Our Team

Travis Ballie brings over a decade of organizing experience to his work at DC Action. As Under 3 DC’s Coalition Director, Travis coordinates and leads mobilization efforts for Under 3 DC, which harnesses the power and voice of parents and families with young children, educators, advocates, and health professionals to create transformative social change.

Previously, Travis served as Organizing Director for NARAL Pro-Choice America, a reproductive freedom organization. One of his signature accomplishments over his 10 years at NARAL was hosting their first Activists’ Summit, a two-day event training more than 600 attendees about how to make a difference in electoral and legislative advocacy.

Travis earned bachelor’s degrees in international relations and international business from American University. Travis serves on leadership teams for organizations that support queer, South Asian communities. He aspires to read at least one book every week.

Kawanza is our passionate Senior Manager, Youth Advocacy and Engagement. She’s a facilitator, social impact expert, and storyteller who lives to ignite the light in others. Hailing from the vibrant streets of Southeast Queens, she’s woven a decade-long tapestry of community-centered impact that stretches to the heart of Washington, DC.

Since moving to the District, Kawanza has served in numerous roles at education companies and nonprofits, building coalitions and strategic partnerships, developing programs, and leading community engagement initiatives. DC is also where she was introduced to emergent strategy, liberatory design, and popular education techniques and tools, which have grounded her work.

She also manages youth advocacy and community service campaigns in her spare time, focusing on education, environmental justice, and public health programs. When Kawanza isn’t facilitating or designing sustainable solutions, she serves as National Advocacy Chair for the National Urban League Young Professionals. She creates nutritious and delicious recipes for wellness, produces cultural content, and is a nap ministry practitioner.

Nada (pronounced Neh-da) is passionate about the intersection of media and policy. Nada has created videos, annual reports, and digital media materials for nonprofit organizations that empower refugees, immigrants, and other marginalized populations in the Tampa Bay area and Philadelphia. She produced content for NPR’s Tampa Bay radio station, WUSF, and PBS affiliate, WEDQ. Since Nada is bilingual, many of her video projects have been in English and Arabic.

Nada earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications with a concentration in broadcast news from the University of South Florida and her master’s degree in social policy from the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Nada enjoys doing anything outdoors- like playing flag football and volleyball in a league on the National Mall, exploring walkable cities & gardens, and loves a good hike (bonus points if there’s a waterfall). She loves scrapbooking her travel memories and spending time with friends and family.

As Director of Government Affairs, Joanna Blotner brings more than 15 years of experience as a social justice lobbyist, campaigner, and policy wonk advocating for working families at the local and federal levels. She most recently served as Legislative Director for DC Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4) where she managed a portfolio that included Labor, Housing, Human Services, Public Safety, Early Childhood Education, Health, Taxes, and the District’s annual Budget. Prior to working at the DC Council, Joanna worked for Jews United for Justice, where she served as Legislative Director for the Under 3 DC Coalition and Campaign Manager for the DC Paid Family Leave Coalition. Through her coalition work, DC became the first state to pay early childhood educators a salary equitable with public school teachers’ pay, and the fifth state in the nation to pass and implement a paid family and medical leave insurance program for private sector workers. Joanna has worked to protect abortion rights at the state and federal levels as Public Policy Manager for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, advance LGBTQIA+ equality nationwide as the Religion and Faith Program Coordinator at the Human Rights Campaign, and promote environmental justice as a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center, which is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism.

Joanna is proud to be a DC-area native. She was born in the District, grew up just over the border in Chevy Chase, MD, and currently calls Shaw home. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Jewish studies from Indiana University. When she’s not working, Joanna volunteers on local DC campaigns and at the Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum. She loves traveling, being a tourist in her hometown, musicals, and all animalkind.

Tina Prashad Brimo brings over a decade of experience in early childhood education to her role as DC Action’s Early Educator Organizing Manager. Having served as both a classroom teacher and a center director, Tina is deeply committed to advancing equity and creating inclusive opportunities for learners, educators, and caregivers alike. Her passion lies in supporting early educators, advocating for their needs, and amplifying their voices as essential contributors to the development and well-being of our youngest learners.

Tina is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy at American University, furthering her dedication to impactful, equity-driven change in education and systems.

Outside of work, Tina enjoys exploring her vibrant DC community with her spirited four-year-old daughter, cultivating her extensive collection of houseplants, cooking cultural recipes, and running. She is eager to collaborate with others in advancing meaningful, lasting change for DC’s children, families, and the educators who nurture them every day.

Amira Clark (she/her) is our passionate Visual Communications Manager with a deep commitment to using the power of design and art to advocate for radical ideas and social change. Raised in North West Washington, D.C., Amira’s love for her community drives her dedication to addressing the impacts of gentrification and systemic racism in the city. She believes that art has long been a powerful tool in activism and is determined to bridge the gap between nonprofits and the communities they serve through compelling visual communications.

