Executive Board
Ellen Augustine
In 1994, Ellen was the NWPC-endorsed Democratic candidate for US Congress in CA 10 (Contra Costa and southern Alameda counties, as Ellen Schwartz). Though she did not win, she received the most votes of any person running against an incumbent of all the West Coast states. She is a contributing author to A Game As Old As Empire: The Secret World of Economic Hit Men and the Web of Global Corruption. She is co-author of Taking Back Our Lives in the Age of Corporate Dominance (as Schwartz). She has also written a booklet for parents: Way More Fun Than TV and Video Games. She has founded/co-founded four nonprofits on environmental regeneration, media violence, international citizen diplomacy, and mentoring at-risk youth. Her current speaking topics include “Stories of Hope”—profiles of people who are creating businesses which increase profits by being eco-friendly, and communities and schools which truly nurture and renew us; and “The Great Escape from TV and Video Games.” Ellen has been featured in Utne Reader and Hope Magazine, received the Women of Achievement and Thread of Hope Awards, and was named one of 21 Visionaries for the 21st Century. She holds a Masters Degree in Speech Communication.
Mona Barra Gibson, Susan B Chair
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Ronnie Caplane
Ronnie served for 8 years on the Piedmont School board. Her day job is as a Commissioner, appointed by Gray Davis, on the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. Her late husband, Joe Remcho, represented the Assembly's democratic caucus for 23 years and she had a ringside seat for all the major initiative battles during those years. Following Joe's death, Ronnie decided to carry on their family's commitment to making California the best it could be by filing to run for the 16th Assembly District. After an outstanding, albeit unsuccessful race, Ronnie has continued to pursure good government and leadership in CA politics.
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Elizabeth Echols
Elizabeth served for nearly seven years as a political appointee in the Clinton Administration. She held several senior positions in the Commerce Department before moving to the White House to work for Vice President Al Gore. Elizabeth worked with Vice President Gore to close the digital divide and to use technology to improve education and health care. Elizabeth has held several key leadership positions in the technology industry, including Google.
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Annabella Flores (Annie) is the Associate Director, Women’s Economic Agenda Project. Annie’s family is originally from El Salvador, she was raised in Brentwood, California. Annie holds a bachelors degree in Public Policy from Mills College and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco.
Annie has worked in public health care policy in Contra Costa County and San Francisco City and County. She has been at the forefront of progressive public health care policy initiatives addressing under-served populations through-out the state of California. Annie served the California State Legislature as a public health care staffer and she is currently the Associate Director of the Women’s Economic Agenda Project, WEAP.
Boards and Commissions: Co- President of The National Women’s Political Caucus, Alameda County, NWPC, HOPE, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, LULAC, League of Latin American Citizens and SPAAT, Students Program for Academic and Athletic Transitioning.
Karen Friedman
Karen Friedman is an Oakland attorney specializing in real estate law. She is also an active real estate investor in residential income property in the East Bay. Other than NWPC (currently president), Friedman's board positions have included the Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union (four term president), MGO Democratic Club (membership chair), Alameda County Grand Jury (two terms, chair of several committees) and International Diplomacy Council (executive committee and president). Friedman loves jogging and has completed four marathons since her 50th birthday. She also very much enjoys the outdoors.
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Maha Ibrahim, Membership Co-Chair
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Susan Rosenthal, State Board Rep
Susan Rosenthal has been an active member of NWPC-AN since the early 1980's and has served in many capacities including Chair, Vice Chair, PAC Treasurer and Fundraising Co-Chair. Although she was not successful in either her1985 campaign for the Oakland School Board or her 1998 run for the Peralta Community College Board, she continues to be involved in Alameda County politics as a board member and Democratic Party activist. Susan has worked for several elected officials and unions; she is married to Howie Perlin and they have a son, David.
Amy Shrago, Co-Chair; National Board Member
Amy currently serves as Health and Legislative Policy Analyst for Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson. In that capacity she is responsible for keeping Supervisor Carson’s office in the forefront of the health care debate at a local, state and national level. She is also responsible for tracking state and federal legislation that impacts Alameda County. In addition to Health and Legislative policy Amy is the staff person responsible for transportation, land use and planning policy for Supervisor Carson’s office. Prior to joining Supervisor Carson’s team Amy spent almost four years at Planned Parenthood: Shasta-Diablo where she was the Community Engagement Manager and facilitated an affiliate wide client advocacy program as well worked on state and federal legislation including the budget. Amy is an active member of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and is involved in their efforts to promote responsible immigration reform and raise community awareness for immigrant issues.
Amy received her Bachelor’s of Public Policy with and emphasis in health and is currently a Master of Public Policy Candidate. In her free time she works at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito with the rescue and rehabilitation of Pacific Harbor Seals as well as Hopalong Animal Rescue in Oakland as a mobile dog adoption coordinator.
Roseann has been practicing law for over 10 years. Roseann began her legal career as a Deputy County Counsel in San Joaquin County, where she was born and raised. She then embarked on a new challenge as a Deputy District Attorney with the DA’s office in Stockton. After a successful stint with the District Attorney’s office, she worked for one of the most prominent Criminal Defense Attorney’s in the Sacramento and Stockton area, before hanging her own shingle and moving her private practice to Oakland, CA. In addition to owning and running her own firm in Oakland, Roseann is actively engaged in the local community. Since her move to the Bay Area she has been a board member of Youth Movement Records, a nonprofit providing programs for Oakland teens interested in a career in the music industry. She was also appointed by City Council woman Nancy Nadel, to the Measure Y Committee, the measure passed by voters in 2001 for the purposes of generating tax revenue to fund violence prevention & community based programs for Oakland youth. Roseann graduated from HLI 2009, a Latina Leadership Program sponsored by Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). Roseann is currently a Board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Alameda County & East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association & she was awarded the Univision Hispanic Business Salute in 2010.
Charlene Washington, Membership Co-Chair
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