2026 LEADERSHIP TEAM
CHELSEY FRANK, CO-PRESIDENT
Chelsey (she/her) is an engineering manager at Remix by Via where she helps make public transit systems and cities more livable, accessible, and equitable. She has been active in SFWPC for several years, leading the Policy Committee’s internal learning efforts and serving on the Board as PAC Co-Chair and, most recently, Co-President.
Chelsey is passionate about supporting women-owned small businesses and advancing policies that make city life more inclusive for families, from safer street infrastructure to expanded childcare and paid family leave. She lives in North Beach with her husband, young daughter, and an apartment overflowing with plants.
chelsey@sfwpc.org
ANGELINA POLSELLI, CO-PRESIDENT
Angelina (she/they) is currently the Community Affairs Assistant serving the Office of the Mayor of San Francisco. Before her time at City Hall, Angelina previously lead operations at Manny’s and community engagement at the Civic Joy Fund. In their free time, you can find Angelina at your local neighborhood cafe, marching down Market St., or attending the next concert.
angelina@sfwpc.org
JOY ZHAN, VICE PRESIDENT
Joy is currently the Youth Development Specialist for the San Francisco Youth Commission, providing the Youth Commissioners with the necessary training to become leaders of their own and serving as their liaison to the Board of Supervisors. Joy is an immigrant from Taishan, China, and is a product of SFUSD. She’s a graduate of UC Riverside with a double major in Economics and Chinese from UC Riverside.
Joy started her community organizing in Youth MOJO with the Chinese Progressive Association when she was 16 and worked on multiple electoral campaigns throughout the years. During the pandemic, she founded the Tech Squad program at Felton Institute that provided tech training to seniors, especially monolingual Chinese seniors. However, it was during Joy’s internship in the District 10 office that she fell in love with public service, realizing that many AAPI folks are not aware of the various city services that can help them. She wants to ensure that through her work, the AAPI community can get connected to the services they need.
Joy currently serves as President of the SEIU 1021 Civic Center Chapter, and she’s on the board for the Rose Pak Democratic Club and Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance SF Chapter to continue expanding the rights of youth, for all communities to have a voice in our government, and to ensure equity and accessible resources for all.
joy@sfwpc.org
JOAN ALLEN, PARLIAMENTARIAN
Joan (she/her) has been a San Franciscan for nearly 20 years and is thrilled that she and her partner Rob are still discovering new things about the Bay Area and about San Francisco – so many parks, restaurants, hiking trails, and museums to explore. When not exploring, Joan is likely at home trying to convince her cat to not attack visitors.
For the past 15 years Joan has worked for SEIU United Healthcare Workers (SEIU-UHW) representing healthcare workers in California, currently in a government relations/advocacy role. There she fights to ensure that California’s healthcare workers have a voice on the job and a voice in spaces where policies that affect their work, patients, and communities are made.
Joan earned a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rice University.
joan@sfwpc.org
ADRIANNA ZHANG, SECRETARY
Born and raised in San Francisco, Adrianna is a Stanford University public policy student passionate about including women, young people, and community in government. As former Chair of the San Francisco Youth Commission from 2021 to 2022, she led the successful Free Muni for Youth Campaign and the Vote16 (Prop G 2020) campaign. She has also worked for the Raben Group in Washington DC on federal civil rights and justice initiatives, as well as in several offices of Democratic elected officials in California. She was awarded UNICEF USA’s Outstanding Youth Award on World Children’s day in 2021 and a featured speaker at TedxCity of San Francisco.
adrianna@sfwpc.org
MELANIE GIROD, TREASURER & MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIR
Melanie is a finance professional in the private sector. Born and raised in France, she found her way to the Bay Area, which she now calls home. Passionate about the policy process and politics in general, she has volunteered in various organizations across the Bay, from providing employment services to low-income communities, to supporting refugees resettled in the East Bay. Her drive to support and advance women’s and LGBTQ rights, protect access to healthcare, fight poverty and promote fairness and equity guided her to the Policy Committee, where she has brought forward inclusive and progressive legislation. A fierce advocate of equitable access to opportunity and public services, she is a life-long learner and takes advantage of the many opportunities offered in our city to better her education, by taking classes at City College of San Francisco or reading at the San Francisco Public Library. She loves the outdoors and you can find her running on the trails of the Golden Gate Park, or hiking in the Marin Headlands.
