Our Team

FOUNDERS
	Alaina LaTourette was raised in Syanon, an experimental community in California where she learned to view people as individuals rather than differentiating by race, gender, or religion. Those values stayed with her and have gone on to influence her parenting, advocacy, and activism. Alaina participated in three previous women's rights marches in Washington, and is one of the founders of We are Woman. As Lead Coordinator she helped secure the permit and is currently working on Rally Planning and Logistics.
	Erin Nanasi is a former stay-home mom who began writing a little over a year ago. Much to her amazement, she is now the senior columnist at Mad Mike's America. Erin has lived all over the country and prides herself on her gift for assimilation. Erin created the We Are Warriors video for Mad Mike's, to vent and try and get America to listen and fight back against the GOP. She is honored to be involved with We Are Woman, and thrilled to be working with such bright, energetic and passionate people.
	Jenni Siri is an Indiana resident and mother to a grown son and daughter. A self employed 3D graphic artist with a B.F.A in Visual Communications, she has worked in graphic design, art restoration, picture framing, and elementary education. Jenni is an activist for Progressive issues and has worked extensively on projects related to the threat of 'Corporate Personhood'. She is one of the original founders of We Are Woman, and her primary focuses are overall organizing, visual communications, graphics, social networking, and volunteer coordination. She has created our blog, forums, and our store.
	Wendy Cartwright cites Hillary Clinton and Rosa Parks as her role models. She believes strongly that no one should be afraid to stand up for his or her rights and beliefs and that it is our responsibility to fight this fight for both the women who came before us, and the next generation. Wendy is an active participant in numerous organizations in Florida including as a member and supporter of Occupy Tampa and Planned Parenthood. Wendy, along with the other founders, is part of the initial planning team; establishes processes with a focus on organization and reaches out to others via social media and email.
LEAD MEDIA COORDINATOR
	Jessica DelBalzo became involved in reproductive rights activism as a high school student. Now she is a single mom living in Flemington, NJ with a daughter and son who inspire her continued fight for women's rights. By trade, Jessica is a web content writer for a growing SEO company. In her spare time, she writes activist essays which have appeared on Salon, Eclectica, OpEdNews, and RHRealityCheck, as well as in various other publications. She writes openly about her positive abortion experience and encourages other women to do the same. She is excited to be a member of the Verbal & Written Promotions Team.
EVENT COORDINATOR
	Kemyta Terry is a PhD student and political activist. She credits being raised in a diverse liberal suburb of Chicago’s North Shore, where females have always held political positions, as shaping her political perspectives and participation in the women’s movement. Leading the UniteWomen rally in Washington, DC provided Kemyta with first-time experience in grass roots organizing for women’s rights. It was the catapult that drove her to commit to forwarding the rights of women and to join We are Woman to continue rallying and educating women on the importance of understanding policy, voting and holding national and local political offices.
OUTREACH & FUNDRAISING
	Paige Hooper-Reichbart was born and raised on the Maine Coast. It was while reading the letters of ancestor Abilgail Adams she was introduced to feminism. Joining the women's movement in the 70's Paige was an abortion counselor and a speaker on women's health issues. She owned a contemporary art gallery where she promoted feminist artists. Later Paige worked with severely mentally ill children, pre-release federal convicts and indivduals with brain injury. Now living in Northern Florida, Paige has been been busy working with the Outreach and Speakers teams of the March as she is convinced that this nation, any nation, cannot come to its fruition until it has the full participation and free expression of women.
RALLY ACCOMMODATIONS
	Corrinne Henke is a former Army Brat who is now settled in the DC metro area. She is an award-winning teacher, former administrator, and a recently married former single mother. Corrinne has worked in mental health resource programs and Early Education reform. She is a member of the Accommodations Team and is working in the Entertainment program to find ways to involve children of all ages in the march. Usually very moderate, this Virginia woman has been drawn out by recent events to protects the rights being revoked from herself and her young daughter.
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
	Melissa Compton is a Maryland resident. She has over twelve years of experience in graphic design and marketing. Melissa completed her BA in Graphic Design, with a minor in Psychology, in 2004 and is pursuing a BS in Game Art & Design. Recently becoming an activist, she has been volunteering with women's equal rights groups, since March, 2012. She sites her boyfriend, as her inspiration. In her spare time she loves spending time with her family, friends, two collies, a cat and doing practically anything that has to do with art and writing. She has worked on various flyers and banners for our group.
	Emmy Rivera grew up watching the Civil, and Women’s Rights movements march across her TV in the 70s. She discovered she was Pro Choice after becoming pregnant the age of 16. While her choice was to keep the baby, as a struggling single mother, she was grateful to have Planned Parenthood to turn to for affordable birth control after her son was born. Emmy became involved with We Are Woman after the attack on Women’s reproductive rights restarted last year. She filmed a rally promo video and will be photographing the event in hopes that her two granddaughters will not have to suffer the indignities conservatives are attempting to legislate against Women today, in 2012.
