As the Equity Learning Manager, Amelia, will manage our organizaton’s learnings and implementation of our diversity and equity programs.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Amelia led learning and culture initiatives across mission-driven organizations, focusing on improving employee engagement, retention, and equitable practices. With a graduate degree in education and a background in learning and coaching, she designed impactful development opportunities, promoted inclusive talent management practices, and partnered with leaders to build more people-centered workplaces. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to creating environments where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

As the Director of Finance, Stephanie oversees our organizaton’s accounting and financial systems and processes.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Stephanie has worked in accounting and finance roles across various industries both in the for-profit and non-profit realm, but found true passion in positions related to social impact and civil liberties work.

Stephanie is a proud first-generation college graduate with her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Accounting. She has recently earned the Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) designation with a goal to continue helping mission-driven organizations and communities achieve financial literacy and sustainability.

As the Vice President of Impact, Acacia leads narrative campaigns with the Accelerate Change media network and partner movement organizations.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Acacia directed institution-wide social media communications and marketing strategy at institutions of higher education. Acacia holds an MS from Columbia University in the City of New York, an MA from the University of Rochester and a BA from Vassar College.

As Director of People Operations , LaTondria will lead the People Operations Department and create strategies to make People Operations more effective, efficient, and inclusive.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, LaTondria held a variety of progressively responsible HR roles over the past 16 years in several industries with mission driven work being the most meaningful to her. LaTondria holds a B.S. in Biology, Management, and a MBA in Human Resources Management. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification and brings a wealth of knowledge to the People Operations team. 

As an Impact Campaigns Associate, Rida will help support our issues-based digital campaigns across our ecosystem of partners.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Rida received her undergraduate degree from NYU and lived in New York City for four years, then worked at Buzzfeed as a content strategist. After that, Rida pursued and finished her masters in Journalism and South Asian studies in London.

As Senior Finance Associate, Safwan helps support our finance team with our internal accounting processes and systems.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Safwan worked with marginalized and underrepresented communities seeking support in various forms, including mental health services, refugee youth services, and JDEI efforts in the workplace. In whatever capacity, Safwan strives for a world where all people achieve liberation.

As the Chief Operating Officer, Shirley oversees the financial and operational efficiency across the organization and networks.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Shirley served as the Managing Director at Exposure Labs, a film and social impact company. In this role, she implemented administrative structures and fostered a culture centered around people and values.

A Chicago native, Shirley is rooted in movement building, art, media, and justice –prioritizing building community and transformational change at all levels. She believes art is a right, not a privilege, and envisions a future where BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, and other marginalized communities have the freedom to share their stories and pursue their dreams.

As Finance Manager, Maho manages our finance processes and systems.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, all of my work history was in the hospitality industry. I’ve worked from dishwasher to server to line cook to GM and bookkeeper. This is my first non-profit-related work, and I am so excited to translate my hospitality experience into non-profit work and learn so many new things!

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Lina worked in roles spanning across project management, people operations, and talent development in nonprofits and higher education. She has experience working with marginalized communities and BIPOC youth, actively building programs and advocating for equitable opportunities, access to resources, and capacity-building efforts in the Seattle Metropolitan area and Bay Area.

Lina is a first-generation college graduate with an interdisciplinary BA in Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change (sponsored by the Sociology department) from the University of Southern California.

As Head of Data Analytics, Eboni leads our Data Analytics Department.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Eboni helped complete research and provided data analytics support to non-profits in different sectors, with her most recent role having her lead data equity work at one of the leading early childhood development non-profits in the nation. She was a Posse Scholar who attended Pepperdine University and received a BA in Psychology and a Certificate in Conflict Management. She then moved to London to pursue a Master’s of Science in Clinical, Social, and Cognitive Neuroscience from City, University of London. She has also successfully completed a Data Science certificate program.

As a Sr. Operations Associate, Alo supports our finance and operations processes and projects.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Alondra held roles in business operations in publishing and biotechnology startups.

As Director of Operations, Bisrat manages our finance and operations processes and projects.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Bisrat worked as a Policy Aide for the Minneapolis City Council and as an Analyst for the City’s Health Department. He has served in local government at the state, county, and city levels. His passions include dismantling structural inequities among disenfranchised communities and making long-term positive impact.

Bisrat graduated from the University of St. Thomas in the Twin Cities with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Public Health.

As Manager of the Executive Office, Adna supports the work of Peter Murray and Lea Madry.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Adna provided administrative support to executives in the healthcare and fashion industries.

Adna graduated with a BS in Mass Communications, with an emphasis in Public Relations.

As Project Manager of the Executive Office, Celina supports the work of Peter Murray and Lea Madry.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Celina’s career primarily focused on digital marketing and project management, supporting a variety of digital agencies and organizations. 

