OUR TEAM
Care Over Cost reflects People’s Action Institute’s deep commitment to win health care for all in the United States. In addition to our member-leaders, volunteers and local organizing partners, our national staff actively supports Care Over Cost.
Sulma Arias is executive director of People’s Action Institute and People’s Action. She leads our Organizing Revival to reinvigorate the field of organizing and build community power across the country. Born in El Salvador, Sulma immigrated to Kansas at age twelve and has organized for voting rights, immigrant rights and economic justice for over twenty years.
Sondra Youdelman is campaigns director for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action, coordinating our campaigns around housing, health care, climate, equitable development and more. Sondra has more than 25 years of experience in leadership and as an organizer with Community Voices Heard in New York City and the People’s Climate Movement.
Megan Essaheb directs federal affairs for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action, leading our engagement with Congress and federal agencies. Megan directed immigration advocacy for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, supporting farm workers to win higher wages, attended Fordham Law School and was a public school teacher in Miami, Florida.
Derrick Crowe is communications and digital director for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action. A graduate of Texas Tech, Derrick has directed field operations for battleground candidates, led communications for Democratic U.S. House members, co-led antiwar, climate justice and disaster relief efforts in Austin, and ran for federal office in the 2018 midterms.
Tim Wilkins is digital content director for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action. A veteran of Bloomberg News, USAID and NPR, Tim supports writing for both organizations and leads many digital-first initiatives, including livestreams, blogs, newsletters and websites.
Devante Jefferson is multimedia organizer for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action. Devante creates fast-turnaround and long-form video storytelling to support campaigns and direct actions. A graduate of Florida A&M, he has been a videographer for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Urban Broadcast Media.
Aija Nemer-Aanerud is Health Care for All campaign director for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action. As an organizer at The People’s Lobby and co-founder of Student Action, they helped lead the national fight for Free College for All. Aija develops strategies with member organizations to advance our goal of winning tangible victories for our members.
Ryan Greenwood leads the Care Over Cost campaign. He co-founded and led the Movement Politics program at People’s Action for seven years. From Owatonna, Minnesota, he co-founded TakeAction Minnesota and led the organizing team on the first and only successful campaign to defeat an anti same-sex marriage constitutional amendment.
Robel Worku is Health Care for All lead organizer for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action. As a community organizer for Colorado People’s Alliance and Colorado People’s Action, he helped lead a coalition of grassroots, faith-led and labor organizations to pass a landmark minimum wage ordinance in Denver.
Billie Kirkton is creative director for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action, leading all aspects of graphic design and visual presentation for both organizations, including branding and visuals for direct actions. She started organizing with Illinois People’s Action and testified to Congress to support the Clean Power Plan in 2015.
Nazz Aboutabi is a communications associate for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action based in Washington, D.C. She was communications coordinator and social media manager for the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and got her start as an organizer for factory workers’ and immigrant rights in her hometown of Harrisburg, Virginia.
