GRAND Voices

Generations United's GRAND Voices initiative is a national advocacy group comprised of caregiver advocates, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, other relatives and close family friends raising children whose parents cannot. Serving as strategic partners, GRAND Voices play a crucial role in shaping policies and practices that affect grandfamilies, offering invaluable insights into family strengths, needs, and service gaps. Supported by Casey Family Programs, Generations United empowers GRAND Voices with resources, skills development, and engagement opportunities, supporting their active involvement in shaping programs, policies, and strategies for the betterment of children and families like theirs. Established in 2014, our national advocacy group represents 46 states and 12 tribes. Join us in becoming a GRAND Voice in amplifying caregiver voices and effecting positive change. For more information or to apply, please contact our GRAND Voices Support Coordinator at the National Center on Grandfamilies at rwind@gu.org.

Keith Lowhorne

Alabama

Bernadine Atchison

Alaska

Victoria Gray

Arizona

Bob Ruble

California

Jaymi Lynn

California

Aline Ratliff

Colorado

Gail Engel

Colorado

Toni Minor

Colorado

Rosalie Tallbull

Colorado

Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Lynda Shorter

Florida

Chris Mathews

Florida

Marlena Austin

Florida

Karen Gillespie

Georgia

Debra Suzette Brown

Georgia

Charlye Hahn

Idaho

Adrian Charniak

Illinois

Rijenna Murray

Indiana

Mindy Eckert

Iowa

Andreah Moyer

Iowa

Beth Patton

Kansas

Robert Brown

Louisiana

Kathy Coleman

Louisiana

Bette Hoxie

Maine

Joseph J. O’Leary, Jr.

Massachusetts

Jan Wagner

Michigan

Craig Nash

Michigan

Marisa Van Zile

Michigan

Sokaogon Chippewa

Sharon Olson

Minnesota

Janet Baldwin

Mississippi

AnnaMarie White

Montana

Ali Caliendo

Nevada

Rosemary Nugent

New Hampshire

Dolores Bryant

New Jersey

Sammie Hayes

New Mexico

Linda James

New York

Ron Downs

North Carolina

Genia LaRese Newkirk

North Carolina

Patricia Holland

North Carolina

Brandi Estrada

Ohio

Charlotte Carey

Oklahoma

Barbara Johnson-Williams

Oklahoma

Robyn Wind

Oklahoma

Muscogee (Creek)

Terry Santini

Oregon

Tawanda Harris

Pennsylvania

Charlotte Stephenson

Pennsylvania

Laurie Tapozada

Rhode Island

Mercedes Bristol

Texas

Bradley Vinson

Texas

Jim Holway

Vermont

Jeanna LaVallee

Vermont

Sharon Rochelle

Virginia

Alisa Thornton

Virginia

Sarah Smalls

Virginia

Desiree Taylor

Washington

Lynn Urvina

Washington

Olivia Chase

Washington, DC

Cassandra Gentry

Washington, DC

Santana Lee

Wisconsin

Angela Clements

Wisconsin

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