melanie@sfwpc.org
2026 BOARD
MALAIKA KIRKWOOD, DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
Malaika is a Bay Area local who is passionate about empowering candidates and causes to make positive local change. Malaika received her degree in Public Policy from New York University, where she was a member of the Politics Society and a director for the Public Policy Student Board. Her on-the-ground experience in politics includes interning for the NY State Assembly and DC-based fundraising firm Fulkerson Kennedy & Co. Malaika returned to the Bay Area in 2022, starting her career in fundraising for local campaigns and non-profits in Alameda County. She now works at the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco, where she is thrilled to be bringing together her background in fundraising with her love for the arts.
malaika@sfwpc.org
KUDRAT CHAUDHARY-KONTILIS, POLICY CO-CHAIR
Kudrat is an immigrant rights activist serving as the first South Asian on the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission, advising the San Francisco government on immigrant issues. Along with this, she works with Afghan refugees in her role at the Council on American & Islamic Relations (CAIR SVCC) and has previously also served as an expert witness on gender-based violence asylum cases from South Asia. Kudrat has previously served as the Co-Chair of Women’s March San Francisco and is a published author with her debut novel on the human trafficking of women from Nepal to India after the Nepal earthquake in 2015 was published in 2016. She is licensed to practice law in India and holds an LLM in International Law from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy.
kudrat@sfwpc.org
DARION JOHNSTON, POLICY CO-CHAIR
Darion Johnston is San Diego transplant who has called Northern California home for roughly 15 years. Darion’s formative experiences as an undergraduate at Chico State sparked her passion for public policy advocacy with a focus on gender-based violence prevention and environmental protection. After college, Darion worked at the California State Assembly in Sacramento where she took on an increasing portfolio of policy issues related to public utilities regulation, climate change mitigation, wildfire prevention and sustainable agriculture. She left the legislature in 2019 to peruse her juris doctorate. Darion graduated from Berkeley Law in 2022 with certificates of specialization in environmental law and clean energy and technology law. As an attorney, Darion focuses on developing and implementing state energy policies that aim to facilitate a timely, cost-effective and equitable transition to a fully decarbonized economy.
darion@sfwpc.org
ANNA BLAKE, MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIR
Anna (she/they) is a communications strategist, program manager, and researcher with over 15 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Her work spans community building, events, operations, and communications, with collaborations including Spotify, AT&T, and mission-driven organizations across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Anna brings leadership experience from Bay Area “by women, for women” organizations, where they have coordinated volunteers, streamlined systems, and supported large, diverse membership communities. They are deeply committed to advancing issues including bodily autonomy, social and racial justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, ethical technology, and gun safety reform.
As Membership Co-Chair, Anna is excited to support SFWPC’s mission to endorse, empower, and elect women and aligned candidates to local office, and to help strengthen the systems that sustain a thriving, inclusive community. Anna lives in San Francisco and enjoys making art, traveling, and exploring the city.
anna@sfwpc.org
CAMRYN MCNAB, COMMUNICATIONS CO-CHAIR
Camryn McNab is a Director at BMWL, where she develops political strategy and communications for progressive candidates and causes throughout the Bay Area. Her work centers on supporting women candidates, crafting authentic messaging, and building people-powered campaigns. Born and raised on the Peninsula, she brings a strong commitment to equity, representation, and community-driven leadership. In her free time, Camryn enjoys discovering new places to eat in San Francisco, getting lost in a book, or traveling to Tahoe.
camryn@sfwpc.org
ELIZABETH LAM, COMMUNICATIONS CO-CHAIR
Elizabeth is a public affairs professional with over a decade of experience in government relations, advocacy, and strategic communications. She serves as the government and legislative affairs lead for the public health care delivery system in the East Bay, where she fosters partnerships and advocates for access to care. Elizabeth’s career spans roles in state government, where she managed communications and press for a State Assemblymember, and local leadership, including her service as a Berkeley Planning Commissioner. She has also served on the executive boards for Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter and East Bay Young Democrats.
