Our Community

Ava Eisenson

Lives in: Astoria, Queens, New York
R2B involvement: a little bit of everything and a lot of phone banking, steering committee
Pronouns: She/her

I’m an actor living and working in New York City. I grew up in Woodstock, New York, and early on my folks instilled me with a drive to pay close attention to those around me: How are they feeling? What are they up to? Are they okay? These early lessons ingrained a care for the world around me. I originally became involved with Red2Blue by attending some postcarding and phone banking parties and was very warmly welcomed by the core leadership team, and I've been hanging around ever since. I’m passionate about building a community — and a country — where everyone can thrive, and I’m grateful for the good people at Red2Blue whose heads and hearts are fearless and tireless in the work it takes to make that happen. And, my gosh, they’re smart! I’ve learned so much! 

Penni Takade

Lives in: Oakland, California
R2B involvement: Texting, steering committee
Pronouns: She/her

I retired early from being a lawyer to pursue my passions, like volunteering for a California-based abortion fund and a reproductive-justice organization, fostering kittens, and backpacking for weeks in the wilderness. But I spend most of my time working with local and national groups to support voter enfranchisement and engagement and progressive candidates — particularly lower down on the ballot — who will shape policies that make a difference in people’s everyday lives and build the bench for long-term, durable change. I stumbled upon Red2Blue in the months after the 2016 election, when I was getting to know the power of peer-to-peer texting to mobilize activists and voters. By 2018 I was organizing full-service texting campaigns for state and congressional candidates with R2B and haven't looked back! Red2Blue has been a leader in providing free high-quality texting and data analysis, but the biggest reason I spend so much of my time with R2B is the caring and fun community that makes it one of my favorite activist homes!

Christie Arlotta

Lives in: Morristown, New Jersey
R2B involvement: Texting, website, database, steering committee
Pronouns: She/her

For 10 years I was a consulting engineer designing wastewater treatment plants. In 2010, I founded the Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society and was the executive director there for over a decade. After the 2016 election, I was distraught and found R2B through a friend. I was already texting everyone I knew about getting involved, so this work seemed like a natural fit. I started on the texting team and continue to lend a hand writing and reviewing materials. I love the community that we've built here, and I love that it embraces new ideas. For example, when I suggested reviving our social media, everyone was receptive and encouraging, and we now have a fun and creative team working together to make it happen. Also, I love our Slack workspace. My favorite channel is #critter-pics (obvi).

Craig Seligman & Silvano Nova

Live in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B involvement: Phone banking, texting, postcarding, campaign co-liaisons
Pronouns: He/him

The two of us met working at Mother Jones magazine in San Francisco — Craig in the editorial department, Silvano in art. We moved to New York in 1991 and married (legally) in 2008, on our twenty-fifth anniversary. We were despondent after the debacle of 2016, and as we were trying to figure out how to respond we had the good fortune to be seated next to two of Red2Blue’s founders at a wedding reception. Since then we’ve canvassed, phone banked, texted, written copy, designed graphics, postcarded, and co-led a campaign. We feel grateful to have found R2B — it’s so much cheaper than therapy!

Rena Gill

Lives in: Mahattan, New York
R2B involvement: Postcarding hub
Pronouns: She/her

Born in PA, I've been a New Yorker since the '60s. I’ve been a performer, a clothing designer and shop owner, and a newspaper food writer. Currently, I’m preparing a manuscript (not my own) for publication. I’ve always tried to bring change: through countercultural performances, liberating clothes for women, news features about small farms. In 2017 I made bus trips to the Albany legislature with home-health-care workers advocating for decent wages, a need I became aware of through caring for seriously ill family members. The frustrations of that Albany effort led me to realize that we have to elect responsive people who are open to positive change, at every level, everywhere. Luckily a friend told me about Red2Blue, where I was excited to find people who, like me, wanted to help elect not only presidents but also progressive new candidates for state legislatures!  I’ve been texting and writing postcards and canvassing and phone banking ever since. I love both the camaraderie and the real change we help bring to people’s lives.

