Board of Directors
Lateisha Garrett - Board Chair
Lateisha Garrett hails from Powhatan, VA and is a graduate of James Madison University (JMU) where she earned a degree in English and political communications. After JMU, Teisha moved to Washington, D.C. to make the world a better place and focused on fundraising, communications, and marketing.
She has spent most of her career mobilizing and engaging people to support political candidates, advocacy organizations, issues, and non- profits. As a fundraiser, she has raised over $150 million from email, direct mail, phones, events, and campaigns. She is consistently called on by organizations to serve as an advisor on project implementation, strategy, recruiting, messaging, and more. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Civitech, a company dedicated to building a fairer and more equitable democracy through data and technology for Democratic and progressive organizations. In her spare time, she can be found wandering around Northern Virginia, cheering on a Washington sports team, voraciously consuming books, or baking cupcakes.
Jessica Bowser
Jessica is the past Political Director and a founding board member of Virginia’s List. Civic engagement and volunteerism are Jessica’s passions and she prides herself on leading by example. She serves on the Governor's Advisory Board on Volunteerism and Service and recently served on the board of the Virginia Service Foundation. As a former educator, she has worked tirelessly in the field of education policy and advocacy. She holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland.
Jessica is a member of the 2014 Political Leaders Program from the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. She is an appointed member of the Fairfax County Tree Commission and collaborates with many grassroots environmental groups to champion local conservation issues. Jessica launched and hosts the Virginia Outdoor Adventures Podcast, a show about outdoor recreation in Virginia. She uses this platform to elevate everyone's voice in outdoor spaces, where traditionally not everyone has felt welcome or safe, while also highlighting the natural beauty of our Commonwealth.
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Jessica and her partner are proud alumni of The Ohio State University and reside in Alexandria, where Jessica is a member of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee.
Laurie Buchwald
Laurie Buchwald is a former two-term member of Radford City Council and a former candidate for House of Delegates in 2015 and for State Senate in a 2021 Special Election. She has served on multiple local, regional, and state boards and commissions, and was instrumental in the development of the City of Radford’s bikeway/walkway system.
She was appointed by Governor Northam to the Board of Nursing and from that, was appointed to the Committee of the Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine. She is active in the Blue Ridge Region of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners.
Laurie serves on the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Virginia and is Secretary of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. She is a Board Member of the National Women’s Political Caucus–VA, and created the grassroots organization Elect Women! where she works to encourage and support SWVA women to run for office.
In her professional life, she is a Women’s Health and Family Nurse Practitioner and has been providing healthcare to women for over 30 years. A self-described “Navy Brat” who moved frequently during the first 25 yrs of her life, she has lived in SWVA for over 25 yrs, and as a single mother, raised her son there. She is a graduate of both Radford University and the Medical College of Virginia and is nationally certified in Women’s Health and Family Practice. Laurie is an avid sports fan, a passionate photographer and reader, and loves to travel, whether by foot, car, or on her motorcycle.
Julie Copeland
As the founding executive director of Emerge Virginia, Julie led, trained, and mentored 209 Democratic women to prepare them to run for office from 2014 to 2019. Many of her trained alumnae now serve in federal, state, local, and municipal offices across Virginia.
From 2019 through 2022, Julie was Director of Client Services with Campaign X Collective, delivering direct mail and, in 2022, opposition research strategic communications to candidates and caucuses across the country.
In 2023, Julie re-launched her opposition research firm Copeland Research. From 1997 to 2013, Copeland Research worked with clients nationwide, including the 2009 Virginia Deeds for Governor campaign and legislative candidates and caucuses across the country.
During her career, she was a senior advisor to seven statewide campaigns, including directing the 1996 Coordinated Campaign for Clinton/Gore and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner. She was chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Don Beyer for four years and played critical roles in his 1989, 1993, and 1997 statewide campaigns. In addition, she managed Lt. Gov. Beyer’s legislative agenda for all eight years in office. Julie also served as the Senate Democratic Caucus director in VA for three cycles.
Julie serves on the Board of Directors of Virginia’s List and the Cabinet of Emerge Virginia. She is the proud mother of two remarkable young women, Emma and Sophie. In her spare time, Julie creates royal-icing-decorated cookies for events of all types.
Lucy Hartman
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Lucy Hartman is a proud Virginian, born and raised in Norfolk and currently residing in Richmond with her family. She is a graduate of Saint Bonaventure University, where she double majored in French and Political Science. She has remained committed to advocacy work in the progressive field, from championing workers' rights to defending reproductive freedom.
Lucy has worked for unions such as AFSCME and SEIU across the country. She worked closely with volunteers and coalition partners at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, leading up to and during the fall of Roe v. Wade. Her primary purpose in politics is to empower women to lead by seeking office.
Lucy is a ghostwriter and project manager for a boutique publishing company that works with entrepreneurs to establish authority in their fields while building a legacy for the future.
Lucy is a lifelong learner who especially enjoys reading non-fiction and doing crossword puzzles, primarily to learn new words.
