Staff

JAMES HASLAM
Executive Director

James co-founded Rights & Democracy after serving as the Executive Director at the Vermont Workers’ Center for over 15 years. He has extensive experience in running grassroots legislative advocacy campaigns, labor and community organizing. He can be reached at james@radvt.org

ISAAC GRIMM
Organizing Director

Since it’s inception, Isaac has helped build RAD as canvass director, lead organizer, and political engagement director in Vermont, knocking doors around the state, building organizing teams, and then coordinating lobbying, coalition building and statewide electoral campaigns. Previously, he worked as co-canvass director with the Working Families Party and organizer for SEIU helping thousands of adjunct faculty form a union. A University of Vermont (UVM) grad and former Vermont Workers’ Center intern, he also worked as a high school social studies teacher in Cali, Colombia for 5 years. He can be reached at isaac@radnh.org

KATE LOGAN
Director of Programming and Policy

Kate is a feminist social and political theory scholar, specializing in family policy, participatory democracy, and human rights, as well as a having a background in labor and community organizing and nonprofit management. Working for Rights & Democracy gives her the opportunity to put all of these passions and skills to use in helping to build a more just and sustainable future. You can reach her at kate@radvt.org.

KEVIN PENTZ
Lead Organizer

Kevin Pentz and his family have lived in Kentucky for the last 20 years. He has worked as an organizer for Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, first as a chapter organizer for several counties in eastern Kentucky and more recently as an issue organizer focused on resource extraction issues related primarily to coal mining. Before that he worked briefly as an organizer for Montana People’s Action in Bozeman MT. Kevin and his wife, Amy, have a two year old son, Eli. They are all looking forward to exploring the New Hampshire woods. Kevin’s family has owned a camp on Norton Pond in the northeast corner of Vermont since the early 60’s. kevin@radnh.org.

HEATHER STOCKWELL
Grassroots Organizer

Heather has been a resident of New Hampshire for almost 50 years. She attended college in Boston and New York, only to return to New Hampshire after her studies. She currently lives in her hometown where she started her own family in the house she grew up in. She is one of the founding members of the Monadnock Progressive Alliance, a local chapter of Rights & Democracy NH. She aspires to apply what she’s learned over the last two years by using these experiences across the Granite State. Contact: heather@radnh.org

ALISSANDRA RODRIGUEZ-MURRAY
Regional Organizer

Alissandra has lived in and loved New Hampshire since she was five years old. The child of immigrants, she is deeply committed to empathetic legislation and dismantling the racist structures within our government. Alissandra is currently studying communications and political science, and comes from a background working in public libraries. With a background in biodynamic farming, she knows that fighting for a Green New Deal is necessary for our survival. Alissandra was a volunteer with Rights & Democracy as a member of the Healthcare Justice committee and leader of the Progressive Manchester chapter before joining staff. You can reach her at alissandra@radnh.org

ALI BROKENSHIRE
Regional Organizer

For nearly two decades, Ali has been on the front lines of community and political engagement through electoral organizing in New Hampshire and Vermont. As a single mother, caretaker, and fellow Granite Stater she is a staunch advocate for social and economic justice, universal healthcare as a human right, and voter rights and access. Forever a nerd at heart, Ali knows to her core that through all of time and space there is no such thing as an unimportant person, and she is committed to amplifying our collective voice to build a more equitable future for the generations ahead. She can be reached at ali@radnh.org

ANNIE SCHWARTZ
Digital Engagement Coordintor

Annie was born and raised in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She previously has worked in digital engagement as an ambassador for Syracuse University, from which she holds a B.F.A. She is a practicing artist whose work addresses issues of climate change and is passionate about engaging with her community and beyond around social issues. You can reach her at annie@radnh.org

SHAY TOTTEN
Communications Director

Shay grew up in the Northeast Kingdom and as a writer and publisher has worked to give voice to people organizing on a variety of issues, from labor, LGBTQ and disability rights to the environmental justice and anti-war movements, and more. A graduate of Bennington College, he has served on the boards of the Vermont Press Association, the Peace & Justice Center, the Keep BT Local Coop, Burlington Friends of Education, and was a founding board member of RAD. You can reach him at shay@radvt.org.

HILARY VIENS
Operations Director

Hilary is a clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience working with non-profits. Before devoting her time to RAD, Hilary served as Director of Programs and Assistant Director with several non-profits on the East Coast. Hilary provides national consulting services on capacity building related to infrastructure development as well as HIV prevention, and is an experienced federal grants reviewer. You can reach her at hilary@radvt.org.