Julia Valen

Lives in: St. Paul, Minnesota
R2B involvement: Phone banking, postcarding
Pronouns: She/her

I normally live in New York but am working virtually and staying with family in Minnesota (where I grew up) right now. I moved to New York in 2015 to go to the Grad Acting Program at NYU, and I work as an actor with a theater and communications company called SecondBody, which is where I met Ava Eisenson, who connected me to R2B. I started out writing postcards at gatherings that Ava organized and then mustered the courage to phone bank :-). Being politically active as part of a group is a good fit for me because it helps keep me grounded in community and purpose, and I also feel like it magnifies my impact.

Rachel Brill

Lives in: San Juan, Puerto Rico
R2B involvement: Texting, canvassing
Pronouns: She/her

I grew up in Philadelphia, but I came to Puerto Rico for a clerkship after law school and stayed for the next 30 years. I’m a criminal defense attorney. I first worked as an assistant federal public defender; since 1993 I’ve been a solo practitioner. People who live in Puerto Rico can’t vote in the presidential election and have no meaningful voice in Congress. Nevertheless, after 2016 I was as distraught as everyone else and determined to get involved. My Brooklyn-based brother and sister-in-law, combined with a (Jewish) New Year’s resolution, led me to Red2Blue. I loved texting and went up to NY/NJ/PA for “The Last Weekend” in 2018. We canvassed in New Jersey and New York and poll-greeted on Election Day in the Poconos, getting out the vote in all those states and cementing my interest in staying active.

What keeps me here is not just the sense of community, but also the kind of community it is — knowledgeable, kind, encouraging, and full of a can-do attitude that never ceases to surprise me. It's as if we all know what the problem is, and we’re determined to keep moving forward and reaching higher for a better and better solution.

Aretha Miller

Lives in: Boston, Massachusetts, and Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Phone banking, strategic planning
Pronouns: She/her

I am a social entrepreneur who has spent the past 29+ years working to create opportunities designed to improve the quality of life and opportunities for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. I spend much of my time helping people, particularly leaders of color and women, build their capacity to work effectively in their roles as well as affect meaningful change and outcomes for their clients.

I joined Red2Blue in 2020 at Michelle Kedem’s invitation because she thought it would help me overcome my overwhelming sense of impotence and outrage at the shenanigans of TFG. Joining Red2Blue helped me to regain a sense of control because it gave me the opportunity to do something that would affect the outcome of the 2020 election. It also made it possible for me to be a part of a community of smart, amazing, bad-ass folks who are all engaged in the good fight. Joining Red2Blue is like playing in the major leagues.

Anne Schwartz

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Steering committee, newsletter editor, phone banking, fundraising, canvassing
Pronouns: She/her

I grew up in New York’s Hudson Valley and have lived in New York City for over 40 years. My two careers have been writing and editing about the environment and raising my two now-grown children. I've always been politically engaged, both as a volunteer and through work: editing an environmental-activism publication, doing digital communications for a nonprofit supporting advocacy and ballot measures for parks and land conservation funding, and writing a monthly column about New York City parks policy. But like so many of us, after the 2016 election I despaired of being able to do anything to make a difference. I feel so lucky to have found Red2Blue, to be part of a community that channels volunteer energy so effectively — and with such heart. I've hosted phone banks (never having done it before!), organized fundraising events, canvassed, and now produce the e-newsletter. Doing this work together with such a great group of people has truly been a lifeline during these difficult years.

Colin McDonald

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Web development
Pronouns: He/him

I live in brownstone Brooklyn with my dog, Jack (pictured), and my partner (documenting), and hail from the swing-state nexus of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I've been a web developer for years, specializing in nonprofit and education clients, but our recent political devolution hit me particularly hard given my prior work in journalism. Helping candidates tell their stories online, especially new faces with so much more to say, checks many boxes for me. It feels particularly good and important to be contributing as many of my skills as possible, as often as possible, to bringing about change. Working alongside such an incredible group of fellow volunteers sure helps, too!