Carla Hesseltine
Carla can always be found in the car between Virginia Beach and Richmond visiting either the general assembly building or her granddaughter. Her path to service began in 2014 while her Dad was in hospice and subsequently passed. This eye opening experience led her to team up with former State Senator Frank Wagner, to shepherd and pass SB466, a bipartisan piece of legislation concerning the rights of family members to visit loved ones while in guardianship.
She is a two time gubernatorial appointee on the Commonwealth Council on Aging and worked to increase the budget (BA #332) for the Senior Farmer’s Market and a resolution (SJ66) to highlight senior malnutrition issues. She serves on the Virginia COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Task Force, is the Chair of the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission, serves on the Virginia Beach Community Services Board and was a finalist in the selection for an interim Virginia Beach City Council Lynnhaven seat. She was highlighted as one of the "Women in Business" award in 2011 while owning Just Cupcakes. She has been a keynote speaker for Congressmen Rigell’s Women’s Symposium, Ultimate Show for Women and Hampton Roads Small Business of the Year.
She is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Political Leader’s Program and Candidate Training Program and the FBI Citizen’s Academy. She has a degree in Visual Communication and bleeds green for Marshall University. Go Herd!
Dr. Carol Huebner Medawar
Carol Huebner Medawar, PhD, is a lifelong educator and dedicated advocate for innovative, inclusive, and effective education. With over 27 years of experience in Virginia’s public education system, Dr. Medawar has taught across the full K-12 spectrum, working with both academically gifted students and those with learning differences, always recognizing and nurturing talents that traditional assessments often overlook.
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Dr. Medawar began her career in Colonial Beach Public Schools teaching Special Education before moving to Spotsylvania County, where she taught high school special education and mathematics in Stafford County. Her passion for math education later led her to teach Algebra I and advanced math at the middle school level.Carol’s work expanded beyond the classroom as she took on leadership roles that supported educators across multiple school divisions. She served as a Math Specialist in Fauquier County and later as a K-5 STEM educator at the MathScience Innovation Center in Richmond. She went on to become Director for School Success at a national nonprofit, helping schools across Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and D.C. implement high-impact STEM learning experiences. Carol holds a Bachelor of Science from West Virginia University, a Master’s in Instructional Technology from George Mason University, and a PhD in Instructional Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research focuses on expanding access to STEM education and aligning student learning with local workforce needs.
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A resident of Spotsylvania County, Carol is a mother of adult children, a proud grandmother, and the wife of a retired law enforcement officer. As the oldest of 13 grandchildren, she naturally stepped into the role of organizer and peacekeeper—skills that continue to define her leadership today
Monica Hutchinson
Monica (she/her) is a wife and proud mother of three amazing young adults ages 18, 15, and 14. She is a Community and Political Organizer where she organizes around racial justice, social justice, and family centered issues like paid leave, elder care, child care, living wage, and more. A transplant from Queens, New York, Monica is extremely passionate about her communities here in Virginia and hope to inspire many with her vision of a Commonwealth where everyone works together towards racial, social and political justice. She is driven to fight for issues including civil rights, equity and equality, voting rights, restorative criminal justice reform, education, women equality, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA, immigration, healthcare, living wage, paid leave, elder care and more.
Monica is a graduate of the Virginia Progressive Leadership Project (Cohort 5), Alumna of the Black Campaign School, and serves multiple organizations through volunteer and civic engagement including the Henrico County Democratic Committee, where she formed and until this year served as the Chair of the Henrico County Democratic Black Caucus, The Henrico NAACP where she currently serves as 1st Vice President, Chair of the Political Action Committee, member of the Education Committee, past Chair of Communications and Criminal Justice Committees, and served as the mentor for the Henrico NAACP Youth and College Chapter. Monica is also a member of the Henrico County Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee where she serves as Vice-Chair of Planning.
For the 2020 Presidential elections, Monica proudly served as a 2020 VA state and 2020 Virginia At-Large National Delegate for President Joe Biden and traveled to PA to work as Deputy Director of Voter Outreach for Vote Blue for pre-GOTV/GOTV. Here in Virginia she was a member of DPVA’s Virginia Women for Biden, and Virginia African Americans for Biden. Monica is a founding member of the Women for Biden/Biden Harris digital grassroots team and an admin for the Virginia/DC Women for Biden Harris state group. She is a founding member, Executive Board member, and the Vice President of Government relations for the Women of Color Coalition, which started out as a digital organizing group for Biden for President and after the 2020 election, the WOCC group was turned into a 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 and has continued the work to engage, educate, and empower. Monica is fiercely dedicated to electing Democrats up and down the ballot and enjoys engaging her community on the issues that most impact them while challenging all to see the world through a lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and opportunity as we fight in solidarity for justice.
Julie Jakopic
Julie Jakopic's career has focused on working with low-income families and communities and the organizations that serve them. She is a leadership evangelist, helping leaders build resilient organizations and lives they love while delivering results and changing the world for good.
Her commitment to change includes leading in her community at organizations such as Hopkins House Pre-School, Sheltered Homes of Alexandria and both the Alexandria Economic Opportunity Commission and Community Services Board. She served as the Vice Chair for Finance and Administration of the Alexandria Democratic Committee for six years, the 8th Congressional District Committee for two, and ran for House of Delegates in 2015.
