We’re so excited to add these 20 progressive and dynamic changemakers to our #NLCFamily. For the next 6 months, they will attend skills-based training around the state in areas such as strategic communications, fundraising, community organizing, and finally, completing their experience with a Capstone Project. NLC-NJ is training the next generation of progressive leaders to take on the challenges of the future.

These fellows join the national class of over 800 fellows in 50 NLC chapters across the country.

Nationally, the 2019 Fellows are truly representative of the nation’s most diverse generation, self-identifying as 60 percent non-white, 62 percent female, and 18 percent LGBTQIA*.

Nushrat Hoque

Nushrat Hoque is currently a chemistry teacher at the Frank J Cicarell Academy in Elizabeth, NJ. She graduated with a Bachelors in Chemistry from Bard College, and went on to complete the Woodrow Wilson STEM Education Fellowship and earn her Masters of Arts in Teaching through Montclair State University.  A passionate educator, Nushrat strives to introduce social justice in the classroom with her work with organizations such as Rethinking Schools and the Muslim American Teachers Research Collective. She also works on issues on immigration and access through her position on the board of the Bangladeshi American Women’s Development Initiative, a Paterson based community organization focused on empowering the Bangladeshi community of New Jersey.

Ali Raymond

Ali is passionate about diversity and inclusion, organizational strategy and emerging market development. Ali is an HR Manager currently in the Human Resources Leadership Development Program at Johnson and Johnson, having served rotations in the office of Diversity and Inclusion and Total Rewards. In that capacity, she has worked on employee and community facing programs impacting the employee experience for ~140,000 people across the globe. As the largest company based in New Jersey,

Ali hopes to take from NLC strategies to leverage J&J’s size for good. A recent MBA graduate from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Ali focused her coursework in management and organizations and the intersection of business and impact. At Ross, she was the Director of Operations for the Social Venture Fund, the first student-led impact investing fund in the country and was Co-President of Net Impact.

Prior to Ross, Ali worked as a project and program manager across industries including non and for profits, startups, and the UN. As a project manager at Gensler, the world’s largest design and architecture firm, Ali developed communications for data visualizations and trained staff. An avid traveler, Ali spent over 2 years in Kazakhstan as an educator and recruiter and can make an excellent plate of manti.

Originally from San Francisco, she graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs and Russian. Ali is enthused to join the NLC family to work on her passion side project of creating meaningful, gainful employment opportunities for individuals formerly incarcerated as they re-enter the workplace. She lives in Jersey City and loves a good dive bar.

Anne Songcayauon

Anne Songcayauon is the Communications Director for New Jersey Working Families, a progressive political organization that advocates for issues that promote worker and community justice, including earned sick days, $15 minimum wage, and automatic voter registration. At NJ Working Families, Anne coordinates the organization’s press, design, and media programs on electoral, issue, and advocacy campaigns. Her work has expanded the organization’s digital and online activism to include short videos, infographics, and campaign images that have increased the organization’s presence.

Prior to her employment at NJ Working Families, Anne started her involvement in activism while immersed in UMass Amherst’s rich history of student organizing through UMass Alliance for Community Transformation and the Center for Education Policy and Advocacy, where she learned the importance of critical pedagogy and activism. Back in New Jersey, Anne joined Anakbayan NJ, a Filipino youth organization working to educate, organize, and mobilize the local community and address important issues affecting Filipinos in the U.S. and the Philippines, where she has worked with migrant workers and immigrants. As a proud first generation daughter of Filipino immigrants and a union nurse, Anne seeks to connect the bridge between Filipinos Americans and the labor movement.

Christopher Keating

Christopher Keating is a Deputy Attorney General with the State of New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice. In the Specialized Crimes Bureau, he works with various state and federal agencies to investigate and prosecute criminal offenses primarily involving environmental crimes, bias crimes, frauds against government agencies, and interstate theft networks and fraud schemes. His duties with DCJ also include reviewing investigations of officer-involved shootings, training law enforcement officers on various criminal laws, and interviewing prospective DAsG and members of the New Jersey State Police.

