meet the board of directors and leaders
Stuart A. Reid, Founder
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, 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 was also the President of People for a Safer Society and is currently 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 and Criminology, Law, and Justice with a minor in Public Policy and International Studies. She focuses her time and studies on the intersection between Youth and The Criminal Legal System in her research. Professionally, she is a Victim Information Referral Advocate for the Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence, and 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.
Mariah Cooley, Board Member
Mariah Cooley is a dedicated organizer and policy advocate for youth engagement and gun violence prevention. After losing her cousin to gun violence in 2017, she began mobilizing her community and the nation to address this crisis. As a Board Member for March For Our Lives, Mariah has led rallies with up to 150,000 attendees, advocating for safer communities. Recently, Mariah served as the Midwest Lead for Community Justice and as the Coalition advisor on the Harris-Walz campaign, overseeing nthe ational gun violence prevention portfolio. Now, she works for the University of Chicago’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy as a Program Manager.
Xander Cohn, Community Outreach Leader
Xander Cohn (he/they) is a 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 was a part of Tour to Save Democracy.