A 2022 graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in Visual Arts, Amira’s passion for change was ignited during her time at the historically Black institution, where she embraced its mission to empower individuals to engage with global cultures and commit to positive social change. Inspired by this ethos, Amira has worked with several D.C.-based nonprofits, creating political graphics and visual projects aimed at raising awareness and promoting activism.

Through her expertise in social media, graphic design, and art, Amira continues to use her skills to amplify the voices of those who need it most, creating impactful designs that spark conversation and inspire action.

In her role as Senior Advisor of Career Readiness Amy Dudas draws on her experience in coalition-building, policy research, and strategic advocacy to connect youth and community power to policies prioritizing economic justice and systems change. 

Before joining DC Action in the fall of 2024, Amy served as Director of Networks and Investments at Youth Invest Partners (formerly Venture Philanthropy Partners+Raise DC), where she managed a cross-sector collective impact network to improve career and college readiness outcomes for DC youth and designed and managed a multi-year investment in student social-emotional well-being. Amy joined the collective impact backbone team at Raise DC in 2019 to lead the organization’s High School Success portfolio, which focused on improving student transitions through 9th grade. Prior to graduate school, Amy worked as the Director of Workforce and ReEngagement Initiatives at the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates, where she specialized in strategic advocacy to advance policies providing high-quality developmental resources for District youth, with a focus on creating a second-chance system for those who have been systemically disengaged and marginalized from opportunities.

Amy earned a BA with honors in International Relations from Simmons College, an MPA in Management for Social Impact from the George Washington University, and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University.

As Chief of External Relations and Movement Building, Mat works alongside the Executive Director to help grow the organization and build power among its constituents. He provides leadership and management of staff, execution of the organization’s strategic plan, and ensures racial justice and equity is fully integrated into the work at every level.

Mat has spent more than a decade working to promote economic, racial, and social justice. He joins DC Action after serving as the DC Director for the Working Families Party, a national organization that unites activists, community, and labor organizations to advance systemic change. During his time there, he used electoral, political, and legislative strategies that concentrated on increasing economic security for low-income families and bringing greater fairness and equity to our elections. He helped oversee large and small teams, developed and set organizational strategy, as well as organized and built winning coalitions that united advocates, business owners, faith leaders, policy experts, unions, and other allies. These efforts have resulted in policy changes that have successfully raised statewide minimum wages for more than half a million workers in Maryland and Washington, DC, passed and implemented one of the most progressive public financing of elections programs in the country, and helped secure funding for early childhood education and health programs.

He has worked at the local, national, and international level. A graduate from the City University of New York, he is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, a proud father, and Ward 7 resident.

Keina Hodge serves as DC Action’s Chief of Operations. She brings to the role extensive expertise in operational management and more than a decade of experience in education. Keina has led the launch of several charter schools in Delaware, California, and the District, overseeing the creation of their operational infrastructures. Growing up in a family of educators, she has always been passionate about education and driven by a desire to work in underserved communities to help close the achievement gap. Keina earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Temple University, her master’s degree in mass communications and media studies from Howard University, and an MBA from the Earl G. Graves School of Business at Morgan State University. She enjoys playing golf, hanging out with her nephews, and traveling the world. Keina has visited five continents so far and has two more to go.

Njeri Jenkins is the Out-of-School Time (OST) Policy Analyst at DC Action, where she leads efforts to advocate for and improve access to quality out-of-school time programs for youth across the District. Previously, Njeri worked as Advocacy Coordinator at Educare DC, supporting families by providing resources to enhance their engagement in their children’s education and family’s wellbeing. While at Educare DC, Njeri had the honor of attending President Biden’s 2024 Care Can’t Wait Rally. Prior to that, Njeri served at FoodCorps Inc., where she organized FoodCorps alumni to influence policy changes that promote equitable access to healthy food and nutrition education in schools. Njeri represented FoodCorps at the 2022 White House Conference on Health, Hunger, and Nutrition; and attended the 2023 White House Women’s History Month Celebration as a representative of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. Njeri earned her bachelor’s degree in political science with a double minor in leadership studies and pre-law from Hampton University, a historically black university in southeast Virginia. She earned her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, College Park with a concentration in international development and security. Njeri is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

As the Senior Policy Analyst for Under 3 DC, Audrey brings her experience in federal education policy and preschool administration to the Early Childhood team.

Audrey holds a bachelor’s in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a master’s in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. While in Massachusetts, Audrey worked with Boston Public Schools on their Universal Pre-K team to bolster family engagement across the early education system.

Audrey has worked in DC federal education policy, advocating for high-quality education on all levels, from early childhood to higher education. Audrey’s passion for early education led her to work with a DC preschool where she partnered with early educators, families, and young children to support child development. Audrey is dedicated to increasing access to early education for all DC children.

Outside of work, Audrey serves on the Board at the Story of Our Schools. Audrey enjoys practicing yoga, exploring DC, and spending time outdoors with her friends and family.