Christopher is a life-long resident of New Jersey. He graduated with a B.A. from Rutgers University in 2009, and then he joined Teach for America and taught at a middle school in Newark, New Jersey. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall Law in 2014, and he is licensed to practice law in both New Jersey and New York. While at Seton Hall Law, Christopher was selected by the Center for Social Justice to be his class year’s Urban Revitalization Scholar. After law school, Christopher served as a law clerk in the Superior Court of New Jersey.
In addition to his legal career, Christopher is an adjunct professor in Rutgers University’s Political Science Department. In his free time, he volunteers as a member of various boards and committees of non-profit organizations. In the New Jersey State Bar Association, he currently serves as a member of the Diversity Committee, the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine Editorial Board, the Legal Education Committee, and as the Secretary of the Criminal Law Section. In Camden County, he recently began a term as Treasurer of the Camden County Bar Foundation, and he serves as the attorney advisor for the mock trial team at Cherry Hill West.

Cody Miller

Cody currently serves on Council in Monroe Township and was elected as the youngest Councilperson in the township’s history at age 23. He works as the Director of the Foundation and Alumni Relations at Rowan College at Gloucester County, is a political consultant, and serves as the President of the Volunteer Center of South Jersey. At 21 he was appointed as the youngest community college trustee in the state of New Jersey and voted on the partnership agreement with Rowan University, creating Rowan College at Gloucester County. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University – Camden.

Fatima Heyward

Fatima Heyward is the Communications Coordinator at Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey and Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey. In her role, she provides essential support in campaigns for Planned Parenthood in New Jersey and executes measurable results on projects ranging from enhancing visibility and attracting relevant stakeholders to shaping debates on public policy and marketing services to prospective patients. She deeply believes in fighting for access to quality, affordable health care regardless of race, income or zip code.

Additionally, Fatima has a strong passion for standing up for racial equality as well as diversity and inclusion. She works to equip young leaders and community members with the tools and resources to stand up for their human and civil rights. She is the President and Co-founder of the South Jersey Young Democrats Black Caucus whose mission is to uplift the voices and advocate on behalf of African-Americans in South Jersey while building and molding young, black leaders to be active in the political process. She is also Executive Board Member and Political Action Chair at the NAACP Camden County East Chapter, Mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region, Social Action Committee Member at South Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Committee Member on Rider University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alumni Board.

Fatima graduated Cum Laude in Communications from Rider University in 2015. During her time at Rider she was selected for Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Order of Omega Leadership Honor Society, Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society and Rider Star Scholar. She is a proud sister of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and served as the Tau Kappa Chapter’s president for two years. During her time at Rider, she completed three internships and studied abroad in London. While abroad she completed her third internship, which was at the MAMA Youth Project where she worked intensively with 18 to 25-year-old trainees from under-represented backgrounds to succeed in the media industry and career development.  Based on her contributions, she received the Record of Achievement European award. After graduation, Fatima participated in her fourth internship, which was a yearlong program in External Relations at Appel Farm Arts & Music Center. Education is extremely important to Fatima, which is why she enjoys partaking in and bringing awareness to educational opportunities to the community.

Imani R. Oakley

Imani R. Oakley, Esq. is a Constituent Advocate for Senator Cory A. Booker. Her portfolio consists of affordable housing issues, mortgages, taxes, student loans, consumer protection, pensions, and postal services. This past year, Imani was honored to be the keynote speaker for the Montclair Branch NAACP’s 102nd Thurgood Marshall Freedom Fund Dinner & Awards Ceremony where she spoke about the theme “Face the Hate and VOTE” with an emphasis on protecting the voting process for the nation’s most vulnerable communities.

Before being hired as a member of Senator Booker’s staff, Imani has been a strong advocate for the de-criminalization and legalization of marijuana. In 2017, Imani was a panel speaker for the Drug Policy Alliance’s International Drug Policy Reform Conference where she spoke about her experience in effecting D.C.’s local marijuana legalization laws as a student advocate. Moreover, Imani was invited to participate in the 2016 Minority Cannabis Business Association’s Policy Summit where she helped draft model legislation for the legalization of marijuana in a manner that promotes access to the legal cannabis industry for communities of color.

