Introducing New Staff!

In addition to our new summer interns, we are excited to announce two new additions to the VOTE staff – Dolfinette Martin, Lead Organizer and Sara Fitzgerald, Director of Development and Communications.

Dolfinette Martin earned an Associates of Applied Science degree from Delgado Community College, and serves on the Advisory Board for the Prison to Patient Coalition, guiding the FIT Clinic - VOTE’s partnership with Tulane Medical School. She spent a total of nine years at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, and has been a member of VOTE since March, 2016. Dolfinette is a proud mother and grandmother, serving New Orleans as a motivational speaker, community activist, leader, organizer, and role model for at-risk youths.

In her role as Lead Organizer, Dolfinette will focus on engaging people in our community who are currently on probation and parole, “off paper” (i.e. no longer under supervision), or being targeted for convictions. These plans will include families and neighbors in highly-policed communities as well. She organizes and leads our monthly meetings, neighborhood canvasses, building membership and voices of our grassroots movement.

Sara Fitzgerald has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 10 years. She holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in English/Creative Writing from the University of Southern California, and a Certificate in Fundraising and Institutional Development from UCLA Extension. She recently relocated to New Orleans from Los Angeles with her husband Benjamin, a video game programmer, and their two dogs.

As Director of Development and Communications, Sara is responsible for fundraising strategy and donor relations, as well as internal and external communications. She will focus on individual donors, foundations, grant administration, and will work closely with the Board of Directors. She will assist the Deputy Director in managing the website, blog, newsletter, and social media channels as well as outreach collateral and graphic design.

This marks yet another major step for the growth and effectiveness of VOTE. New Orleans and the nation can expect to see more victories like Ban the Box and public housing policy reform (among the list of 2015-2016 accomplishments), as we will certainly roll into 2017 with strength and momentum for change.

Join us in welcoming these two new faces to the team!