People

Organizers

ADAM BARBANEL-FRIED

Director

Adam has more than 20 years of union, community and political organizing experience in multiple cities and regions. His work has resulted in the building of good schools, development of affordable housing, and expansion of health care to thousands of low income and marginalized people.

As part of his work, Adam has trained hundreds of leaders in relational organizing, organizational and leadership development, and deep canvassing.

LaToya Hargrove

Executive Assistant

LaToya was introduced to CTC from a virtual assistant placement company, and officially joined the team in 2025. With a strong background in administrative support and a passion for community outreach and engagement. LaToya brings a people-centered approach to everything she does. She thrives on building meaningful connections and ensuring that systems and communications run smoothly behind the scenes.

A proud graduate of the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!), she has years of experience supporting teams and initiatives that make a difference. She is especially passionate about creating inclusive, organized, and welcoming environments where both colleagues and community members feel seen and supported.

Outside of work, she is a voracious reader and loves spending time with her family, whether relaxing at home or out making memories together.

Tamesh Kemraj

Community Organizer

Tamesh Kemraj is an organizer with over six years of experience in voter engagement, grassroots mobilization, and volunteer training. He has worked on campaigns across Pennsylvania, helping build teams grounded in care, consistency, and community trust.

Originally from Guyana, and now based in Philadelphia, Tamesh has coordinated grassroots teams, trained new organizers, and helped design voter contact programs that center deep listening and long-term relationship-building.

Tamesh is drawn to CTC’s commitment to building long-term, progressive power by investing in local organizers and campaigns that center on community, equity, and deep relationships not just for election cycles. He is passionate about confronting injustice, advancing immigrant justice, and building power with working-class communities.

Robert Alvarado

Community Organizer

Robert Alvarado is an organizer with experience championing progressive causes through community engagement, education, and voter mobilization. Robert began deep canvassing in 2018, and as an organizer with CTC he brings his experience and passion for empowering vulnerable communities and connecting with people across differences. Prior to joining CTC, he was an educator at Planned Parenthood where he helped empower community members to access and advocate for healthcare resources. Originally from Los Angeles, Robert began organizing with the LA LGBT Center to advance LGBTQ+ justice and across Orange County to turn out the vote for Democrats. Now based in Philadelphia, in his free time you can find him walking around the city, meditating, or playing video or board games.

Robert manages CTC’s outreach call team and supports canvass logistics including volunteer placement. He looks forward to getting to know you and having fun out there on the canvass – the most rewarding part of the job!

Advisory Board

The Changing The Conversation Advisory Board is a group of leaders, stakeholders, and issue experts who support the work of CTC.

Andrea Koplove was a co-founder and Organizing Director of Turn PA Blue, an organization focused on electing Democrats up and down the ballot in Pennsylvania. In her six years as Organizing Director, she trained and mobilized thousands of volunteers and built a supportive and inclusive community in which people could take meaningful action to protect our democracy. Andrea has launched hundreds of canvasses, loves knocking doors, and deeply believes in the power of conversations to move us toward progress.

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy is Co-Executive Director/Executive Editor of The Philadelphia Citizen, a nonprofit media outlet focused on solutions to problems and on increasing civic engagement in Philadelphia, with the goal of reviving democracy in the American city where it was born. Roxanne is passionate about Philadelphia, a city she loves and worries over in equal measure.

Micah L. Sifry is the author of The Big Disconnect: Why the Internet Hasn’t Transformed Politics (Yet). His writing has been published in The Nation, The American Prospect, The New Republic, the NY Times and his own newsletter: The Connector, about politics, technology, and social movements. His piece about CTC was published in The American Prospect in 2020.

Marya Stark has been a leader in electoral politics for more than 20 years. She co-founded and led Emerge America as founding Executive Director and Board Chair for eight years. Emerge America is the premier training program for women who want to run for public office. Its 5,500 alumnae include eight Congresswomen, the first Native American woman in the US Cabinet, Deb Haaland, and more than 1,200 state and local officeholders, including mayors of San Francisco, Oakland and Boston.

Anim Steel is a Board Director of the Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation and co-founded the Real Food Generation, an organization harnessing the power of youth and universities to build a fair and sustainable food system. Anim has led national initiatives at The Food Project in Boston, consulted with Economic Development Assistance Consortium, and developed employment training programs at the Bowery Residents Committee. Anim, who was born in Ghana and grew up in West Africa and Washington, D.C., has been a volunteer canvasser with CTC since 2018.

James Wright, a Southwest Philly native, is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Major Gifts at HopePHL (formerly People’s Emergency Center- PEC), a social services and economic development non-profit located in West Philadelphia. James has 18 years of experience in neighborhood planning, economic and real estate development, and galvanizing multiple stakeholders to leverage community assets.