Furthering her endeavors to serve as an advocate for the systemically powerless, in 2015 Imani was a legal observer during the anti-police brutality protests in Baltimore, where she ensured that the First Amendment rights of protestors were not infringed upon. During this same year, Imani spent her summer working for the South African non-profit, Ndifuna Ukwazi, where she collected affidavits on property and sewage conditions from South African communities that suffered under Apartheid and are still experiencing Apartheid’s harsh effects, even in its aftermath.

Imani earned her Bachelor’s degree from Howard University, a Master’s degree from New York University, and her J.D. from Howard University School of Law. While enrolled in law school, Imani was a member of the Legislative Legal Clinic where she drafted policy reports for non-profit organizations focused on criminal justice reform. As the Captain of Oral Advocacy for the Goler Teal Butcher International Moot Court Team at Howard, Imani distinguished herself among national and international competitors as the 2016 Best Oralist at the Susan J. Ferrell Intercultural Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

Imani is delighted to have been accepted into NLC’s 2019 class and she hopes to continue to utilize her skills and expertise to further progressive change throughout the program and beyond.

Intashan Chowdhury

Borough Administrator, Municipal Alliance Coordinator, and Advisor to Mayor Khairullah, Borough of Prospect Park, NJ

One of the youngest in the State of New Jersey to ever do so, Intashan Chowdhury currently serves as the Borough Administrator and as the right hand advisor to Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah of the Borough of Prospect Park, NJ niched in the heart of Passaic County.

For the past two years, Intashan has worked his way to become instrumental in local government, assisting Mayor Khairullah oversee and manage day-to-day municipal operations, policy development and serve as a conduit between the mayor, borough council and departmental personnel ensuring proper and efficient administration of all Borough affairs for the residents of the Prospect Park community.

Intashan graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors from Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and minors in Political Science. As a student, Intashan garnered experience in the various levels of government, interning for U.S. Senator Cory Booker, 33rd District NJ Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, and Passaic County Freeholder John W. Bartlett. Through a scholarship from the Eagleton Institute of Politics, he then went on to become a Public Policy Fellow for the County of Montgomery, Maryland in the Department of Technology Services where he authored a white paper on Wi-Fi on public buses and camera technology on snow plows, drafted materials to update the ultra Montgomery program/website, assisted in creating a broadband economic development speaker series and helped expand enrollment in Comcast’s Internet Essentials program through effective research.

Enrolled in the dual degree program at Rutgers University SPAA, Intashan is a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) candidate, scheduled to graduate in the Spring of 2019. Currently working with his academic advisors and professors to have his research published, his capstone is on the efficiency of shared services in local government.

Inspired by his mentor and former high school teacher, Mayor Khairullah’s mantra “Act Locally, Think Globally,” Intashan has developed a passion for education, philanthropy, and socio-economic justice in the public policy arena. Intashan has been featured in various media outlets for his work including ranking in the top 50 of the InsiderNJ’s 2018 Insider 100: Millennials, TapintoPaterson, and participating in the New Jersey Leadership Program’s Politics and Spice podcast. Intashan is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity, Incorporated, and Pi Alpha Alpha Public Administration Honor Society.

A son of Bangladeshi-American immigrants, Intashan’s parents traveled to the United States to pave the way for his future cultivated by family values and education. Intashan grew up in the public schools system, attended Passaic County Technical Institute where he became a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). A proud product of Paterson, New Jersey, Intashan represents the rise of Bengali influence in government, In his spare time, Intashan likes to volunteer, coach youth sports, read, cheer on his New England Patriots, and spend time with his loved ones.

Jane Cohen

Jane Cohen is the Director of Environmental Health Policy at Isles, Inc, where she leads strategy for a broad portfolio of policy issues including lead poisoning prevention and healthy housing, urban air pollution and electric vehicles and workforce development in the green jobs sector. She is engaged across many disciplines and government agencies, leading legislative advocacy, activating coalitions and working to protect the health and well-being of families across New Jersey.