Ethan Kow and is a Special Projects Associate for DC Action. He works closely with the executive team with strategic planning for different events and outreach. Ethan also specializes in helping maintain the connection between the alumni of our Bernstein fellowship program with our current fellows and staff members.

Jorge Membreño, a licensed independent clinical social worker, has focused his career on the intersections of identity, marginalized communities, and supportive services. He provides a trauma-responsive and equity lens to his work both in his advocacy and his counseling practice.

Before joining DC Action, Membreño was a Special Advisor for Youth and Families with the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH). He previously served in multiple Director-level roles at SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) to build safe and stable shelters, case management services, mental health counseling, crisis intervention, and community support for LGBTQ youth.

Membreño earned his BA in Psychology from Christopher Newport University and a master’s degree in social work from Boston University. He is the proud son of Salvadoran immigrants and was born in Washington, DC, which he calls home.

As Research and Data Manager, Rachel works to collect, analyze, and share data that can help advocates understand and address issues facing DC’s kids and youth, particularly kids and youth of color. She produces the DC KIDS COUNT suite of publications and online data center, DC Action’s interactive data tools, as well as translating the national KIDS COUNT press releases, annual reports, and other publications into the DC context.

As an undergraduate, Rachel performed demographic and policy research at the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network for its State of the States report. After completing her undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary, she worked with Illinois Action for Children to research barriers to accessing and delivering quality early childhood care and education and to help providers and programs connect with resources for improvement. This experience inspired her to bolster her research skills by pursuing a Master’s degree at Ben Gurion University, after which she spent time in the classroom as a substitute teacher at a Navajo Nation school.

Since then she has continued to build her data and policy skills. She led and supervised rigorous quality assurance checks of paper and online student, teacher, school, and district reports in the Assessment Division at American Institutes for Research. And most recently, at The Education Trust she researched, analyzed, and interpreted key teacher and other education data, with a focus on understanding patterns of access to strong, well-supported teachers for low-income students and students of color.

Rachel is excited to bring her experience with data, research, and policy to help raise awareness and advocate to dismantle structural barriers that stand in the way of all young people reaching their full potential.

Since 2019, Kimberly Perry has been the Executive Director of DC Action, a child and youth advocacy organization dedicated to making the District of Columbia a place where all children grow up safe, resilient, powerful, and heard.

A former teacher turned lobbyist, Kimberly has built and led impactful campaigns and organizations that amplify citizens’ voices in the legislative process. Her work has driven critical policy changes, improving the lives of children, youth, and families both nationally and internationally.

Before joining DC Action, Kimberly held several leadership roles, including Founding Director of DC Hunger Solutions, Vice President of the Clinton Foundation’s Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and Executive Director of DC Vote. She has also led initiatives in international policy advocacy and philanthropy.

Kimberly serves on the boards of the Partnership for America’s Children and the Children’s Funding Project.

Outside of work, she enjoys perfecting recipes with her family, producing and watching documentaries, salsa dancing, and exploring hiking trails.

You can also find Kimberly on Linkedin and X.

Mary Katherine brings her background in policy analysis and community programs administration to her role as Policy Analyst.

Mary Katherine returned to DC Action after serving as a Diane Bernstein Fellow with the Home Visiting team in the Summer of 2022. She holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Virginia as well as a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Virginia. While in Charlottesville, Mary Katherine worked with several university and community organizations to support community health promotion and the development of young people’s expression and leadership capacity. In these roles, Mary Katherine worked to center and advocate for racial justice and equity for groups that have faced historic and structural discrimination and marginalization.

Outside of work, Mary Katherine enjoys reading, painting, walking, and spending time with friends and family.

As the deputy Director of the Youth Advocacy team, Rachel brings nearly a decade of youth policy advocacy experience to DC Action. After obtaining her law degree from Wake Forest University, Rachel worked for and directly alongside youth in New York City’s foster care system, advocating for their individual needs in child welfare legal proceedings. While advocating for youth and families involved in the child welfare system, Rachel began guiding the next generation of youth advocates at Montclair State University, teaching courses such as Introduction to Child Advocacy, Cultural Competence in Child Welfare, Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect, and Introduction to Child Welfare Policy.

During her career, the correlation of systemic racism and disparate outcomes for Black and brown youth within the child welfare system became strikingly clear. As a result, Rachel pivoted her career from direct service to child welfare policy to effect change on a larger scale, centering racial equity. As Child Welfare Policy Director at Advocates for Children and Youth in Maryland, Rachel successfully advocated for race impact statements to be included in the analysis of bills before the Maryland General Assembly, widened access to higher education for youth experiencing homelessness and youth involved in the child welfare system, and ensured that youth experiencing homelessness received housing priority on college campuses.

In her free time, Rachel enjoys traveling, trying new recipes, and spending time with close friends and family.