The Core Collective is a nine-month leadership fellowship designed to prepare mid-career child advocacy professionals for executive leadership. It is an initiative of the Partnership for America’s Children — and an investment in the people who will shape the future of this field.
Senior Manager of Research, Evaluation, and Learning, Hawai'i Children's Action Network
Krystal Baba believes that in order to reach a nation where keiki (children) and their ‘ohana (family) are thriving, we must elevate their voices through narrative healing and centering data-driven and family-led designs. She has been passionate about generational healing since the early 2000s upon the recognition of her own lived experiences and endeavors, which transpires through her passion to help others.
As Senior Manager of Research, Evaluation, and Learning at Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network (HCAN), Baba has been at the forefront of family leadership and engagement by building local coalitions, supporting advocacy, and fostering spaces led by youth and young adults. By joining the Core Collective, Baba is committed to having a growth mindset and sharing spaces with kindred spirits across the nation to deepen her roots back home in Hawai‘i.
When not advocating for children and families, you can find Baba where sushi meets adobo, Legos scatter across the floor, taking the dog out counts as cardio, and driving manual is still cool!
Senior Policy Manager, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
Crystal Charles believes that in order for families and their neighbors to live well and in community with each other, we must transform the systems charged with supporting them. She has been passionate about social justice since she wanted to be a teacher in elementary school and a lawyer in middle school.
As a Senior Policy Manager at the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy in New York, Charles has been at the forefront of child welfare reform (more than doubling the maximum amount available to young people and families through the state child welfare preventive services housing subsidy) and child poverty reduction (achieving the passage and enactment of the Child Poverty Reduction Act, committing the state to reducing child poverty by 50% in 10 years) by weaving data analysis with coalition coordination and community partnership to inform, inspire, and challenge state leaders. By joining the Core Collective, Charles aims to become a stronger leader both at Schuyler Center and in the advocacy space whose priorities are anchored in the experiences of the families impacted by our public systems.
When not advocating for children and families, you can find Charles in a softly lit comfy place playing videogames, singing along to her favorite songs, or watching YouTube video essays.
Senior Director of Policy and Programs, Voices for Virginia's Children
Allison Gilbreath envisions a Virginia — and a nation — where every child and family has what they need not just to survive, but to truly thrive. She believes a just future requires dismantling systems that have historically excluded and underinvested in Black, Brown, and low-income communities, and replacing them with policies and practices rooted in dignity, access, and shared power. For Allison, equity is not a buzzword — it is a call to reimagine who decisions are made for, and more importantly, who gets to make them.
Her deepest passion lies in advancing policies that strengthen families during the earliest and most critical years of a child’s life. She is especially driven by the belief that access to affordable, high-quality early care and education is foundational to long-term well-being — not just for children, but for families, communities, and the economy. That passion has been shaped by years of working alongside children and families and a deep commitment to disrupting cycles of poverty and inequity through systems-level change.
As the Senior Director of Policy and Programs at Voices for Virginia’s Children, Allison oversees the organization’s full policy portfolio and leads a team working across multiple issue areas to advance a unified, equity-centered policy agenda. She guides strategy, coalition engagement, and advocacy efforts that elevate the voices of families and those most impacted by systemic barriers. In her leadership, Allison prioritizes cross-issue alignment, ensuring that policies related to early care and education, economic security, and child well-being are interconnected and responsive to the real experiences of families. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, where she is committed to developing the next generation of social workers to lead with purpose, critical consciousness, and a deep commitment to equity.
Allison was drawn to the Core Collective because it creates space for leaders to grow not just in strategy, but in self-awareness, courage, and connection. She is eager to learn alongside peers who are equally committed to equity-centered leadership and to contribute her experience in coalition-building, policy advocacy, and leading teams toward shared impact. She believes that sustainable change requires both technical skill and transformational leadership — and she is committed to cultivating both.
Beyond her professional work, Allison is a partner and mother who finds deep joy in her family. She loves creating meaningful experiences for her children, whether that’s cheering them on in their interests, hosting gatherings that bring people together, or simply being present in the everyday moments. Her faith grounds her, her community sustains her, and her work is ultimately driven by a desire to leave a legacy of opportunity, justice, and love for the next generation.
Program & Policy Manager, Westchester Children's Association
Angel Gray is a nonprofit leader and social work professional with over nine years of experience advancing outcomes for children, youth, and families across diverse settings, including psychiatric hospitals, schools, residential treatment centers, and community-based mental health programs.
Since joining the Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) in February 2022, Angel has grown into her role as Program and Policy Director, where she leads cross-sector initiatives, builds strategic coalitions, and partners with service providers, public officials, and community stakeholders to advance equitable policies and systems change for children and youth in Westchester County and beyond.
Angel holds a Master of Social Work from New York University, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College. Grounded in a deep commitment to social justice and community empowerment, she works to ensure that all children and families, particularly those historically underserved, have access to the resources, opportunities, and supports they need to thrive.
Director of Operations and Belonging, Colorado Children's Campaign
Cristal Ibarra believes that building a more equitable future for children begins with the people doing the work. She is passionate about creating workplace cultures where equity, belonging, and care are not just values but daily practices that allow teams to show up fully for the communities they serve.
As Director of Operations & Belonging at the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Cristal focuses on the internal culture that sustains the advocacy work her team does at the Capitol. She leads organizational operations, team culture, and belonging initiatives that support staff and strengthen collaboration across the organization. Equity-centered leadership is at the heart of Cristal’s work. She works to embed equity not only in values, but in the everyday ways teams operate, make decisions, and support one another. Through this work, she helps support the organization’s mission to make Colorado the best place to be a kid and raise a kid.