Tiffany Knighten

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Social media & communications advising
Pronouns: She/her

I live and work in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, as a senior communications manager and brand curator. In 2018 I joined R2B/CST and have been rallying behind influential Democrats from New Mexico to Pennsylvania ever since. I’m very passionate about working with other talented creatives to help bring our candidates’ voices to the spotlight and look forward to seeing how our collective efforts create real impact on our communities in this election.

Elissa Holzman

Location: Croton-on-Hudson, New York
R2B involvement: Texting
Pronouns: She/her 

I live in Croton-on-Huston, among the visiting deer and wild turkeys, with my husband, two kids (when they aren't at college), and our dog, Hastings. When I'm not organizing texting campaigns, I'm at classes or my internship, studying for my master's in social work. I came to Red2Blue because I like reaching out to voters, and I've stayed because, over the years, I've come to love working directly with candidates and campaigns, supporting their voter outreach through peer-to-peer texting. In addition to being a student and texting organizer, I am also a health coach for people living with chronic illness. Like my friends here, I'm grateful to be working alongside smart and thoughtful individuals who want to make things better for everyone.

Therese Barbato

Location: Brooklyn, New York
R2B involvement: Phone banking, postcarding
Pronouns: She/her 

I am an actor, podcaster, and consultant based in Brooklyn. My lifelong friend Ava Eisenson pulled me into R2B with her trademark enthusiasm and passion. Until 2016 politics wasn't something I thought very critically or creatively about. Since then I've had a real awakening around the importance of local elections and local government. My involvement with R2B has invigorated my sense that the government is us, and that it is important to invest in local and small elections in order to affect the entire chain of the electoral process. Plus, the people are a true delight to work with, and I live for delightful people!

Riley Mulherkar

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York 
R2B involvement: Phone banking, postcarding
Pronouns: He/him

I'm a jazz musician and a proud volunteer with R2B. I was introduced to R2B's work through my partner, Therese, and with all of my gigs and tours canceled due to COVID-19, I have filled my time writing hundreds of postcards and logging as many hours as I can phone banking for candidates in Pennsylvania. I am so grateful to R2B for providing on-ramps for so many of us to get involved in these small but consequential races, and for introducing us to candidates who give us reasons for hope in such trying times.

Jenna Mandel-Ricci and Marco Ricci

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Founding members; running the Creative Support Team, which partners often with R2B
Pronouns: She/her and He/him

We've lived in Brooklyn for 20 years and have been married for 18, and we have two kids, ages 12 and 14. Marco works on film and video projects; Jenna supports hospitals in the region on emergency preparedness and response. After the 2016 election, we decided a tangible way to help would be to match up all our creative friends and neighbors with state and local candidates who needed their skills … and the Creative Support Team was born. We help Democratic candidates by building websites, designing flyers and leave-behind postcards, providing technical assistance with social media platforms, and much more. It's all possible thanks to our generous and talented volunteers. We love partnering with Red2Blue and offering our services to the candidates R2B is supporting.

Judy Lipshutz

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Phone banking, campaign co-liaison
Pronouns: She/her

I'm a nurse and a social worker and have spent most of my life doing work related to reproductive health care and social justice. I live in Park Slope with my husband, Jim. Our two adult children live close by, and we see them a lot and are so proud of the choices they've made. I play the piano and have been part of a wonderful choir for the past 15 years. I love to run and walk in Prospect Park and to hike everywhere I can. Now I look forward to a post-pandemic world and to seeing our city thrive again. Red2Blue helped me with the trauma of Trump and got me to think more locally about politics. I'm one of those weird people who love phone banking and teaching others the tricks of this trade! I've met so many wonderful people through Red2Blue and deeply appreciate the community it provides. Being part of this group gives me hope and inspiration. 

