of that, she loves hosting dinner parties, cooking elaborate breakfasts, dancing, being by the ocean, and reading.

Mike (he/him) does issue research for MPA.

Mike started at MPA as a field canvasser in our Bangor office. He went on to serve as Communications Director for several years, during which time he founded our news website, Maine Beacon. Mike is a hobbyist woodworker and represents District 8 in the Maine Senate. He wrote a book on Maine politics, As Maine Went, in 2014 and has written as a political columnist for the Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News, Kennebec Journal and Down East Magazine. He lives in Orono with his wife and two children.