Ashley Panelli is an organizer, advocate, and champion for liberation and economic freedom. She is currently the Co-President & CEO of 9to5 and 9to5 Action Fund- a grassroots power-building organization that advances economic justice to achieve better living & working conditions for women and nonbinary people of color.

Ashley has a longstanding history with 9to5. Prior to her current role, she was the VP of Strategy and Innovation, the Senior Political Director, and the Colorado Associate State Director for the organization. She started as an organizer on the Colorado paid leave campaign and went on to lead the Colorado FAMLI Coalition and the Colorado Families First Coalition to win a state-run paid family and medical leave program at the ballot in 2020.

Ashley began organizing with the Denver Democratic Socialists of America where she chaired the Socialist Feminist Committee and developed the anti-oppression framework that guides the organization’s mission. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Family Values at Work, the Women Foundation of Colorado’s Women and Girls of Color Fund Advisory Council and the Steering Committee for the State Priorities Partnership with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Ashley received her B.A. in psychology with a concentration in women’s and gender studies from Dickinson College. She is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity for women of color and their families by centering peoples needs over profits, unconditionally.

Mica Whitfield is the Co-President and CEO of 9to5, National Association of Working Women where she leads the organization’s vision for economic justice for working women and non-binary people of color through worker justice, family and community sustainability, and power building. Mica began her work at 9to5 as the Georgia State Director, leading the chapter to landmark policy wins on paid leave and workplace retaliation for Georgia state employees.   

She brings more than a decade of nonprofit leadership, policy advocacy, and programmatic solutions experience for women and families. She is the Director of Programs for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia where she managed maternal health programs, grants, advocacy initiatives, and policy-level workgroups for the organization. She is the former Vice President and Advocacy Chair for Postpartum Support International-Georgia Chapter, where her advocacy enshrined Maternal Mental Health Day in the Georgia Code and secured $1.05 million to establish the State’s first Maternal Mental Health Telepsychiatry Line.

She has long focused on creating pathways for women’s health and economic well-being and believes liberation is grounded in racial, gender, and economic justice. Mica is a mother of two children, Justice and Joy, whose names reflect her hope for women and non-binary people of color.

Shanda is a firm believer that someone else’s opinion does not define you or what you can accomplish in life, if you are willing to fight. A graduate of Winston-Salem State University with a degree in Political Science, Shanda was a vanguard for grassroots organizing and politics. Collegiate activism lead to campaign work for city council elections in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Shanda seeks to leave the world a better place, whether by given a voice to the voiceless, or redeeming social, political, and economic conditions that keep people oppressed.

Adelaide is a fifth-generation Coloradan, born and raised in the Denver Metro area. She brings a deep commitment to community and public service, shaped by both personal experience and professional leadership.

Adelaide previously served in the Colorado State Legislature, where she was instrumental in passing the Don’t Tax Dignity bill, legislation aimed at removing barriers to essential hygiene products. And most recently worked as a political organizer with SEIU, advocating for workers’ rights and economic justice.

Having grown up in Section 8 housing, Adelaide understands the realities of housing and food insecurity firsthand. Her lived experience fuels a deep passion for advancing social mobility and fighting for a more equitable future.

With a strong track record of advocacy and a deep understanding of the challenges many Coloradans face, Adelaide is committed to building a more equitable, inclusive, and opportunity-rich Colorado for all.

Uche is originally from Stone Mountain and now proud to call Albany, Georgia home. With nearly a decade of experience leading grassroots campaigns and working alongside people from all walks of life, Uche is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where women, families, and working people can shape solutions together. His work centers on economic justice, housing, and clean energy, always with a forward-looking commitment to building stronger, more connected communities.