Prior to joining Isles, Jane was a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch. A specialist on China, she also led extensive field research on health, environmental and political issues in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Japan.  At Human Rights Watch her areas of expertise included lead poisoning, HIV/AIDS, drug policy and environmental degradation. Jane conducted international advocacy with governments, international organizations and the United Nations and she has published extensively on global environmental issues. She authored Human Rights Watch’s first report on climate change and helped launch the organization’s environment and human rights program. Jane began her human rights career in China, where she lived for almost four years, working on HIV/AIDS and narcotics policy.

Jane has an interest in documenting people’s stories, in both print and audio. She spent a year at Audible, Inc developing a pilot podcast on immigration and learning about audio journalism.

Jane holds dual Masters Degrees from Columbia University: a Master of International Affairs and a Master of Public Health. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and French. She is on the board of The Little Market and the South Orange Symphony Orchestra, where she also plays the violin. Jane lives in South Orange, New Jersey with her husband and two children.

Katie Wertheimer

Katie Wertheimer currently serves as the Public Affairs Coordinator for Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. In her current role, Katie works with elected officials at the local, state and federal level to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care in New Jersey. In addition to her policy work, Katie also engages in PPAFNJ’s electoral work, screening candidates for state and federal offices and making recommendations for endorsement. Katie graduated in 2017 from The College of New Jersey with a B.A. in History and minors in Russian Studies and Sociology. Katie’s undergraduate research focused on abortion restrictions in Communist Romania under the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu.

In addition to her work with Planned Parenthood, Katie served as a fellow on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign in Delaware County, Pennsylvania where she worked to foster grassroots energy for Clinton’s candidacy. Katie also worked as a development intern with Piazza Grande in Bologna, Italy, an organization that works to eradicate homelessness through the social inclusion and empowerment of the homeless community.

The daughter of a refugee from Romania, Katie is passionate about immigrant rights and gender equality. When possible, Katie enjoys traveling, cooking, and hiking, all while doing her best to pet every dog that she encounters.

Kaylee McGuire

Passionate about disability advocacy and inclusion, Kaylee works as a Policy Analyst at the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office and staffs the Assembly Human Services and Regulated Professions Committees. Prior to working for the Legislature, Kaylee held a management position at the largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital system in the U.S as a Recreational Therapist and Child Life Specialist. There she advocated for community and education inclusion and developed therapeutic programs for children and young adults with disabilities. She received multiple grants to develop a water safety curriculum for children with Autism and design a study to determine its effectiveness. After championing a successful business plan that significantly grew the community programs at the hospital, she is now pursuing an MBA at Rutgers Business School.

Kaylee has held various leadership positions in her field on a national and local level and served on the board of directors for the regional recreational therapy professional association for over 7 years. Her past work in healthcare spans across inpatient rehabilitation, long term care, pediatric medical day care, as well as community-based services. As a certified child passenger safety technician, Kaylee served as the coordinator of the Safe Kids Union County Coalition where she led childhood injury prevention initiatives. Her passion for creating progressive change in the community for individuals with disabilities and others facing disadvantages led her to intern at the New Jersey Hospital Association, volunteer on multiple political campaigns, and ultimately transition from her work in healthcare to state policy. She is a native of Ocean County and currently resides in Bordentown, New Jersey. Kaylee is a fun-loving aunt of four and in her free time she mentors students at a Newark high school and enjoys puzzles, camping, swimming, skiing, and gymnastics.

Lewis Spears

A firm believer in a community pulling itself up by its bootstraps, Lewis Spears has devoted his life and career to manifesting this philosophy. Having been born and raised in the Booker T. Washington Projects, he saw, first-hand how a lack of education, direction, and mentorship negatively impacts one’s quality of life.

For nearly a decade, he has taught across grade levels, focusing primarily on developing the special education population and providing access to up-to-date curriculum with little to no assistance. He was educated in the JCPS and then went on to receive his B.A. from Rutgers University. Lewis continued his formal education at New Jersey City University, receiving a Masters of Arts in Urban Education to enhance his teaching pedagogy. In his pursuit to become an educational leader and increase his influence, Lewis attained an Educational Masters in School Leadership from Harvard University. While attending Harvard, he was honored as the Class Marshal, an esteemed award given for exemplary Scholarship in Action, excellent critical-thinking skills, and academic excellence.