Michelle Kedem

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Texting, steering committee, little bits of everything 
Pronouns: She/her

I'm a founding partner at a company that does recruiting and consulting for the nonprofit sector, and I live in Brooklyn with my husband, two daughters, and the world’s greatest dog-cat duo. Casting about for a way to get to work after the devastating loss of 2016, I came across Red2Blue through neighbors who told me the group was forming. Since then, I've come to adore both the work we do and the community we've built. Not only do I love the volunteers I get to work alongside, I’ve also become friends with some candidates - many now legislators! - that we've supported.

Peg Byron

Lives in: Mystic, Connecticut
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Phone banking, newsletter
Pronouns: She/her

Raised in upstate New York, I pursued romantic adventures typical for my time: hitchhiking around Europe, dishwashing in Provincetown, arriving penniless in New York City, eventually moving to Brooklyn. Sure, we’ve all had our ups and downs, but for me, luck bloomed when I had the superb fortune to meet other post-2016 desperadoes as part of R2B. Such a focused, effective, super-supportive group! And here’s the thing: whether I can give a lot of time or just a little, it feels worthwhile and I always feel appreciated and connected. Now that I’ve relocated and am volunteering more remotely, that connection is even sweeter.

Isabel Byron

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Founding member, steering committee, four-time campaign co-liaison, phone banking
Pronouns: She/her

I live in Brooklyn with my husband and our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild: old-style, multiple generations, separate apartments, same house. LUCKY! I began my professional career as a high school English teacher in the New York City public schools, went on to teach on the college level, created a consulting firm that specialized in the visitor experience at cultural institutions, and now work just about full-time on our Red2Blue efforts. I have always been politically active (many marches - civil rights, human rights, women's rights - from Clean for Gene in 1968 through Obama), and I saw no possibility of retirement post-2016. In Red2Blue I have found a community of committed, smart, passionate activists who never cease to amaze me and teach me. I could not have made it through without Red2Blue and the work we do.

Janice McGuire

Lives in: Brooklyn, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Postcarding hub, steering committee, campaign co-liaison
Pronouns: She/her

I’m a lifelong New Yorker - with a few brief stops in other places - but my major move has been from the Bronx to Brooklyn, where I've happily spent the last 48 years (yikes!) with as many long breaks as possible to indulge my love of worldwide travel. While I started college as a chemistry major (and still love both science and sci-fi), I quickly redirected my energies, first into teaching and then into community-based youth services, which I continue post-retirement on a volunteer basis. I live with my husband on State Street, and our home has essentially become the back office of the Red2Blue postcarding operation. LIke others, I needed - and was fortunate to find - a like-minded and deeply passionate group of people in Red2Blue, through whom I’ve been able to redirect my deep distress at the turn our world has taken into more productive directions.

Laura Stout

Lives in: Manhattan, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Postcard design and writing, canvassing, phone banking
Pronouns: She/her

Originally from the Seattle area, I moved east to study painting at the Yale School of Art. I’ve now been a New Yorker for 32 years. I live in Battery Park City with my partner, Heidi, also a volunteer. We were looking for a way to get involved post-2016 and were introduced to Red2Blue by our friend Janice McGuire. I feel fortunate to have found a group of like-minded, inspiring comrades.

Heidi Owen

Lives in: Manhattan, New York
R2B/Creative Support Team involvement: Postcarding, canvassing, phone banking, campaign co-liaison
Pronouns: She/her

I was born and raised on Staten Island, and, after scattered years in North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee, Manhattan has been my home for the past three decades. I grew up with a politically involved father who was an active union member. From as early as I can remember, dinner-table discussions included world events and politics. When I was introduced to Red2Blue, I felt at home again, surrounded by dedicated people who care about community and the state of our country. Thanks, Dad, for teaching me so much as a young citizen, and to R2B for allowing me to continue my journey with your guidance!