GRAND Voices

The GRAND Voices initiative is a group of caregiver advocates who shape policies and practices for grandfamilies and kinship families raising children. They assess family strengths, needs, and service gaps, offering important feedback on Generations United’s resources and advocacy initiatives. With support from Casey Family Programs, Generations United provides information, skill development, and engagement opportunities to empower families, tribes, and communities in shaping programs, policies, and strategies that benefit children and families.

Established in 2014, it has grown to include 119 caregiver advocates across the United States, with members representing 13 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.

GRAND Voices

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

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