As a conscious instructor, child advocate and effective leader, Lewis aims to share his talents with anyone aspiring to defy mediocrity. Lewis is the Founder and President of Kismet of Kings, Inc. This enterprise provides a constructivist approach to developing good character. The curriculum highlights prominent Black/Latino men who made significant contributions to the world and utilize their knowledge through project-based learning.

Lewis was afforded the opportunity to travel abroad and teach in Johannesburg, South Africa, through the Teach With Africa program. Through this endeavor, he was able to deliver a fresh perspective that will continue to stimulate human potential despite environmental challenges. He has taken lessons learned while in South Africa to provoke teachers and students alike, to take a deeper look internally and externally to promote authentic living and communal responsibility.

Lewis is passionate about enlightening the next generation and takes great pride in fostering positive connections and providing endless support. Currently, he works as a Crisis Intervention Teacher with the Jersey City Board of Education where he is committed to improving how education is executed on a daily basis.
Lewis is grounded in his faith and is an active member of his church community. He is happily married to Dr. Myriam Spears and a proud dad to AJ. He is committed to building their family while continuing to create a legacy of upward mobility and service.

Maria Del Cid-Kosso

Maria Del Cid-Kosso is a longtime New Jersey resident, born in Guatemala and raised in Plainfield, NJ.

Maria is the current Director of Legislative Services at the New Jersey Department of Health. Prior, she served as the Chief of Staff to the late New Jersey Assemblyman and Speaker Pro Tempore, Jerry Green.

Maria earned her Associates Degree in Psychology at Union County College. In 2015, Maria graduated Summa Cum Laude from Seton Hall University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Political Science. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Affairs and Politics at the Edward Bloustein School, Rutgers University.

Maria is passionate about expanding the educational opportunities available to undocumented youth and amplifying marginalized voices in politics. At the age of 25, she established her very own “Del Cid Dreamers” Scholarship with the Union County College (UCC) Foundation. The scholarship is designed to help undocumented students pursue a college degree; giving them the same opportunity she had when she attended Union County College. This is the first scholarship at UCC focused to financially aid undocumented students pursuing a higher education.

Maria is an alumna of the Rutgers NEW Leadership Program, an Organizing for Action- Barack Obama Fellow, Emerge New Jersey alumna, Board Member of LUPE Fund Inc., and was the first Latina woman elected President of the Union County Young Democrats.

Maria was recently awarded the Union County Women of Excellence Award in Government, the Hazel Frank Gluck Award from the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Urban League of Union County Young Professionals Award in Government, and was recognized on InsiderNJ’s 50 under 30: The Millennial Up and Comers in New Jersey Politics and 2018 InsiderNJ’s 100 Millennial.

On her spare time, Maria enjoys doing yoga and hiking. She currently resides in Union Township, NJ with her husband Edward.

Marquis Whitney

Marquis Whitney is a Law Clerk at the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, a federal trial court that adjudicates disputes in both civil and criminal cases. Marquis provides direct assistance and counsel to a Magistrate Judge in making legal determinations and in writing opinions by researching legal issues before the court. Prior to his clerkship, Marquis spent several years at the United States District Court, Clerk’s Office where he served in various positions including Courtroom Deputy, Appeals Clerk, and Generalist.

Marquis is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and Rutgers University. As a former evening law student, Marquis is no stranger to extraordinary challenges. Despite a tough course schedule and demanding career, Marquis was actively involved with the law school, student organizations and various bar associations. Of particular note is Marquis’ roles as President of the Black Law Students’ Association, Law Student Liaison for the Garden State Bar Association (“GSBA”) and volunteer work for the Center for Policy and Research. In addition, Marquis served on the Interscholastic and Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Boards, earning Best Brief honors and first place in the Eugene Gressman Moot Court Competition.

