GRAND Voices together for a GRAND impact

The GRAND Voices initiative brings together caregiver advocates who help shape policies and practices that support grandfamilies and kinship families raising children.

These caregivers include grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, extended family members, and close family friends such as godparents, longtime friends, neighbors, or other trusted adults with strong family relationships who care for children.

GRAND Voices caregiver advocates share insights about family strengths, identify needs, and highlight service gaps, offering important feedback that informs Generations United’s resources and advocacy efforts.

With support from Casey Family Programs, Generations United provides information, skill-building, and engagement opportunities that empower families, tribes, and communities to help shape programs, policies, and strategies that improve outcomes for children and families.

Since 2014, GRAND Voices has grown to include 119 caregiver advocates across the United States, representing 13 tribes.

Interested in being part of the impact or know someone who would make a great GRAND Voice? Click here to learn more.

Emeritus GRAND Voices are former caregiver advocates who have made meaningful contributions to Generations United’s GRAND Voices initiative and have transitioned out of active participation. While no longer listed on our website, they remain connected through our work and are honored for their lasting impact and service to kinship and grandfamilies.

• Magdelena Andreozzi- Rhode Island
• Mandie Bates- Oregon- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation: Umatilla, Cayuse, Nez Perce
• Christine Benslimen- Pennsylvania
• Paula Bibbs-Samuel- Texas
• Jan-Ellen Bowman- Ohio Tribal/  Alaska Native Affiliation: Kahnawake Mohawk
• Alice Carter- Wyoming- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation: Sioux 
• Anntesha Chesterton- Nevada 
• Joan Dingle- Oregon 
• Raul Enriquez- Idaho
• Sharon Gebhardt- Washington- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation: Turtle Mountain Chippewa 
• Norma Hatfield- Kentucky 
• Antoinette James- Michigan
• Iona Jenkins- South Carolina 
• Carmen Kalama- Washington- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation: Nisqually 
• Ana Lora- California 
• Corrinna Martin- Connecticut 
• Kim Merriman- Nebraska 
• Aeesha Mosely- Pennsylvania 
• Jennie Negron- New Jersey 
• Farnece Roberts- Florida 
• Sharon Rochelle- Virginia 
• Eugene Vickerson- Georgia 
• Bonita Vinson- Texas 
• Jessica Cardenas- Texas 
• Ray Cerda- Texas 
• Laura Cooper- Kentucky 
• Renee Crosby -Skinner- Pennsylvania 
• Gail Gallagher- Texas 
• Brenda Hamlin- Vermont 
• Sammie Hayes- New Mexico 
• Jaquline Jackson- Oklahoma 
• LaNette Jacobs- Utah 
• Linda Lewis- Oklahoma
• Zina Jones- Connecticut 
• Tim Kavanaugh- Washington- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation: Samish 
• Cindy Kwiatkowski- Nebraska 
• Yvonne Maestas- New Mexico 
• Kristine Magstadt- North Dakota 
• Connie Timmerman- Alaska 
• Patricia Winston- Mississippi 
• Molene Martin- Maryland 
• Delia Martinez- Texas 
• Connie Mayes- Kansas 
• Annie Otto- West Virginia 
• Crystal Perdue- Tennessee 
• Carol Piscoya- Alaska- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation: Nome Eskimo Community 
• Lula Rochelle- Alabama 
• Rose Stigger- Missouri 
• Wilma Tyner- Montana- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation: Chippewa Cree 
• Jeannette Walker- Alaska- Tribal/ Alaska Native Affiliation:  Koyukon Athabascan 
• Peggy Callantine- Montana 
• Joanne Clough- Pennsylvania 
• Melodye James- Ohio 
• Al Johnson- Georgia 
• Tasha Keel-Augusta- Pennsylvania 
• Glenda Weaver- Idaho 
• Sherry Griffin- Arizona 
• Glenda Clare- North Carolina 
• Joseph J. O’Leary, Jr.- Massachusetts