Elizabeth holds a MPA from USC Price School of Public Policy, an LLB from University of London and a BS from UC Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their labradoodle, Muddy.
elizabeth@sfwpc.org
KIM KOLLWITZ, PAC CO-CHAIR
Kim is a seasoned policy, communications, and community engagement expert. For more than a decade, her career has focused on making measurable, positive impacts throughout California in senior legislative roles, campaign fundraising, and communications and marketing for Bay Area nonprofits and small businesses. Currently, she works at Project Open Hand in the Tenderloin.
Raised by a single mother, Kim is deeply passionate about supporting women and families through urban infrastructure, access to supportive services, and leadership opportunities. She is a proud alum of the University of San Francisco, the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and Community Engagement, and the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship.
kim@sfwpc.org
KARINA ZAMORA, PAC CO-CHAIR
Karina Zamora is a community-focused leader with experience in student government, political advocacy, and applied research. She previously served as Advocacy Chair and PAC Co-Chair for the San Francisco Young Democrats, where she supported grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and local electoral engagement. Karina also brings extensive experience from her time in student government with Associated Students at San Francisco State University, representing student interests and advancing campus-wide initiatives. She holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy, with graduate research focused on young voter engagement and turnout in San Francisco. As a first-generation Latina, her work is grounded in a commitment to equity, civic participation, and expanding access to public decision-making for historically underrepresented communities.
karina@sfwpc.org
MIA EISENBERG, EVENTS CO-CHAIR
Mia Eisenberg is a proud Bay Area local and graduate of Smith College, where
she earned a B.A. in Government with a minor in the Study of Women & Gender.
During her time at Smith, she demonstrated strong leadership as a four-year varsity
athlete and president of the business club. Mia brings experience from both the private
and public sectors, having worked in investment banking and on several political
campaigns—including Ed Markey’s 2020 Senate race, a local name change initiative in
her hometown, and Lurie’s campaign and transition team under the guidance of Max
Szabo at Szabo and Associates. Her academic and professional journey reflects a deep
commitment to equity, inclusion, and public service, underscoring her dedication to
accountability and meaningful change.
mia@sfwpc.org
BERTHA DE LA TORRE, EVENTS CO-CHAIR
Bertha grew up immersed in the labor movement and is a fourth-generation LIUNA Local 261 member. These experiences shaped her commitment to workers’ rights and economic equity, which she carries into her work as a government affairs liaison focused on labor relations, workforce development, and protecting San Francisco’s public workforce.
She is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California, where she earned a B.A. in Politics. In her free time, Bertha likes to travel and to explore the city and Bay Area with friends and family. She’s excited to serve as Events Co-Chair on SFWPC’s Board, helping create engaging spaces that connect women to one another, to policy, and to the future of San Francisco politics.
bertha@sfwpc.org
K
SOPHIA ANDARY, AT LARGE BOARD MEMBER
Sophia Andary is a first-generation Lebanese-American commissioner, activist, organizer, and analyst whose early childhood experiences during the Lebanese civil war shaped her commitment to bridging diverse perspectives. In November 2016, she co-founded Women’s March San Francisco and helped grow it into one of the nation’s strongest and most diverse chapters through values-driven leadership. She is currently serving her second term as a Commissioner on the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. Sophia also serves on the Board of Advisors for GENup. Through her organizing and advocacy, she works to advance equity and equality for women and girls, the LGBTQIA+ community, and other marginalized communities. She is widely recognized for elevating the voices of marginalized, queer, and women of color and for being a catalyst for meaningful change.
sophia@sfwpc.org
MELANIE MATHEWSON, AT LARGE BOARD MEMBER
Melanie currently works as a Legislative Aide for Board of Supervisors’ President Rafael Mandelman. Prior to her role in City Hall, Melanie worked in electoral politics helping to elect women to the California State Assembly and to County Supervisor positions throughout the Bay Area.
