Amber Basares: “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas” as Shirley Chisholm is quoted saying.  These are morals that have been embedded in Amber’s cranial as well lifestyle.  She is a nine year Marine Veteran, with a heart that drives her to pursue change.  As an activist within the community of Lima, she is driven by women’s rights, minority injustices, and advocating for children.

Beth Sutton-Ramspeck came to the Lima area in 1998 to teach English at the Ohio State University. She first became active in politics as a team leader and staging location director during the 2008 Obama campaign and was re-energized after the 2016 election and the 2017 Women’s March in Washington. She joined AHEAD leadership in 2018. Her political interests include health care, eliminating partisan gerrymandering, and social justice. She is also writing a book about resistance in the Harry Potter series.

Kerry Bush is a professional graphic designer and photographer located in Dayton (formerly in Bluffton). She was an organizing fellow on the Hillary Clinton campaign in fall of ’16 and now helps co-lead the communications committee for AHEAD, which includes managing the group’s Facebook group and Twitter account. Kerry is particularly passionate about LGBTQQI2A rights, getting money out of politics, and smashing the patriarchy! You can follow her on Twitter at @kerrybush.

Lisa Robeson left the D.C.-Maryland area more than 20 years ago to come to Bluffton, OH. She has taught at Bluffton University and Ohio Northern University. She has served in leadership positions at work, at her church, and in the community. She is committed to engaging ordinary citizens in participating in their democracy and is passionate about educating people on the political system and issues, particularly issues of voting fairness and health care.

Originally from Wisconsin, in 1999 Mary Drzycimski-Finn moved with her husband to Ada to teach at Ohio Northern University. Excited to contribute to the growth of her adopted home, Mary is running for Ada Village Council in the November 2017 elections and would welcome your support. Residents of Ada and Hardin County are encouraged to contact her with questions or issues of importance to our community. Energized by the opportunity to make a difference, Mary is engaged with all the AHEAD committees. Her particular interests include education; fair voter representation at the local, state, and national levels; and making government work for the common good.

Maya Fischhoff has lived in Ada for several years. She co-leads AHEAD’s communications committee. She is thrilled to be part of the dynamic, committed, innovative AHEAD group. Maya is particularly passionate about environmental issues; she has a PhD in environmental sustainability and works for an environmental non-profit. However, with the Trump administration’s assault on so many aspects of American life, Maya is trying to take action in many other areas as well, including civil liberties, health care, national security, and tolerance for people of all backgrounds.

Wendy Chappell-Dick (picture forthcoming) was born a Quaker and became a Mennonite, so she grew up steeped in a religious tradition of non-violence. She was a Peace and Conflict Studies major at the University of Waterloo in Canada, and then did her internship at the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the nation’s oldest interfaith activist organization. Her first job was Assistant Director at the Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center at Bluffton University and has since gone on to organize and coordinate many events in the Bluffton community and beyond. She has worked for many Democratic campaigns on the local, state and national levels.