A firm believer in the African proverb, “each one teach one,” Marquis spends significant time serving the community. Marquis volunteers as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties and previously served as a mentor in the Thurgood Marshall Law Academy at University High School in Newark, New Jersey. As a mentor, Marquis shares the knowledge he has gained in every area of his life including lessons learned, successes, failures, talents, and blessings. Marquis also provides nontraditional law students with the opportunity to learn about judges, the judicial decision-making process, and the justice system in general, while working as a judicial extern.

Marquis currently serves on the Board for the GSBA, New Jersey’s oldest and largest professional organization for Black lawyers, judges, and law students. In this role, Marquis has spearheaded, participated in, and spoken at various panels and networking events for the New Jersey legal community. Lastly, Marquis is a founding member of “The Collective,” which is a group of Black male lawyers who represent the best and brightest in private practice, prestigious clerkships and in-house counsel across New Jersey.

Patricia Nagle

Patricia Nagle is the Director of Finance and HR for 360 Campaign Consulting and The Outreach Team, two start-ups working to organize campaigns and raise funds for progressive non-profits and campaigns. Her work behind the scenes allows some of the nation’s highest-profile progressive campaigns and nonprofits to mobilize large-scale field capacity at a moment’s notice, and to recruit high-value donors to sustain their important work for years to come.

Prior to her current role, Patricia worked as an organizer, fundraiser, and financial administrator for The Public Interest Network, a national network of environmental and consumer protection non-profit organizations. She serves as Vice President of Programming for The Pride Center of New Jersey, a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive programming to foster the health and well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community. She also facilitates The Pride Center’s peer support group for the transgender community.

Patricia brings to NLC a lifelong commitment to social justice inspired by her personal experience standing up to bigotry as a young person in the small town in which she was raised. Patricia is a 2010 graduate of Brown University, where she campaigned for gender-neutral housing and restrooms and was active in LGBTQIA+ organizing efforts.  She lives in Princeton with her husband.

Rashan Prailow

Rashan Prailow is Founder and CEO of The Think Group LLC (THINK), a business professional, inspirational speaker, postsecondary education advocate, and public servant. Most recently, Rashan worked as a Business Officer at Georgetown University. Prior to this, Rashan interned in the Office of Management & Budget and then served in the Presidential Personnel Office on the Economics and Justice team at the White House under former President Barack Obama.

Rashan has engaged over one thousand young adults as an inspirational speaker, personal development coach, and consultant. Rashan has collaborated with the New Jersey Department of education governors Juvenile Justice Delinquency Preventive Committee, Jean Krauss Youth Leadership and Career Development Forum, New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission, Camelot Education, Camden City School District, Baltimore City Public Schools, Harcum
College, Center for Family Services, Rutgers-Camden, George Mason University’s Early Identification Program, Gateway to College – Camden County College, and the Yale School to name a few.

This past primary election cycle, Rashan launched the “Prailow For The People” campaign as he ran for a City Council seat to represent Camden’s third ward. Although Rashan did not win, the primary goal of the “Prailow For The People” campaign was achieved as voter turnout increased by over 100% in an off-year ward election. Rashan’s advocacy, inspirational speaking, public service, and work with at-risk youth resulted in him becoming the only Camden resident selected as an honoree for the SNJ Millennials inaugural thirty under thirty trendsetters award.

Rashan is a proud native of Camden, New Jersey and attended the city’s public schools. Rashan’s transformative life story highlighting his re-commitment to education has been written about in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Courier Post. Rashan holds an associate’s degree in business administration from Camden County College and a bachelor’s degree in political science cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.

Robert Matos-Moran

Robert Matos-Moran is a passionate social justice advocate, professionally and in his free time. Originally from Kearny, NJ and a graduate of The College of New Jersey, Robert believes in service through community-building, empowering untold stories, and facilitating community-based solutions. This axiom drives his daily work to effectuate change in his community from the ground up. He is particularly interested in the intersectionality of progressive values and the importance of representation in all aspects.

