Board of Directors 

Gordon Allen rejoined the Board in 2020, having previously served as Chair from 08-17.  Gordon has served on many non-profit boards in New Hampshire, as well as teaching economics.  He was also Executive Director of the Monadnock Workshop in Peterborough.  Gordon also serves as the Founding Chair of WNHN-FM.  (Antrim, NH )

Ken Barnes is a public interest lawyer.  Most recently, as a sole practitioner, his work has focused on civil rights and employment rights, including sexual harassment, unequal pay for women, and abortion rights.  As a legal aid lawyer in NH and the South Bronx, Ken stood up for the rights of poor and low-wage people who were struggling to make ends meet.  He has won lawsuits against state and federal agencies vindicating rights to health care, protecting children from abuse, and public access to Freedom of Information about “what our government is up to.”  Early on in his career, Ken successfully defended a U.S. Congressman who was being sued by the Moonies, and, while at Yale Law School, he was involved in campus speech issues.  He has done extensive volunteer work relating to immigrants’ rights and voting rights.  (Concord, NH) 

Kate Coon, Secretary is Chairperson of the PeterboroughPlus unit of League of Women Voters (LWVNH), established in 2017, representing 13 towns in the Monadnock region. She is also one of 5 elected members of the Peterborough Recreation Committee, member of Peterborough’s Affordable Housing Committee, chairs Friends of Peterborough Recreation Projects (501c3) and is a board member (VP) of Peterborough Folk Music. One of the First Women of Yale College, graduating from Yale in 1973, Kate taught and advised students in greater Boston area independent schools for over 30 years, until moving with her husband Seth to Peterborough in 1998. She has enjoyed participating in the Granny D Memorial Walk and supporting Open Democracy in the enduring legacy Granny D Doris Haddock: intrepid and inspiring advocate of strong democracy. (Peterborough, NH)  

Kelsey (Douville) Fisk presently works for America Votes in New Hampshire as part of the voting rights team. Kelsey's background in both issue organizing and candidate campaigns includes working as the lead organizer at Civix Strategy Group in New Hampshire, as a field manager for Forward Montana in Bozeman, Montana, and as a campaign manager for a state Senate race in New Hampshire. She has also worked for campaigns in Colorado and Iowa. Originally from New Hampshire, Kelsey is passionate about community organizing and getting outside. She lives in Massachusetts with her partner and her two dogs, Ken and Callie. (Lincoln, MA)

Ed Taylor, Chair. works with ACLU of New Hampshire and formerly the State Director at Rights & Democracy. Ed grew up in South Florida and is a proud HBCU graduate. He has spent a decade in community organizing, building coalitions and leading grassroots initiatives for various organizations and campaigns. Passionate about justice and equity, he works to create real change in diverse communities. Known for his innovative leadership, he brings together different perspectives to form inclusive partnerships. Whether working on large-scale campaigns or engaging with local neighborhoods, his efforts continue to inspire progress toward a fairer future. (Concord, NH)

 Maya Getter, Vice Chair, works as a Senior Policy Advisor.  She was the NH Voting Rights Program Manager in 2021. She has worked on a number of campaigns, including Warren for President. Maya graduated from Northeastern University, University of Southern California and Noble and Greenough School. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  (Boston, MA)

Cody Jacobsen, Treasurer has worked at Civix Strategy Group for the past 8 years where he has supported clients like the ACLU of NH, ACLU of FL & the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy develop and implement strategic plans and programs. He is a New Hampshire native and dedicated to ensuring a just and equitable future for the state. He currently lives in Henniker, New Hampshire and enjoys hiking and skiing with his dog Agatha. (Henniker, NH)

Davis Allen graduated from Keene State College in 2022 with a dual bachelor’s in Holocaust & Genocide Studies and History. He interned for Open Democracy in 2022, researching campaign finance and money in politics issues from the 2020 election cycle. As an intern, he also helped digitize materials from Keene State’s Granny D collection. He currently works for the State of New Hampshire. Davis enjoys exploring the beauty of the granite state with his wife and cat. (Goffstown, NH)

Sarah Chouinard is the NH Voting Rights Program Manager with the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights/America Votes NH. She previously served on the board of VegMichigan and the Depot Town Community Development Corporation in Ypsilanti, MI, and has a long history of animal rights advocacy, including work at a farmed animal sanctuary in Chelsea, MI. Before returning to New Hampshire in 2024, Sarah supported clients such as Planned Parenthood and the ACLU in Michigan and other states while working with the national firm Scale for Change. Sarah graduated from Saint Anselm College and holds a master’s degree from Boston College. She enjoys spending time outdoors, especially with her dog. (Antrim, NH)

** Affiliations listed for identification purposes only. Board members serve in their individual capacities.

Staff 

Olivia Zink, Executive Director 

Olivia has been working as a community organizer in New Hampshire since 2000. Before becoming OD's Executive Director, she served as the Grassroots Engagement Coordinator for the Governing Under the Influence Project in Concord, a project of the American Friends Service Committee. Olivia served as the Program Director for the Coalition for Open Democracy for four years.  She has worked on a broad range of campaigns for economic and social justice with groups including the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare and the Priorities NH Campaign. Olivia also spent a year in Bolivia working with the Democracy Center.  In 2008, she was named one of New Hampshire’s “40 under 40,” by the NH Union Leader. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Sustainable Living, and a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a master’s degree in Community Economic Development.

Doreen Desmarais, Administrator

Doreen has more than 30 years experience in office administration, serving the non-profit, educational, labor union and for profit sectors. She has been the Administrative Assistant to the NH School Principals Association, Laborers Local 668,  and currently manages administration, finance, and event planning for Open Democracy and NH Peace Action in Concord. In her free time Doreen enjoys gardening, volunteering and spending time with her family and pets.

Sam Cassin, High School Voter Registration Coordinator

Extraordinary Open Democracy Fellows 

Davis Allen, Democracy Fellow, 2022 Keene State College

Sara Lobdell, Democracy Fellow, 2020 Antioch University New England

Eden Gebeyehu, Democracy Fellow, 2017

Jordan Cozby, Democracy Fellow, 2017

Kazi Ateea, Democracy Fellow, 2017

Niambi Mercado, Voting Rights Fellow, Spring 2017 Antioch University

Jazmine Langley, Democracy Fellow, Summer 2016 Elon University

Ian Duffee, 2015, SUNY Geneseo (Democracy Matters)

James Giles, 2015, Dartmouth College

Taisuke Iwasaki, 2015, New England College

Kimberly Manriquez, 2015, Humboldt University (Democracy Matters)

Colin McCarty, 2015, Colgate College (Democracy Matters)

Emma Stein, 2015, Union College