meet the board of directors and leaders

Stuart A. Reid, President

Stuart A. Reid is a family law attorney and has been active in the Illinois gun violence prevention movement for almost 10 years.  He prepared the initial draft of the 2021 updates to the Illinois Firearms Restraining Order law.

Rachel Jacoby, Vice President

Rachel Jacoby is a Highland Park resident and recent graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School where she concentrated on Social and Urban Policy. Previously, she worked in the gun violence prevention movement at Giffords and organized March For Our Lives nationally and in Illinois. Most recently, Rachel led the grassroots organizing effort in support of the Protect Illinois Communities Act.

Laura Williams, Secretary

Laura Williams is a married mom of two children and a full-time middle school teacher in Skokie. She is also the President of People for a Safer Society and the Secretary for the Alliance. 

Karen K. Ramirez, Board Member

Karen K. Ramirez is a Highland Park native, GVP Activist, and an undergraduate University of Illinois Chicago student working towards a BA in Political Science with a minor in Criminology, Law, and Justice. Professionally, she is a Victim Information Referral Advocate for the Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence, a nd previously a Multidimensional Intern for the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic.

Lauren Harper, Board Member

Lauren Harper is a Moms Demand Action State Legislative Lead role for Moms Demand Action. She trained local legislative leads throughout the state on how to advocate for bills through lawmaker meetings, visits to Springfield, and constituent phone banking campaigns. She has a passion for solving the root causes of gun violence within Illinois and believes education and grassroots advocacy are key to motivating lawmakers and achieving long-term solutions.  

Natalie Warren, Board Member

Natalie Warren is the co-chair of the GVP committee of Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action (NWSOFA) - Indivisible chapter working on a wide spectrum of progressive issues. 

TraVonn Jones, Board Member

TraVonn Jones is the Founder of Truth Synergies NFP, based in East St. Louis, Illinois and a retired member of the United States Marine Corps. His focus is in workplace development and building safer, more just communities.

Xander Cohn, Community Outreach Leader

Xander Cohn (he/they) is a rising senior at Tufts University studying Sociology and Civic Studies. He got involved with gun violence prevention work after his cousin, Jacki Sundheim, was murdered in the Highland Park fourth of July parade mass shooting. He focuses on how politics intersect and on how marginalized groups – specifically BIPOC and the Queer community – are disproportionately impacted by gun violence, the relationship between restorative justice and gun violence, and research. Outside of the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence, Xander is conducting research on a plethora of genocides and will also be joining @tourtosavedemocracy this summer.