Celina holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, with a minor in Spanish Language from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as well as an MBA from the same university.

As Development & Communications Manager, Brooke manages our fundraising processes and systems.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Brooke gained invaluable experience in the fundraising sector, working with non-profit organizations dedicated to conservation and environmental advocacy. Her career has been marked by a deep commitment to supporting causes she deeply cares about.

With a strong foundation in understanding the intersection of environmental issues and social change, Brooke holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, specializing in Policy, Politics, and Justice from Seattle University. She further enhanced her skills with a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the University of Washington.

As an Influencer Engagement & Experimentation Manager, Julia helps manage our influencer experimentation and helps manage relationships with our partner influencer networks.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Julia was an early adopter of blogging and influencer marketing who leveraged her blogging experience into a role at an influencer marketing agency where she led and executed influencer programs for a variety of brands.

As Vice President of People, Patty supports and guides the People area, which includes the following: the People Operations Department, the Talent Acquisition function, and the People Strategy and Innovation function.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Patty contributed for seven years to the operations and HR teams at Lesbians Who Tech, an organization devoted to supporting LGBTQ communities in tech and their allies. Most recently she served as the Head of Operations at MobilizeGreen, an organization placing diverse interns in National Parks to do STEM based conservation work, helping them to jumpstart their Green Careers. 

Patty graduated with a B.A. in Communications from George Washington University and an M.F.A in Creative Writing from New York University. 

As Sr.Director of the Executive Office, Frank leads our Executive Office department.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Frank’s career primarily centered around news, nonprofits, community, and social advocacy work. He studied political science and international relations at Northern Arizona University and has a master’s in social justice and human rights from Arizona State. Frank has received state and national awards for his work in media.

As a Grants Manager, Jenny manages our fundraising processes and systems.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Jenny worked in the higher education and international education field. She implemented programs and structures for BIPOC communities, and advocated for equitable and accessible opportunities in higher education, college access programs, and increasing funds for BIPOC communities. She has experience working in grant writing, financial aid offices and with stakeholders during her time in the nonprofit and higher education sector.

Jenny is a proud first-generation college graduate with her BA in Urban Studies from Worcester State University and a Master’s Degree from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She is also an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy. 

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Alison held various roles within the tech sector focused on environmental justice and data accessibility. Some notable projects include mapping pollinator corridors in Minneapolis and leading a site feasibility analysis for the City of Phoenix’s Cool Corridors program with NASA. 

Alison earned her bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and is presently pursuing a master’s degree at Georgia Tech.

As Talent Acquisition Manager, Mari manages the full life cycle of recruiting and hiring across Accelerate Change.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Mari held several non-profit roles striving to create educational equity for students from under-resourced communities. She graduated from Carleton College and is a proud Posse Alum.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Mila held various roles in tech support and customer service.

As the Head of Technology, Lucien leads our Technology Department.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Lucien was an IT Consultant and helped develop and execute companies’ business strategies and integrate new and advanced technologies. Lucien was also the Director of IT for an international cannabis startup.

As Chief Program Officer, Kim oversees our programs and directly oversees relationships with partners in the Accelerate Media Network.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Kim spent two decades in digital media, including 11 years at Nickelodeon, where she focused on digital programming and social media. Kim also has a deep start-up background, having developed digital content in the earliest stages of companies like Upworthy, WebLab, and About.com.

Kim made the transition from corporate to nonprofit work in 2017, after the state of racial justice in the U.S. ignited her desire for more purpose-driven work. She spent 2 years as a digital strategy consultant for nonprofits just prior to coming to Accelerate Change. 

As Vice President of Media Investments & Acquisitions, Darrell oversees our investments in and acquisitions of cultural media properties, accounts, and networks.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Darrell was co-founder and CEO of PushBlack, the largest non-profit media platform for Black Americans. Earlier in his career, he ran racial equity trainings and served as a fellow with the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Mike studied UX design at Prime Digital Academy with a focus on inclusive and human-centered design thinking. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication from the University of Minnesota.

As People and Culture Manager, Chelsea oversees performance management processes, guides staff on professional development, and works with staff and managers to ensure that we have a workplace where our team can thrive.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Chelsea worked as the People and Culture Associate at The Trevor Project, where she designed and executed inclusive strategies, internal culture communications, and spearheaded DEI initiatives. In addition, Chelsea worked numerous years within Talent Acquisition for The Trevor Project and TEKsystems, where she was responsible for managing full-cycle sourcing, hiring, and onboarding a diverse set of the world’s top talent. Chelsea is a New York native and a college graduate with a BBA from Bryant University.

