As we ring in 2016 later this week, we're delighted to announce several new members on the Alliance's Board of Directors. Bringing distinct backgrounds and skills sets in strategy, equity, public health and more, Jennifer Allen, Tamika Butler and Nicole Ferrara will help us grow the movement — and strengthen the Alliance — in the coming year and beyond. Here's a brief introduction to our new Board members and insight on their unique passions for walking, biking and the Alliance.

Jennifer Allen is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Trailnet where she oversees the Neighborhood Greenways St. Louis project and builds strategic partnerships and advocacy campaigns. Jennifer is an urban planner with a Master of Arts in Urban Planning from UCLA. For the past 10 years she has worked in the non-profit world to advance walking and biking. Jennifer is passionate about seeing her hometown of St. Louis become a world-class city again and spends her free time as a Planning Commissioner, co-leading a campaign to break St. Louis' school-to-prison pipeline, and refurbishing furniture.

"In 2007, back when the Alliance was the Thunderhead Alliance, I attended a training on creating advocacy campaigns," Allen recalled. "I still have my folder of materials and have used them in my work and have given copies to others. I have always loved the Alliance because it provides practical direction and training. I am excited to lend my support in strengthening the Alliance's ability to prepare organizations for what's needed next in advancing our movement."

Tamika Butler joined the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition staff as the Executive Director in December 2014. Prior to leading LACBC, Tamika was the Director of Social Change Strategies at Liberty Hill Foundation, where she oversaw the foundation’s boys and men of color program and the foundation’s LGBTQ grant strategy. Before Liberty Hill, Tamika worked at Young Invincibles as the California Director, where she was responsible for building out Young Invincibles’ operations on the West Coast and grew the office to the largest regional office outside of their DC headquarters. She transitioned to policy work after litigating for three years as an employment lawyer at Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center.

Tamika received her J.D. in 2009 from Stanford Law School, and in 2006 received her B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Sociology in her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Tamika currently serves as the co-chair of the National Center for Lesbian Rights Board of Directors, serves as the Institute Co-Director of the New Leaders Council - Los Angeles, and is an advisory board member for the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center’s Fair Play for Girls in Sports program.

"I'm excited to share the diversity, experiences and lessons we've learned in LA to the national conversation and help push the organization and the biking and walking space to places that might be uncomfortable, but will make our work stronger," Butler said.

Nicole Ferrara is the Executive Director of Walk San Francisco, a nimble and mighty advocacy organization working to make San Francisco safe for people on foot, so the SF community is healthier and more livable. Nicole has led the organization's Vision Zero work, including coalition building, media advocacy and policy development, in addition to other programs, administration and operations. In her spare time, Nicole loves to run, which is really just fast walking. Nicole holds a Masters in Public Health and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, and has previously served as a Commissioner on the Caltrans District 4 Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the City of Berkeley Transportation Commission.

"In my first few months of being ED at Walk SF, my staff and I participated in an Advocacy Advance training [co-hosted by the Alliance with the League of American Bicyclists]," Ferrara said. "The training helped me get off my feet as a newcomer to local advocacy, and our organization became much more thoughtful and strategic as a result. I'm excited to join the board because I know the Alliance serves an integral role to a growing movement that is in transition. With new trends like Vision Zero, re-emerging trends like climate change, and important questions of how to support and embrace equity and inclusion, I'm looking forward to being involved in shaping the future of the organization, and making sure that safe walking for all communities — especially our low-income communities and communities of color — becomes a priority for the organization."

Please join us in welcoming Jennifer, Tamika and Nicole to the board! We're so grateful for your service!