MCCE Staff

Anna is the Executive Director of Democracy Maine, a hybrid organization that brings together the League of Women Voters of Maine, Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, and Maine Students Vote. Anna grew up in Maine before earning a BA in Political Science from Yale University and a Masters in Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics. Their early career focused on democratic transitions and anti-corruption in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At Democracy Maine, Anna has led successful legislative and ballot initiative campaigns to expand Ranked Choice Voting and small donor funding programs, pass the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, and modernize Maine’s election and voter registration systems. They live in Portland Maine (when they are not traveling to write about figure skating competitions).

Jen hails from the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. She’s worked in public libraries, and has done communications work in the fields of environmental education & sustainability, city government, and higher education. She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for 3 years in the London Ferrill Community Garden, a radical space where members grew healthy and free food for the community. She has a B.A. in English and French from Transylvania University and a M.A. in French from the University of Kentucky.

Al Cleveland is a seasoned organizer with a decade of experience in progressive advocacy and campaigns. They have worked to close youth prisons, build public power, strengthen democracy, and support LGBTQ youth. Al has lived in Maine since 2018 where they first started as an organizer with the League of Women Voters of Maine and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections.

Evan is a Mainer with a degree in sociology from USM, who spent ten years on the other side of the US and came back in 2019. Their nonprofit and educational experience in equity and inclusion led them to the League and MCCE, where they can work to ensure that everyone has equal access to our government. They've been delighted to revisit their 20-year-old political roots in Maine, where they first learned what civic engagement means.

Deb is an educator, organizer, and facilitator based in rural mid-coast Maine, Penobscot Territory. They settled in Maine in 2016 to attend UMO for their BA in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science. During this time they have organized and worked towards reproductive rights, Indigenous sovereignty, racial justice, climate and environmental justice, outdoor access for underrepresented communities, and decolonial movement building. Deb is passionate about community and supporting marginalized identities and youth in practicing decolonial community work.

Jill Packard has been running nonprofits and small businesses for over twenty years. Jill is passionate about rural communities, our capacity to connect, and how our values shape our systems. Their work advocating for underserved communities led to wanting to do deeper work to support the organizations that have their feet on the ground. Jill holds a BA in Political Science and an MS in Environmental Studies where she focused on education, American government, sustainable communities, and connective capacity. Jill and her family moved to the Highlands area of Maine in 2007 and they can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Emilia has lived in Maine since 2022 and recently graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a BA in Women and Gender Studies and a BA in English. She started as an intern with Maine Students Vote, where she found a passion in organizing and working with young people to create a better future for all. Emilia became involved in community organizing and advocacy in high school, when she lived in Nashville, TN. Now a proud New Englander, she is devoted to supporting the next generation of youth leaders and creating opportunities for students to participate in civic engagement work.