Kristen (she/her) joined the Women's Lobby of Colorado representing the Denver Women's Collaborative in 2018. She also works at The Gathering Place, a daytime place for women, children, and the transgender community experiencing homelessness. Kristen has also been active with Indivisible Denver helping organize events that range between small community forums to large protests. She is the proud mom of two boys, Hayden a lover of magic and Calvin a force to be reckoned with.
Christine E. Breen (she/her) grew up in Houston, TX. As a descendent of original Colorado pioneers, Christine moved to Colorado in 2011 after obtaining her Masters in Environmental Law and Policy and J.D. from Vermont Law School.
Christine joined Cantafio Hammond in May 2013. Christine's practice focuses on Plaintiffs Employment matters including Title VII Discrimination, disability discrimination, and FMLA matters. Her practice also includes commercial and civil litigation in federal and state courts, as well as matters affecting Colorado's natural resources. No matter the issues, Christine is a strong advocate and dedicates herself to her clients.
Additionally, Christine actively advocates for women's and LGBTQ rights. She represents women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ community, and any other person who has suffered discrimination, harassment, and violation of their civil rights by their employer. Outside the office, Christine advocates for women and family rights policy. Christine is on the Board of the Women's Lobby of Colorado and occasionally testifies on proposed legislation that would affect the rights of women and families.
Christine also meets with policy makers at both the state and federal levels to advocate the civil rights of others.Give customers a reason to do business with you.
Shenika Carter (she/her), founder of Caravan for Racial Justice is a Community Activist, Human & Civil Rights Philanthropist, Mother, Small Business Owner, and Black Media Truth Teller. After the birth of her son Lincoln, which was around the time Trayvon Martin was murdered, Shenika began a journey to call out police brutality and to raise awareness of the killings of unarmed Black men, women, and children across the Country. In 2016, she began connecting with progressive candidates of common interest who were willing to stand and fight for legislation that impacted marginalized communities. Shenika overcame obstacles where many failed and is determined to dismantle every facet of White Supremacy intertwined in America’s DNA.
Anna (she/her) is a public policy advocate and researcher. Most recently employed as a fundraiser for tribal colleges and other minority serving institutions of higher education, she has previously served as an ESL teacher for immigrants and refugees, an editor at a university press, and a university rhetoric and composition instructor.
Anna has served on the Women’s Lobby of Colorado’s board directors since 2017, previously serving in leadership roles as the Board Chair, Board Vice Chair, and Policy Chair. She currently sits on both the policy and community engagement committees.
Anna is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at CU Denver's School of Public Affairs, where she also earned her graduate certificate in public policy analysis. Her research focuses on the role of activists and other engaged community members within the public policy process, including their participation within advocacy coalitions and impact on policy outcomes. She earned her M.A. in English from Penn State University and her B.A. in English and Anthropology from Texas Tech University.
Anna met her partner when they were both serving as Peace Corps Volunteers in Ukraine, and they now live together in Denver with their son, cats, and books.
Tamra DeBrady (she/her) was born in Frankfurt, Germany and grew up in Fontana, California. She graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Shortly after moving to Denver in 2009, she finished her Masters in Business Administration. Tamra is currently an Account Executive for Cigna.
In addition to her professional career - Tamra is an activist and leader in the community. She is currently the President of Colorado Black Women for Political Action and on the Board of Directors for ProgressNow Colorado Education (PNCE) and Conservation Colorado. Tamra pledged Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi) Professional Business Fraternity as an undergrad at California State University of San Bernardino. She is a co-founder of the AKPsi Denver Alumni Chapter and is currently the Regional Manager of Professional Development for the Western Great Plains Region. She is a Precinct Committee Person (PCP) for the Democratic Party. Tamra has worked on and consulted for political organizations, elected officials, and campaigns.
Tamra is passionate about educating, empowering, and advocating for the community. “The task is to transform society; only the people can do that – not heroes, not celebrities, not stars.” – Huey P. Newton
Wendy Howell (she/her) has been a labor, LGBTQ, and political organizer for over twenty years. She first came to Colorado in 2008 to help Betsy Markey defeat then-Congressmember Marilyn Musgrave, and fell in love with both our state and her future wife Jen while on that campaign. Since, she has served as the state director of Why Marriage Matters (the coalition for marriage equality), organized healthcare workers to stand up for themselves and their professions, and helped to found the Colorado Working Families Party, where she currently serves as Acting State Director. She lives in Denver with Jen and a particularly incorrigible rabbit named Amelia.
Renée (she/her) is a Colorado native from Fort Collins. She is a Front Range Field Manager for Conservation Colorado, where she works to conserve and protect Colorado’s public lands, water, air and communities. She works to mobilize her community to influence policy-makers to pass pro-conservation legislation here in her home state. She received her BA in Political Science and certificate in Women’s Studies, from CSU. Renée previously worked for the Obama Presidential Reelection Campaign as a Campaign Field Organizer for Larimer County. In her free time she is also a Commissioner appointed by Mayor Hancock on the Denver Women's Commission.
Ashley Wheeland, MA, JD (she/her) is the Director of Public Policy at Hunger Free Colorado. Her passion for policy has included work as the Policy Attorney at the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, the Executive Director for Women's Lobby of Colorado, and now in this role. She has worked with state legislators, Congressional members, and Colorado's Governor staff to put forth policies to help more Coloradans access health care and food. Ashley was born in Greeley, Colorado and grew up in Montrose and the Denver metro area. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Colorado State University, and her law degree from the University of Denver.