By joining the Core Collective, Cristal hopes to continue growing alongside peers who are committed to advocating for children and families. She looks forward to learning from leaders across the country, deepening her leadership, and contributing her perspective on culture-building, operational leadership, and belonging.
When not advocating for children and families, Cristal enjoys connecting with local community groups, reading, and joining every book club she can find. She is currently working on starting one with friends. She’s often dreaming of new ways to bring people together for conversation, learning, and fun, and cherishes spending time with the people who matter most to her, her family.
Director of HR and Operations, Kansas Action for Children
Jami Jones believes that in order to make Kansas a place where every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive, regardless of race, income, zip code, identity, or ability, the people at KAC must have a workplace where they feel supported, valued, and truly seen for their contributions. She has been passionate about leadership that is defined not just by outcomes, but by how people experience their workday, particularly during times of change and uncertainty.
As Director of HR and Operations at Kansas Action for Children, Jones has been at the forefront of formalizing the organization’s human resource function by guiding people strategy, operations, and organizational effectiveness. By joining the Core Collective, Jones is committed to aligning her daily leadership actions with these core values and gaining the tools to lead with both heart and strategic clarity.
When not advocating for children and families, you can find Jones on the sidelines, cheering for her two boys on the cross-country course, basketball court, or in a local 5k. She loves to be outside, soaking up sunshine, sometimes with her hands in the dirt planting flowers, or on a walk with her dogs.
Director of Communications, The Children's Partnership
Maya Meinert believes that to have a country where every child has what they need to thrive, we must honestly examine and interrogate our own beliefs so we can break down the systems and structures that hold us back. Growing up as a biracial child, she didn’t always feel that safe sense of belonging that supports child well-being. That’s why today, Meinert is passionate about equity for children – so every child can feel like they belong.
As director of communications at The Children’s Partnership in California, Meinert has been at the forefront of advancing child health equity by translating research into digestible pieces, promoting policy that would make systems work better for children and families, and centering community voices in her work. By joining the Core Collective, Meinert is committed to using an equity lens in all aspects of her role, from how stories are told to how she approaches leadership.
When not advocating for children and families, you can find Meinert spending time with her husband and three pets (two dogs and a cat!), reading an engrossing thriller, taking in some live music, or enjoying a good meal with friends.
Policy Director, The Children's Agenda
Pete Nabozny has been Director of Policy at The Children’s Agenda since 2017. Pete leads The Children’s Agenda’s data and policy analysis and primarily focuses on policies that improve family economic security and child well-being. He helps lead the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, a statewide coalition with more than 100 member organizations that is dedicated to ensuring that every family can access high-quality child care. He is also an appointee to the state’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, which is charged with reducing child poverty in New York State by 50% within 10 years.
Pete was previously an Associate Principal with the Center for Governmental Research, where he managed a diverse set of projects in the human services and nonprofit sectors. He also previously served as Assistant Commissioner for Research and Evaluation with the New York City Administration of Children’s Services.
Senior Policy Associate, Citizens' Committee for Children of New York
Caitlyn Passaretti (she/her) believes a just and thriving future is one where every need is met: children and families have access to affordable, culturally-responsive, high quality care and opportunities. Zip-codes, school districts, and housing zones should never determine anyone’s life expectancy or story. And yet, racism, classism, sexism, and ableism intentionally block millions from their rights. To build an equitable society, we need to shift power and resources from institutions and corporations to localities and communities. Poverty is a policy choice that we as a nation have been making for too long. It is time to look towards reparations, wealth redistribution, and a tax structure that actually ends poverty and builds stronger communities.
Ensuring all youth are protected, supported, and able to explore their specific passions is deeply important to her. Whether that means working to keep families together, supporting youth with justice-involvement, or ensuring afterschool programs have what youth are interested in – it all matters for youth to truly experience childhood and have opportunity. As a social worker and a policy advocate, she sees how systemic barriers and trauma impede people’s futures, and so working to minimize that as much as possible is nonnegotiable. Regardless of someone’s background, it is imperative they have a support system that focuses on wraparound care.
In her current role at Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, she manages the policy and advocacy work related to youth justice, child welfare, youth services, and K-12 education portfolios. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare and justice systems, specifically working to keep families together and policies supporting restorative and transformative justice.
Caitlyn is excited to join the inaugural Core Collective fellowship, she was drawn to this opportunity given the socio-political context and the Fellowship’s focus on equity-driven leadership. She hopes to learn in community with the other fellows and develop her own specific leadership style that is grounded in transparency, justice, and care.
In her free time, Caitlyn enjoys reading, knitting, taking care of her plants, and being outside with her friends. She also loves to host dinner parties with her community and try different recipes!
Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network
Malia serves as the Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, where she advances policy initiatives and leads advocacy efforts to strengthen early childhood systems across the state. She also lectures within the University of Hawaiʻi System, supporting the development of future early childhood professionals.
With nearly twenty years of experience in early care and education, Malia has worked as a teacher, family child care provider, and infant and toddler caregiver, grounding her policy work in deep, firsthand knowledge of the field. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Child Development and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership.
A dedicated advocate for children, families, and the early childhood workforce, Malia is passionate about building equitable systems of care and education. She is the proud mother of five children and enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking in the warm Hawaiian sun.