A former nationally ranked synchronized swimmer with a passion for chocolate, Julie is a juried photographer and painter. She holds an MA in Sociology/Social Psychology and a BA in Communication from the University of Maryland.
Krysta Jones
Krysta Jones has committed her life to public service, developing leaders and changing lives. In 2006 she
founded Virginia Leadership Institute (now known as Vote Lead Impact) to increase the number of Black
elected officials through training, mentoring, networking and tracking. Professionally, Krysta has
represented two associations as a lobbyist, advocating for women’s and socio economic status issues, and
served as the Director of Outreach for two Members of Congress. She worked in the Arlington, Virginia
County Board Office as an aide to the County Board Chair, and previously served as the inaugural
director of Virginia Promise Partnership, a Virginia state child care advocacy coalition.
Krysta is the immediate past president of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Virginia and a co
convener for the Black Women’s Roundtable Virginia. She is a 26 year member of Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority, Inc., and has served in leadership roles for several other local, state, regional and national
organizations including the National Women’s History Alliance, the League of Women Voters of
Virginia, Arlington Community Foundation and the DMV March of Dimes. She currently serves as the
International Director of Programs for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Co Chair of the Eastern Area
Legislative and Public Affairs Committee for The Links, Incorporated. She hosts a podcast for the
Arlington (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and previously hosted a local community TV show
on Arlington Independent Media.
In 2024, she was named a National Institute on Lobbying and Ethics Top Lobbyist. In 2023, Krysta was
named an Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women “Woman of Vision”, in 2021, she was
named a Library of Virginia “Strong Woman in Virginia History”, and has previously been featured in
Ebony Magazine as a "Hero Next Door". She is a TedX speaker, and a graduate of the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership, Leadership Arlington and The Campaign School at Yale. She is the author of the children’s civic education book, “Ella Goes to City Hall”.
Kiesha Preston
Kiesha Preston is a nationally recognized speaker, survivor, advocate, and former political
candidate whose journey from domestic violence survivor to policy changemaker has made her
a powerful voice on healing, justice, and systemic reform.
After surviving an abusive marriage, Kiesha helped write and pass legislation to protect other
survivors from experiencing homelessness, later speaking at congressional briefings, White
House roundtables, and high-profile advocacy events. She has also consulted for Federal
agencies on the intersections of homelessness, economic justice, and gender-based violence.
She has twice run for office, using her campaigns to spotlight truth, healing, and equity. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including the NAACP Impactors of Excellence Award (2022), the SCLC’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award (2023), and Roanoker Magazine’s 40 Under 40 (2023).
Kiesha is a lifelong Roanoker, and a proud mother of three.
Terry Ann Stevens - Vice Chair
Terry has a lifelong interest in public service, volunteer work, community involvement and getting tasks accomplished. She was on the Virginia Beach SPCA board for ten years and is still an honorary board member. As a military spouse living in the Middle East, Terry was instrumental in spearheading a middle school sports program at the DoD school. Years later, US military children supporting their active duty parents in Bahrain still benefited from this program. Back in the US, she continued her involvement in the PTA earning Volunteer of the Year in 2019 for her work with elementary school children in an after school program. Terry served as a board member with Vanguard Landing for two years and currently serves on the board of Connect With a Wish which is an organization to enhance the lives of children in foster care in Virginia Beach. In 2022, she was appointed by city council to serve on the Clean Community Commission.
Professionally, Terry served the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Virginia State Trooper, Special Agent Accountant and Assistant Special Agent in Charge. Currently, she works full time in residential real estate helping people achieve their dream of homeownership and guiding them through the process. Terry received her Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science & Mathematics from the University of Connecticut. She graduated from the Emerge Virginia program in 2018. She attended the Sorensen Institute Candidate Training Program in 2019, LEAD Hampton Roads in 2019, Sorensen Political Leaders Program in 2020-2021 & earned her Certificate of Non-Profit Management in 2022.
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Laurie Buchwald
Linda D. Wilkinson
Linda has been working at the executive level in the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors for 25 years. Her career includes lobbying for large health systems, revenue generation for statewide, national & international clients; and leading programmatic, systems and legislative changes for some of the largest national health organizations in the United States.
Her passion for systems change in the health and human services sector started in college. She worked for a small medical practice to pay for college. As a first- generation college graduate, she experienced the tremendous costs of higher education, while also benefiting from the remarkable education system in Virginia. Her experiences in college and seeing the hardships of patients accompanied by frustrations of caring physicians, made her determined to change how healthcare is delivered – eliminating barriers to access!
Today she consults with various nonprofits on strategic planning, bringing a Culture of Philanthropy to expand fund development activities and strong, efficient board governance for optimal results and individual experience. She also supports candidates that share her passion for social justice issues.
Linda is a very proud alumna of Randolph Macon College where she has received multiple awards for her service and currently serves on the Alumni Society Board of Directors & Executive Committee. A lifelong learner, she also studied at Virginia Commonwealth University (MPA) and holds multiple certificates and certifications n business leadership, board governance and change management.