Meet the 2008 Voter Mobilization Trainers

Joan Javier

Joan Javier became the National Field Manager of the Center for Progressive Leadership in February 2006. Much of her efforts are focused toward establishing new state offices in addition to leading CPL’s existing state-based staff to develop innovative and effective programs.

Joan has developed a closely held passion for progressive leadership development: from managing educational empowerment programsfor women and youth in Central America to aggressively organizing for fair and just working conditions for disenfranchised and underrepresented workers throughout the United States.

She played an active role in the civic engagement of young voters in the 2004 elections as the New Mexico Field Organizer for the State Public Interest Research Groups’ New Voters Project. Their multi-state, nonpartisan campaign registered over 500,000 new young voters and significantly increased young voter participation across the country. She then went on to work with the SEIU, organizing health care workers throughout the state of Massachusetts.

Kweli Kitwana
Kweli Kitwana is the Vice President of Political Programs for Progressive Majority. Kweli previously served as the Deputy Director for the Center for Progressive Leadership, where she was responsible for the implementation of the strategic plan. Kweli’s blend of fundraising and political strategy launched seven state offices and raised more than $3 million for the organization. 

Prior to this position, Kweli was the National Political Field Director for USAction, a national organization which helps build progressive coalitions and helps progressives gain political power. At USAction, she managed seven GOTV campaigns and succeeded in record voter turnout among communities of color. Kweli is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago and the University of Maryland’s Fine Arts program.

Nikhol Atkins
Nikhol Atkins grew up in the city of Oak Park, Michigan where she is a current resident. She graduated from Ferris State University with a B.S. degree and is currently a candidate for a Master of Science in Administration degree, with a concentration in Strategic Leadership. She has held the following professional positions; Community Liaison for Congressman Sander Levin, Chief Assistant with Wayne County Commission Chair, Jewel Ware, political organizer for the Democratic National Committee/Michigan Democratic Party and currently Outreach Manager for Center for Progressive Leadership, a nonprofit political leadership organization.

Nikhol has volunteered for numerous political candidates at every level of government. Some of her work and volunteer experiences include registering voters, organizing community events, phone banking and get out the vote efforts just to name a few. She is also active in her community by serving as a; Commissioner on the Oakland County Women’s Commission, member of Race & the Movement working group for Michigan Voice as well as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated a community service organization.

Lauree Hayden
Lauree Hayden works with the political shop of Service Employees International Union (SEIU). For the last year and a half, she served as the Political Director of SEIU Local 21 LA, the union for public service workers in Louisiana. She worked to set up a political program and help navigate the new local through the post-Katrina political waters. She began organizing around environmental justice issues before becoming active in Democratic electoral politics in Massachusetts.

She served as an Associate at the public relations and political consulting firm of Hattaway Communications. She also served as Howard Dean's Congressional District Director in New Hampshire and later on staff at America Coming Together (ACT). She came to labor with a focus on the South/Southwest region because she believes that building a strong labor movement in the region is critical to changing relations of power on the ground and building real and lasting change for working people in America.

Christina Kuo
Christina Kuo is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a B.A. in Political Science and Women’s Studies.  She first became involved in politics while interning with MARAL Pro-Choice Michigan.  She later went on to become an organizer with MARAL and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan.  In 2006, she became the Deputy Communications Director for America Votes in Michigan. 

She represents the 18th District (Royal Oak) on the Women’s Commission of Oakland County.  Christina serves as one of the Vice Chairs and Chair of the Economic Autonomy Committee.  She is the Program Manager for the Center for Progressive Leadership in Michigan and currently studies part-time as a law student at Cooley Law School.