TECH & ORGANIZATION
	Honora Wade is a technology geek with an emphasis on training and customer support, especially in the legal sector, and is the parent of a beautiful young woman. She worked on her first presidential campaign at age 13 and has dedicated her energies for decades to causes such as support for people with AIDS , hunger mitigation organizations, marriage equality, organizations focused on growing opportunities in technology for women,  and STEM education for children of color. She is passionate about the human capacity for compassion, intelligence, beauty, and growth. Honora is assisting with tech tools and team leader coordination for the rally, as well as contributing to our blog.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
	Penny Duby worked in education and public health for many years. Now retired, she is a passionate advocate for women’s rights everywhere, every age, every woman, progressive politics and food safety. She’s lived and worked in Philadelphia for most of her life and now lives on Cape Cod. Her skills are making linkages, building community, sharing information, and outreach. Her role models are Gloria Steinem and Thelma Goldstein, women of character and grit. She lost friends to illegal abortions in the 60’s and is determined that her granddaughters have reproductive freedom and wage equity. Penny is helping We Are Woman with social networking and data entry.
	Denisha Jones is PhD student who has recently become active in social justice, activism, and politics. Denisha was born in Panama, raised in New Jersey, and attended college in Washington, DC. After teaching kindergarten on Capitol Hill, Denisha moved to Indiana to pursue a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana University. In 2011 she was selected to serve as a Future Faculty Fellow at Howard University and returned to DC. Denisha became involved in the fight for women’s rights by serving as lead volunteer for the Unite Women rally and march in DC. She is an administrator for the We are Women facebook page and is a writer for our blog.
	Jessica Wainfor was born and raised in Rhode Island and feels most content when near the ocean. She is currently a very busy woman. Jessica is full time student at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Human Development and minoring in Gender and Women's Studies while also working as a full time preschool teacher. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her amazing stepdaughter and her two senior citizen dogs. Jessica also sets aside time to work with several different women's rights groups. She is thrilled to be part of We are Woman and is helping with data entry, social media, hotels, and transportation.
	Deb Winslow is a 61 year old mother of two and grandmother of two as well. She lives in Scottsville, VA. and has been a nurse for 40 years although she transitioned to a career in administration and finance after completing her Masters degree in the late 80s. She has been active in women's and other human rights issues intermittently since she was in her 20's. Always an active volunteer, Deb has devoted even more time than usual to her causes over the past ten years. Deb looks forward to working with We Are Woman both as an administrator on Twitter and a helper on the day of the rally.
	Becky Rubright was born in 1972 and grew up in Washington DC. Having realized quickly that you could devote your whole life to a progressive cause only to be disappointed, she became disillusioned with politics at a young age. Nevertheless, a blend of selfishness and selflessness led her into a profession of caring and she has owned and operated Living Harmony Healing Center in Tampa, FL since 2002, offering an alternative to pharmaceutical based care. Becky administrates our Tumblr account and is a volunteer on our Entertaiment and Necessities for the Day Teams.
	Heather Welshimer just completed her Bachelors Degree in Communications from Ohio University where she also obtained a Certificate in Women and Gender Studies. Heather has been pushing the bar for women’s equality since high school when she organized her first event and brought the Vagina Monologues to her small Appalachian community. She was a  founding member of the Gender Equality Solidarity Society on the Ohio University’s regional campus. Heather’s current work is with United 4 Equality – Ohio, supporting the 3-state strategy ratification of the ERA. She serves as a Social Media Administrator for We Are Women, advocating pro-women policy and networking for the event.
EVENT VOLUNTEERS
	Lyra Hilliard comes from a long line of independent women who have fought for women’s rights since the mid-19th century. The lessons her mother taught her about women’s equality had a profound influence on her and she is determined to defend these rights for tomorrow’s women—and men. Lyra’s extensive travels in the United States have broadened her understanding of this great country and its history while deepening her respect and appreciation for those with different beliefs. A writer and educator in Baltimore, Maryland, Lyra is one of the overall organizers for We Are Woman.
	Autumn Reinhardt Simpson is an archivist and historian who works for a museum in Richmond, Virginia. Originally from Washington State, she has been involved in feminist issues since her teen years but found her work cut out for her when she moved to Virginia in 2008. In 2010, she restarted the long-dormant local chapter of the National Organization for Women. Autumn has written for many publications and for groups such as NARAL but now spends her spare time organizing Richmond Clinic Defense and working to promote secular values. She is also the founder of the Feminist Sewing Workshop and cofounder of the Real Sex Education teach-ins. Autumn is a writer for We Are Woman.
	Deborah Hammer lives in Alexandria, VA. She was raised in North Carolina by a family with strong feminist values.    Professionally, she is an Autism Specialist and has worked for two decades as an advocate and educator for people with exceptionalities. In her free time, Deborah is a Fairfax Master Naturalist, bat rehabilitator and educator, co-chair of the Northern Virginia Transition Coalition, and facilitator for Cool Aspies. Deborah is working on We Are Woman’s Necessities for the Day team and accessibility.
	Karina Lubell is a Connecticut native who attended her first rally in 1992 - the March for Women's Lives - with her parents when she was 12 years old. Both academic and volunteer activities, from combatting domestic violence to preventing the erosion of Title IX, shaped Karina’s young adult life. Today, a corporate lawyer by day, Karina continues to show her support for women’s rights by volunteering at Planned Parenthood. Karina is happy to participate in her first rally as an organizer at the We Are Woman March, where she is a member of the initial planning committee.