Staff

Taylor is working as an Organizer Apprentice in the eastern Kentucky region. Before joining the KFTC team, she studied History and Appalachian Studies at the University of Kentucky and spent three years serving as an AmeriCorps Service Member in West Virginia and Kentucky. She enjoys reading, finding a good swimming hole, and spending time with her dog, Loretta, and her cat, Biscuit. Taylor currently resides in Knott County."

Morgan joined our staff in summer of 2009. She was born, raised, and still lives in Knox County, surrounded by her extended family.  Morgan enjoys spending time with her husband and their two wonderful children. She works out of our London office.

Corey grew up in eastern Kentucky and always said she would move out of state – but fell in love with Louisville and Kentucky organizing. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s in history and French. She is passionate about building a better, progressive South, and believes that Kentucky will be a leader in this process. In her (minimal) spare time, Corey is a complete book nerd and can be found reading anything and everything on her front porch.

Ashley grew up in Salyersville, KY and moved to London in 1999 where she now lives with her partner Daniel and his two kids. She joined the KFTC staff in November 2016 as the Operations Associate and provides day-to-day operational support to the Operations Manager and Deputy Director. In her free time she enjoys reading, embroidering (poorly) and half-finishing DIY projects.

Laura is a University of Kentucky graduate with a degree in Geography. Laura works to utilize and understand geospatial technology as a tool, one of many, with the capability to support environmental and social justice work. Laura is passionate that the technology has a power to produce beneficial data analysis, provide solutions for daily logistics management, and enhance an organization's visual engagement pathways.

Laura is a graduate of Western Kentucky University , where she majored in Phiolsophy and Public Relations. She has been a member of KFTC since 2015, having served on the Steering Committee and Economic Justice Committee, with a special interest in housing issues. She feels that engaging the arts is a critical part of our organizing strategy. She lives in Bowling Green with her husband, dog, and two cats. In her free time, Laura enjoys playing cello in a local alternative rock band.

Alexa will work with the Southern Kentucky chapter and be based in Bowling Green. Prior to joining the staff, Hatcher was involved in chapter work as an active member and as a voter empowerment organizer for the fall 2018 election cycle. Hatcher is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she studied sociology with a minor in citizenship and social justice and a concentration in community, environment and development. It was during her time as an undergrad that she grew extremely passionate about, and began to practice, community organizing. Hatcher also was a member of the pilot cohort of the KFTC Organizing Academy. She lives in Bowling Green, although she will always call Hart County home. Alexa has a background in food justice and gardening, but she is also deeply devoted to working against poverty and inequality.

Angel grew up in Corbin, Kentucky and moved to Richmond in 2014. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in sociology. During her time at EKU she minored in Appalachian Studies, which drove her passion to work back home in southeastern Kentucky after graduating college. She is excited to have the opportunity to work in an area that she loves and cares about, and to continue working towards a just transition!

Beth Howard grew up in Morgan County. She is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a Master’s in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. Beth served for five years as a lead organizer with a grassroots organization in Daytona Beach, Florida called Fighting Against Injustice Toward Harmony (FAITH). She returned to Kentucky in 2011 and worked as a case manager facilitating classes in parenting, job coaching, and interpersonal skills for a multi-county program based in West Liberty and started organizing with KFTC in 2013. Beth is a student of yoga, she is rarely ever without a book, and lives in Lexington with her dog Sandy. 

Alicia is originally from Louisville and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Louisville with a concentration in Non-Profit Management and a Graduate Certificate in Pan-African Studies. She has been with KFTC since January 2013, spending her first 4 years as the Jefferson County Community Organizer before transitioning into her current role in the spring of 2017. In her free time, Alicia is a volunteer leader with Outdoor Afro and enjoys outdoor activities, reading, and watching indie movies. 

Carissa joined the KFTC staff team in 2008.  She has a bachelor's degree from Ball State University and a Master's degree in Public Administration from George Mason University.  She previously worked as a grassroots organizer for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement where she focused on organizing family farmers and rural residents for economic and environmental justice.  She lives in Louisville with her husband and two children.  She enjoys spending time telling bad jokes, cooking, and playing with her family.

Dave is our Democracy Organizer, working to build a Democracy in Kentucky while advancing issues, empowering people, and making sure our next elected leaders are a little more deserving of titles like "Representative."  He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with degrees in History and Political Science and has experience organizing with the Kentucky Democratic Party, union organizing with SEIU, and most recently was Deputy Director of the Center for Media Justice in Oakland, CA.  He now lives in Covington, KY after coming back to us after 5 years out of state.  He's also a giant nerd who loves sci-fi.

Nikita grew up in Louisville and is a KFTC Organizing Apprentice at the Lexington office. Nikita is a 2016 graduate of the Dual BA Program between Columbia University and Sciences Po, where she received degrees in Human Rights and Political Science. After five years away, Nikita has returned to Kentucky to work on the issues she feels most passionate about, in the place she calls home, with the organization that first sparked her interest in activism. In the past, Nikita has participated in the Humanity in Action John Lewis Fellowship for civil and human rights, organized with Columbia Divest for Climate Justice, and served as a summer organizer with the Responsible Endowments Coalition. Immediately prior to her time at KFTC, she spent a year on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, where she completed a Fulbright research grant on community participation in responses to climate change.

Jessie began with KFTC in 2013 and works as a Program Associate. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a degree in Communication Art & Design. She also holds a Master's Degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University, with an emphasis on sustainable development. Jessie enjoys cooking, traveling, shopping for books, and she lives in Johnson County with her dog Marley.