As Content Design Manager, Micah supports the Content Department and oversees content design projects.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Micah was a UX Researcher / Experience Designer, designing technology to be more inclusive and human-centered. On the side, Micah was also a Creative Healing Coach for children of immigrants, advocating for mental health through healing arts.

As Vice President of Finance and Operations, leads and supports the financial and operational efficiency across the organization.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Taura enjoyed a long career working in nonprofit organizations providing leadership for mission-related programs and overall operations.  Taura recently started providing consulting services to small and medium nonprofit organizations focused on humanitarian initiatives to help streamline operational systems and make service delivery more efficient.

As Sr. Advisor, Jenn supports and guides the organization in assessing technological risks and security for the organization and network.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Jenn was a technology leader at several mission-driven organizations supporting a range of causes from free school supplies for underprivileged children to research and education for people affected by kidney disease. Most recently, Jenn was providing strategic governance technology consulting to nonprofit executives.

As Director of Program Operations, Jaya leads our tech and chatbot team and advises on tech-enabled experimentation across our networks.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Jaya provided marketing and advertising services to small businesses across the Southeast. She has a degree in English: Creative Writing at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. During their time at university, they launched a social justice program that connected university students with community activists to deepen the relationships between the campus and the city of Chattanooga.

As the Vice Preside of Digital Strategy, Sahil supports the Accelerate Change ecosystem partners in building engaged audience relationships and reaching revenue self-sustainability. The Digital Strategy area includes the following departments: Content and Experimentation Support, Growth and Influencer Engagement. 

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Sahil worked on strategy and creative at various early-stage startups at the intersection of education, technology and media. Earlier in his career, Sahil was a high school special education teacher and consultant for an education nonprofit. A California native, Sahil holds a BS from the University of California, Berkeley and MS from the City University of New York, Hunter College

As Director of Content Experimentation, Maria manages content experimentation with the Central Team and in collaboration with our network.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Maria was an entrepreneur and owner of an Austin-based vintage clothing store, Passport Vintage. Since 2016 Maria has volunteered and worked with nonprofits that focus on civic engagement and Latino-focused issues. She has worked as a digital media consultant for Jolt Texas and a Texas Federal Senatorial campaign. Maria is a Texas A&M University-Commerce alumn.

As Content Production Manager, Richie runs content experiments and contributes his video production and scriptwriting skills to our Content Studio.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Richie had roles in marketing and events with Truth, a non-profit aiming to end Big Tobacco and teen smoking. Richie also worked freelance on various short film and episodic film sets in the D.C. area as a producer, production assistant, and camera grip. After college, Richie worked at credit unions in the mortgage lending field, before transitioning to his current role with Accelerate Change.

As President, Peter co-leads Accelerate Change with our Executive Director, Lea Madry. In their shared leadership model, Peter leads our network of media partners and Lea leads our digital media lab.

Peter has spent over 20 years at the intersection of entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and progressive impact. He created one of the first digital fundraising platforms, led a progressive training institute, was part of the founding team of CrowdTangle, a leading social media monitoring platform, was a Tides Foundation Fellow researching large-scale citizen organizations, ran a community-based construction company, and was previously selected for Fast Company Magazine’s “Fast 50,” which honors 50 leaders from around the world who are reshaping their sectors.

As Executive Director, Lea co-leads Accelerate Change with our President, Peter Murray. In their shared leadership model, Lea leads our digital media lab and partners with Peter in his leadership of our network of media partners.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Lea held leadership roles overseeing the business, people, fundraising, and strategy functions at nonprofits focused on food systems, education access, power building, and anti-racism. Most recently, Lea served as Chief of Staff at the Trevor Project. Earlier in her career, Lea was a transactional attorney at a large national law firm before leaving the legal profession to pursue her commitment to social impact.

An Ohio native, Lea is a proud first-generation college graduate with a BA from the Ohio State University and JD from the University of Chicago Law School.

As Partner Integration Manager, Habibah manages operational support with our partners.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Habibah worked as the Quality and Innovations Manager for Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM), a non-profit whose mission is to partner with local communities in Houston Texas to build stable families, a dynamic workforce, and vibrant communities. 

Habibah graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and worked in the Oil and Gas industry in a number of different roles before transitioning to the nonprofit field in 2021 for more purpose-driven work.

As Development Manager, Ceci manages our fundraising processes and systems.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Cecilia worked as an advocate for immigrant & worker rights in communities across Texas. 

Cecilia is a proud first-generation college student who earned her BA from St. Edward’s University and a Master’s degree from Tarleton State University.

As Director of Talent Acquisition, Sterling oversees the Talent Acquisition team and manages the full life cycle of recruiting and hiring across Accelerate Change.

Prior to joining Accelerate Change, Sterling worked in project management for nonprofits, real estate acquisitions, business operations, and the legal field. Sterling earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati.