The Center for Policy Progress (CPP) is driven by a multi-generational team, headed by David Overton, a strategic planner and activist in Austin, Texas.  David's background includes a degree in accounting from Texas Tech, a Master's degree in Management from the Sloan School at MIT, and 40 years of experience in strategy, finance, and research.

 

Kenya is our Social Media specialist.  In this role, she works with campaigns to optimize their social media presence, and also develops infographics to aid in communicating key points.  Kenya also does policy research into criminal justice, health care and immigration.  She will attend Ohio State University in the Fall.

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Emily is an Austin native and graduate from the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations at The University of Texas at Austin. She developed our website and advises on communications and social media strategy.  She also conducts research on environmental and social justice issues. 

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Micah, a graduate of Tufts University, has experience in political organizing for school board, congressional, and senate campaigns.  Micah works in economic consulting and is based out of Boston. His background is in economics and international relations. 

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Kathi is an experienced community activist and political observer. She advises the team on issues, framing, and communications strategy. Kathi lives in Hays County, "the gateway to the Texas Hill Country.” She has a music degree from the University of Texas at Austin and was a teacher of numerous subjects, including Band, general music, government, floral design and the business of floral design in public and private schools, and community college. A native Texan, with roots that go back to before Texas was a state,  Kathi’s experience extends to having been a candidate herself for the State Senate and US Congress, as well as running for the local electrical cooperative (PEC) board.  She is especially interested in public education, water resources, and the environment.

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Past Team Members

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Rowan is a student at Claremont McKenna College studying politics and economics. He writes papers and advises the team on branding, marketing, and communications. He has experience working in state-level student government, for various political action groups, and for student advocacy groups.

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Clara is a Master's student at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. At CPP, she is a Policy Research Analyst working on healthcare, economic, and education policy. Clara's prior experience includes political organizing and voter maximization during the 2020 presidential primaries and general election, disaster response and ecological restoration in the deep south, and US foreign policy in the Middle East. Growing up in New York has informed her focus on urban policy and economic justice.

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Alexandra is a recent graduate at the University of Texas at Austin with a concentration in Government, Business and Public Policy. During her time at UT, she focused her academic course work on poverty, inequality, and social mobility. She is particularly interested in the role that the law, public policy, and higher edcation play in expanding access to marginalized populations. Alexandra's past cross-sector experience includes working across the financial, legal and social sectors. At CPP, she is a Policy Research Analyst working on border and immigration, infrastructure, and climate change.