As a first-generation American, Robert understands the power that comes along with communities of color seeing themselves represented in “what they want to be when they grow up.” He uses this lived-in experience surrounding his upbringing to bring together diverse stakeholders, activists, organizers, and elected officials through his involvement in the non-profit sector, state and federal campaigns, and government. As a proud Latinx man, Robert seeks to remove barriers to success and empower communities of color and vulnerable populations.

Robert is currently a Constituent Service Representative for Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. His portfolio includes immigration, veteran affairs, healthcare, and education. He previously worked on the campaigns of Governor Phil Murphy and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, in addition to several local races throughout New Jersey. In his free time, he enjoys supporting the arts, cheering on his favorite soccer team Everton FC, exploring new places, and playing tennis.

Susan Ragheb

Susan currently serves as the Executive Director of the Hudson County Democratic Organization, where she manages the party’s day-to day operations and assists with campaigns throughout the county.  At 23, she is the youngest person to ever hold the position and the first person of color.

Susan first started her career in politics as an intern for U.S Senator Cory Booker as a college senior. After graduation, she went on to work as campaign organizer under Field Strategies during the 2016 election cycle and worked on several campaigns in Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.  After the results on election night 2016, she decided to shift to policy work. Susan went on to work as a policy adviser for NJ Assemblyman Chiaravalloti where she helped research and craft legislative policy. She also worked as the Assemblyman’s field director for his 2017 re-election. Susan served as the deputy campaign manager for the 2018 re-election of Mayor Jimmy Davis of Bayonne and his council team, whom won in a historic “clean sweep” landslide.

Susan graduated from Saint Peter’s University in 2016 with a B.A in Political Science and a minor in Chemistry. As an undergraduate, she worked at the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership as the student assistant.

Victoria Pacheco

Victoria Pacheco has been a Councilwoman for the Borough of Keyport since 2016.  She is currently a Staff Associate at the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, the faculty union at Rutgers University.  Prior to coming to the AAUP-AFT in 2017, she worked for many years at the Directors Guild of America and before that with SAG-AFTRA.   She was also a part owner and managing editor of JCDowntown Magazine. In an earlier lifetime she interned for Congressman Frank Pallone.

Victoria believes in the power of the collective voice, whether that is in your community or your workplace and has dedicated her career to helping working people find that voice.  She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Labor and Employment Relations from Rutgers University. Growing up in the Bayshore part of Monmouth County, she developed a great love and appreciation for the miles of beach that line New Jersey and works in her role as Councilwoman to do her part in protecting them.   As Councilwoman she is currently a liaison to the Keyport Environmental Commission, the Police Commission, and is a Trustee to the Keyport Public Library. She enjoys reading, writing, attempting to run 5K races, and spending time with her husband, daughter, cat, and dog.

Vinay Limbachia

Vinay Limbachia is a litigation associate in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Vinay served as a law clerk to the Honorable Patty Shwartz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Honorable Alvin W. Thompson of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.  He also spent two years in the litigation department of another international law firm, where his practice focused on commercial litigation, criminal investigations, and pro bono immigration work. Vinay received his B.A., summa cum laude, in Philosophy and Religion from Rutgers University, where he was awarded the William H.S. Demarest Scholarship, and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as the Comments Editor for the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law and on the executive board for the Penn Law Mock Trial Association.

While at Penn Law, he co-authored the winning brief in the Edwin R. Keedy Moot Court Competition before a panel of federal circuit court judges and was a recipient of the Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award.  During his academic years, he worked as an organizing fellow on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign in New Jersey, was elected as a Democratic committeeman, and externed in the White House Counsel’s Office.
Vinay was born and raised in Edison and currently resides in Harrison.  He is an at-large member of the Alumni Leaders Council of the Rutgers University Alumni Association, for which he also serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee; the Director of Programming and Stakeholder Relations for the New Jersey Leadership Program, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting South Asian youth participation in local and state government in New Jersey; and a volunteer in the government relations department of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a global Hindu denomination dedicated to fostering the ideals of service and devotion.  In his spare time, Vinay enjoys exploring vegan restaurants, attending interfaith services and events, and playing tennis.

Meet the fellows at https://www.newleaderscouncil.org/chapter/28/fellows