MAYA ROCKEYMOORE, Ph.D. DIRECTOR

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Dr. Maya Rockeymoore is Director of Leadership for Healthy Communities and President and CEO of Global Policy Solutions*, a Washington, D.C., policy consulting firm with a social change mission.

Maya has previously served as the Vice President of Research and Programs at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), Senior Resident Scholar at the National Urban League, Chief of Staff to Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), Professional Staff on the House Ways and Means Committee and as a CBCF Legislative Fellow in the office of Congressman Melvin Watt (D-NC), among other positions.

Maya’s areas of expertise include health, social insurance, income security, education, women’s issues and youth civic participation. She is the author of The Political Action Handbook: A How to Guide for the Hip Hop Generation and co-editor of Strengthening Community: Social Insurance in a Diverse America. Maya was named an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow in 2004 and holds other prestigious honors and awards. She holds a B.A. in political science and mass communications from Prairie View A&M University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science and public policy from Purdue University.

*Global Policy Solutions provides technical assistance and direction for the Leadership for Healthy Communities program.

CHARSAREE CLAY, M.A., OFFICE MANAGER & EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

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Charsaree Clay joined Leadership for Healthy Communities as office manager and executive assistant after supporting a contract for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention that conducted state-of-the-art health communications research and implementation of outreach activities to prevent youth alcohol use and abuse. While there, she supported the development of culturally relevant publications and online communications materials to prevent youth alcohol use and abuse. She received her M.A. from the School for International Training (SIT) in Conflict Transformation with an emphasis in Policy Advocacy. While at SIT, she researched reintegration of excombatants and child soldiers emphasizing means of blending traditional and western forms of justice.  Charsaree is particularly knowledgeable in the conflict resolution policy arena and is adept at applying policy analysis and research skills to all policy areas.  In her free time, Charsaree volunteers for several international affairs organizations.  She was the director of the Young Professionals Peace and Security Committee for the United Nations Association of the national capital area for two years. She also volunteers with Roosevelt Institute’s Campus Network and Roosevelt Institute Pipeline.

ANDY FOUNTAIN, ASSISTANT, PROGRAMS AND NEW MEDIA

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Andy Fountain serves as the assistant for programs and new media for Leadership for Healthy Communities. In this position, Andy works with staff, grantees and policymakers to promote healthy eating and active living and supports the programmatic operations of the team. In addition, he works with new media outreach tools, such as Facebook and Twitter, to promote Leadership for Healthy Communities.
 
Prior to joining Leadership for Healthy Communities, Andy worked as an executive and legislative assistant at a D.C.-based government relations firm. There, he conducted legislative research and tracking for a number of higher education and technology-focused clients.  A native of Georgia, Andy received his B.A. from the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs.

ELISE GOLDSTEIN, M.P.A., DEPUTY DIRECTOR

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Elise Goldstein serves as deputy director of Leadership for Healthy Communities, where she provides project management and general oversight to the daily operations of the team. Her policy expertise spans a range of related arenas, including health, environment and energy, and she is trained in the practices of policy analysis, evaluation and program management. 

Elise joined the Leadership for Healthy Communities team after serving as the donor communications manager at a national animal protection organization, where she helped raise more than $5 million annually. While there, she also supported the development and distribution of policy products to inspire and educate grassroots advocates and provided leadership in a long-term strategic planning process. In her graduate studies, Elise helped the Lupus Foundation of Greater Washington build an evaluation plan for their educational workshop series and conducted a feasibility assessment for a sustainability rating tool for an association focused on water issues. Elise received her B.A. from Mary Washington College and her M.P.A. from the George Washington University Trachtenburg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. In her free time, Elise works to support the local sustainable food movement. She grows much of her own food in the family garden.

ANDREW SOUSA, M.A., COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

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Andrew Sousa is the communications director for Leadership for Healthy Communities. For more than a decade, Andrew has been developing and implementing short and long-range communications strategies to further the overall goals of public, private and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining Global Policy Solutions, Andrew led communications strategies for the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) and Health Through Action, a five-year capacity-building project with 18 grantees in 15 states. Prior to APIAHF, he directed the public relations efforts for MZA Events (the organizers of the AIDS Walks in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles), and served as vice president, chief of communications for Operation HOPE, a national non-profit working to eradicate poverty through financial literacy education and the economic development of underserved communities.

Andrew directed public relations on a broad range of issues as press secretary for U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, raising her visibility as a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  He also managed local, national and international media strategy following her controversial solo vote against a broad use of force resolution passed by the U.S. Congress following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Andrew holds a B.A. in History and Sociology from UC Santa Cruz and an M.A. in Communications from American University in Washington, D.C. He lives in Glover Park with his wife Caroline, their son Declan and a trusty canine companion named Rufus.

ELIZABETH HINMAN, M.P.P, ASSOCIATE, ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH

As the advocacy and outreach associate for Leadership for Healthy Communities Elizabeth Hinman manages the program’s advocacy and outreach campaigns, and works closely with clients, grantees, program partners, policymakers, coalitions and other relevant organizations to advance healthy eating and active living policy goals.

Prior to joining Global Policy Solutions, Elizabeth has worked in both the corporate and non-profit sectors on a variety of policy and advocacy issues, including public health and economic development.  Most recently she managed a broad coalition of public-private partners in securing funding for one of the largest federal stimulus grants to support transportation infrastructure.

Elizabeth has expertise in organizational and policy analysis, public affairs and applied politics, communications and advocacy, and social policies and programs.  She has conducted extensive legislative and policy research and helped devise successful messaging strategies to champion organizational policy positions.

A Virginia native, Elizabeth received her B.A. from the College of William & Mary and her M.P.P. from American University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and lamenting the direction of the Washington Redskins’ season.