Stacy Carkonen - National Field Director

Stacy Carkonen joined the staff of GAC as a part-time consultant in August 2009. Prior to joining GAC she spent 10 years as a volunteer and staff member with RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund, a Washington D.C. based citizen's lobby. As a staff member for RESULTS Stacy trained and supported a vast network of volunteers as a Grassroots Organizer and national Grassroots Manager for their global campaigns.

She holds a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Idaho with an emphasis on political violence, revolutions, and economic development, and finished her degree at the University of Birzeit in Palestine. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and music from Washington State University.

She came away from her experience living and studying in Palestine understanding very little Arabic, but with a much greater knowledge of the complexities of international conflict, conflict resolution and the role that citizens can play in creating safe, healthy, thriving communities around the world.

Her love of theatre, music and politics made her a perfect candidate for a grassroots organizer and general rabble rouser. Over the past 10 years, Stacy has organized on a plethora of issues including microcredit, orphans and vulnerable children, global education, and the diseases of poverty.

She lives in Sumner, Washington with her husband, two children, four cats and two hamsters. She is a very proud board member of Mothers Acting Up and TB Photovoice. Contact Stacy at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

Allison Grossman - Senior Policy Associate

Allison joined Global Action for Children in April 2009 as a Policy Associate, contributing to GAC's advocacy and legislative efforts to improve the lives of children in the developing world. Prior to joining GAC, Allison worked in the advocacy department at American Jewish World Service where she focused on global health issues, including United States global HIV/AIDS and reproductive health policy, as well as advocacting for U.S. foreign assistance programs and an end to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Allison also served as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, working on foreign policy, international development, and human rights. She previously worked to empower and engage young girls and women with disabilities with the knowledge and skills to become leaders and mentors. She holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Arizona. Contact Allison at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

JoAnn Kane - Director of Operations

JoAnn joined GAC in October 2008. JoAnn is an experienced executive with in-depth knowledge of nonprofit financial, legal and governance requirements and an extensive background in program management, resource development and advocacy. Prior to joining GAC, JoAnn worked on issues affecting women and their families, development finance, and national advocacy campaigns to secure basic rights to housing, health care, and life-long education. In her work to support local women leaders, Ms. Kane secured over $30 million in loans and grants to revive neighborhoods and increase the impact of innovative grassroots organizations in underserved communities. Her work includes early investment in housing for people with HIV/AIDS, international efforts to lower the cost of basic shelter, application of development principles to disaster relief initiatives, and empowerment programs for indigenous women leaders. Contact JoAnn at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Leila Nimatallah - Policy Director & Interim Executive Director

Leila Nimatallah serves as Policy Director for Global Action for Children (GAC), leading advocacy and legislative efforts to improve the lives of children in the developing world.  Prior to joining GAC, Leila managed successful legislative campaigns at RESULTS' on global health and microfinance and shaped and supported grassroots advocacy efforts at local and state levels for over a decade.

She served as a Judiciary Committee aide for U.S. Representative, Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and as a legislative associate for Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA). She was also a former co-chair of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Task Force.

Leila earned a B.A. from Boston College and a law degree from Villanova University in 1993, and is a member of the Pennsylvania, Maryland, and District of Columbia Bar Associations.

Leila is also the proud but tired mother of two beautiful boys, Mathew and Jamie. Contact Leila at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).