Melanie holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Northeastern University and dual Bachelor’s degrees in English and Political Science. She was the founding member of her college’s Title IX Committee which worked to ensure the protections of Title IX were guaranteed to all female-identifying students and staff across campus.
A Northern California local, Melanie spent the better half of the last decade studying and working in Boston prior to relocating to San Francisco in 2023. In her free time, Melanie enjoys playing sports in one of the many leagues across San Francisco and talking all things policy to anyone who will listen.
melaniem@sfwpc.org
TIFFANY SUTTON, AT LARGE BOARD MEMBER
Tiffany brings a wealth of experience and a collaborative approach to the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee, At Large Board Position. Throughout her career, Tiffany has built a reputation for forging strong partnerships between community stakeholders and public safety agencies. Her expertise spans restorative justice, violence prevention, juvenile justice policy, drug treatment program implementation, strategic planning, grant writing and management, and criminal trial litigation.
Tiffany is also the proud mom of two young men, and the wife to a loving husband. In her spare-time she enjoys hanging out with family and friends and enjoying life to the fullest.
tiffany@sfwpc.org
ALONDRA ESQUIVEL GARCIA, ADVISORY BOARD
Alondra Esquivel Garcia is an alumna of San Francisco State University, where she earned degrees in Political Science and Race & Resistance Studies. During her time at SFSU, she held multiple leadership roles and was selected as a Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellow at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
Alondra has served the City and County of San Francisco as a San Francisco Fellow in the Department of Public Health and as Director of the San Francisco Youth Commission, where she was a dedicated advocate for youth and worked to strengthen local government systems and civic engagement.
She currently serves on the Public Affairs team in the Office of San Francisco Assessor-Recorder. Alondra is deeply committed to electing women to public office and advancing meaningful, community-driven change.
alondra@sfwpc.org
JENNIFER DEMPSEY, ADVISORY BOARD
Jennifer is an experienced campaign, public affairs, and communications strategist with two decades of expertise organizing on behalf of clients throughout California, including San Francisco’s Jane Kim for Supervisor and Mark Leno for State Senate campaigns. An organizer at heart, Jennifer has served as executive staff to local and statewide Democratic Party organizations, and as a strategic consultant to successful candidate, municipal, labor, and nonprofit clients as they seek positive change in their communities, one election at a time.
Passionate about youth and neighborhood political involvement, in addition to her time serving as Co-President and PAC Chair of SFWPC, Jennifer has previously served as Chair of SFWPC, the San Francisco and California Young Democrats, and of the District 5 Democratic Club. Born and raised in the Bay Area and a proud SF State alum, Jennifer enjoys Giants games, local theatre, and traveling. She can often be found hiking the trails in Golden Gate Park with her husband Robert and her dog Fernet.
jennifer@sfwpc.org
DENISE HEITZENRODER, ADVISORY BOARD
A long-time member of SFWPC, Denise most recently served as the organization’s PAC Chair, and previously as the Communications Co-Chair. She has a long history of working on women’s issues, supporting leadership development in progressive communities, and advocating on a wide range of social justice issues. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to Southern California in 2003, and worked her way north to Santa Cruz and then San Francisco, where she has resided for almost 20 years. Her background is in nonprofit management and campaigns: she’s worked in communications and organizing roles on a variety issue and IE campaigns in California, New Mexico, Washington state, and Kansas, as well as on progressive events across the country. She tends to nerd out about election administration, civil rights, and environmental justice issues.
Denise is incredibly proud to have supported the launch of, and served on the board of, the amazing nonprofit MotherCoders, now Bitwise Impact. She has also volunteered with the United Way of the Bay Area and served in various roles with the local and national arms of New Leaders Council. While Denise has plenty of political opinions, if you really want to get the Jersey girl going, bring up pizza, clothes designed for women that lack pockets, or get her chatting about her two cats, Whiskey and Rye.
denise@sfwpc.org