About the YEO Network Staff

City Commissioner Andrew D. Gillum
YEO Network Director

Andrew Gillum, Director of the YEO Network, is an alumnus of Florida A&M University (FAMU), former president of the Student Government Association, and FAMU’s first student member of the Board of Trustees. He became the youngest person ever elected to the four-member Tallahassee City Commission in February 2003. Commissioner Gillum has held prominent leadership roles such as Mayor Pro Tem, Chairman–Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency and lead commissioner for the Long Range Community Based Target Issue Committee. In keeping with his mantra to uplift and build the collective community, Andrew has championed several community initiatives including the Nims Middle School Digital Harmony Pilot Program, the Landlord Tenant Mediation Program; the Code Enforcement Amnesty Program; and the creation of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Park. Gillum served as Field Organizer and statewide Director of the “Arrive With 5” program with People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF). He organized the largest “Arrive With 5” get-out-the-vote campaign in Florida’s history. He also worked as Deputy Political Director with the Florida Democratic Party. Currently, he is the National Director of the Young Elected Officials Network with PFAWF, spearheading a program that unites elected officials age 35 and under in a network which supports them with leadership and personal development training and public policy support. (For Commissioner Gillum’s full bio, click here.)

Contact Andrew at agillum@pfaw.org.

State Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan
YEO Network Team

A graduate of Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Drama, Alisha Thomas Morgan has been with PFAW since 2005. In November 2002, she became the first African American to serve Cobb County in the Georgia House of Representatives. During her first session, she was selected as Freshman Legislator of the Year by Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Now serving in her third term in the Georgia General Assembly, she is representing her constituents through her membership service on the Children & Youth, Education and Governmental Affairs Committees. Alisha is married to David Morgan and is a proud new mommy to their daughter, Lailah Camille, born April of 2007. (For Representative Morgan’s full bio, click here.)

Contact Alisha at amorgan@pfaw.org.

Ryan Hurst
YEO Network Team

Ryan is a double major at Florida State University, pursuing a Bachelor degree in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. Originally from Plantation, Florida, Ryan volunteers in local, state, and federal campaigns, and helped lead the Obama Campaign to a Florida victory as a Field Organizer overseeing three of North Florida’s largest counties.  Active in social causes, he campaigned against the 2008 Florida Marriage Protection Act. Ryan’s leadership with the YEO Network has been longstanding, as an intern to assist with both 2008 and 2009 National Convenings and as a progressive young leader in the FLLA Class of 2009.

Contact Ryan at rhurst@pfaw.org.

Linda Morris
YEO Network Team

Linda began with People For the American Way Foundation in 2000 as a volunteer, but quickly turned her passion for civil rights into a career. Born and raised in North Florida, Linda’s background is in accounting. She worked as an accountant for Hopping, Boyd, Green and Sams Law Firm in Tallahassee, Florida and for the Florida Association of Counties. Since joining People For the American Way Foundation and People For the American Way, Linda has worked on several important campaigns, such as the Florida Class Size Reduction Amendment, the U.S. Supreme Court issues in 2005 and 2006, and and the Foundation’s Election Protection (EP) for two election cycles, most recently as field coordinator for EP in Jacksonville, Florida in 2006. Linda also runs a community shared-cost food program in Gadsden County called “Neighborhood Improvement for a Better Living.” In its inaugural year, it had already been able to consistently help 75 families per month.

Contact Linda at lmorris@pfaw.org.

Elisabeth Pope
YEO Network Team

Elisabeth has shown a strong focus in labor and employment issues both in the US and the UK. While attending Florida State University (FSU) she worked at a workforce center to help adults, dislocated workers, and disadvantaged youth in the Leon County area gain employability skills and find sustainable employment. In Edinburgh, Scotland she served as the administrator for a recruitment company. She hopes to use her dual background in English and politics to highlight progressive issues and create effective and just policy. Elisabeth received her Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University in English Literature and Political Science and her Masters from the University of Edinburgh in English Literature and Nationalism studies.

Contact Elisabeth at epope@pfaw.org.

Raquel E. Simon-Petley
YEO Network Team

Raquel began her work at People For the American Way Foundation in 2005 as the Program Coordinator for the Tallahassee Office, managing the Supreme Court campaign in Florida for a fair judiciary and running statewide events for several 2006 Florida legislative issues, including voting rights, felon rights restoration, reduced class sizes and gay adoption for People For the American Way. Her work in politics began as communications staff at the Florida Democratic Party and continued as a Public Relations Representative in Tallahassee, working with legislators in session, statewide media campaigns and national coalitions. Raquel’s current work with the Young Elected Officials Network has allowed her to combine several of her passions, including event planning, graphic design, web management and progressive politics, into the programmatic work of the Network. Raquel received her Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University, having studied Public Relations, Theatre and Spanish. She leads a yearly walk team for the March of Dimes and serves on the Leadership Development Committee of Boys and Girls Town of North Florida.

Contact Raquel at rsimon@pfaw.org.

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