Common Cause Adds Four National Governing Board Members, Including Two Reflecting Youth Perspectives

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(WASHINGTON, DC) — Common Cause and the Common Cause Education Fund today welcomed four new National Governing Board Members, including two that have experience working with the organization’s growing Student Alliance as Democracy Fellows at Historical Black Colleges and Universities.

“The Common Cause National Governing Board celebrates the arrival of these four gifted individuals who now join us in the fight to foster a more inclusive and equitable democracy” said Martha Tierney, Common Cause National Governing Board Chair.

Jesse Ulibarri, who led the nominations process for the board said, “Common Cause is incredibly fortunate to welcome a talented cohort of new board members who have spent their lives fighting for a thriving multi-racial democracy. Wendy, Tami, Shae and Braxton each bring a unique expertise and perspective to the work, and we are eager to see how their leadership helps to shape the future of Common Cause.”

Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn adds, “Our democracy is rich with diverse cultures, people, and ideas and stronger when we ensure all voices are heard. Common Cause is thrilled to reflect that diversity as we continue to grow.”

The four new Common Cause National Governing Board members are:

Braxton Brewington – Braxton Brewington resides in Raleigh, NC, and is a communications professional and electoral organizer, focused on racial, economic and democratic justice. Braxton currently serves as the Press Secretary for The Debt Collective; a national debtors union fighting to cancel debts and defend millions of households. Recently, Braxton worked as a Senior Communications Lead for the Democratic Party of Georgia, Press Secretary of Organizing Together North Carolina and served as a Field Organizer for U.S. Senator Cory Booker’s presidential campaign. Braxton was a Democracy Fellow with Common Cause, where he worked to galvanize students to become civically engaged by registering them to vote on campus, organized marches to the polls, and lobbied Congress. Braxton was a state spokesperson in North Carolina for the Common Cause v. Rucho case and cites his speech at the steps of the US Supreme Court as an event that propelled him into fighting for a powerful multi-racial democracy.

Wendy Fields – Wendy Fields resides in Arlington, VA, and is a nationally recognized leader in the fight for an inclusive democracy. She is Senior Principal for Fields Growth Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm that she founded to help organizations move from theory to practice on racial equity and support bold organizing that drives transformative policies.  Most recently, Wendy served as executive director of the Democracy Initiative, a network of 75 civil rights, environmental, labor, and civic organizations formed to restore the core principles of democracy and political equality. Previously, Wendy served as a Vice President for Common Cause and is the first African American woman to serve as Chief of Staff for the United Auto Workers International Union. She lived in the Detroit area while working for the UAW for 17 years.

Shae Harris – Shae Harris resides in Washington, DC, and is a policy advocate and advisor, working at the intersection of democracy and criminal justice reform policy. Currently, she serves as a Policy Advisor with the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, where she develops and influences policy and strategies for six government agencies impacting the criminal justice system and public safety. Prior to this position she was the Deputy Director for the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs. Shae brings a deep history with Common Cause, serving as one of the first HBCU campus coordinators working at North Carolina North Carolina. Shae remains heavily involved in our national youth programming, speaking with our participants annually during their trip to DC.

Tami Sawyer – Tami Sawyer resides in Memphis, TN, where she is a Shelby County Commissioner, the only Black woman to serve on the commission in a county that is predominantly Black. She is a social justice activist who is Chair of the Memphis NAACP Legal Defense Fund, leader of #Takeemdown901 and recipient of the Ebony Power 100 Award. She has written on racial justice for CNN and the Huffington Post. Previously, Tami served as the National Field Director for Black Voters Matter.