In addition to her role with Georgia Watch, Liz accepted an appointment to the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, serving in 2018-2019. In 2021, she testified before the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to share insights on protecting consumers in the pandemic recovery economy. Liz served as vice chair of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative board from 2018 to 2021. As a civic leader, she champions community causes. Currently, she is board chairman of the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy. Previously, she served on the board of directors of the Atlanta BeltLine. Liz has more than 25 years of experience as a nonprofit manager, communications professional and grassroots advocate. She received a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Virginia.

Natasha has always had a passion for advocacy. She discovered that she could turn her passion into a career while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Georgia State University (GSU). After graduating Summa Cum Laude, Natasha continued to advance on her academic path by pursuing a master’s degree in Gerontology at the GSU Gerontology Institute. While in the program, she was chosen to work as a fully funded research assistant with the Convoys of Care study, focusing on how to support informal care networks in assisted living communities in ways that promoted residents’ ability to age in place with optimal resident, and informal and formal caregiver quality of life. She also received the Fulton County Gerontology Award and graduated with honors. Throughout her college career, Natasha expressed a strong desire to work in the fields of public policy and advocacy to help improve the quality of life for marginalized populations across the state. After graduation, Natasha served as Deputy Director of the Georgia Council on Aging where she was successful in helping to lobby for many changes at the State legislature including quality-of-care improvements in Personal Care Homes and Nursing Homes, funding for a Behavioral Health Coach project in Tifton and Albany, Disaster Planning Equity for Senior Care Providers, and increased funding for Home and Community Based Services. In addition to her vast academic knowledge base, Natasha brings over 15 years of management, event planning, and consumer relations experience to her position.

In this role, Shana looks forward to expanding the reach and influence of the organization by developing innovative strategies to communicate with Georgia consumers. She aims to increase awareness of Georgia Watch’s work, strengthen organizational branding, and implement strategies to grow followers and engagement on social media platforms. Before joining the team, Shana worked in the financial industry, helping everyday consumers manage their money through informal marketing and communications campaigns. She is proficient in social media, which has helped her boost engagement analytics on multiple platforms for several small businesses by building brand awareness, educating audiences, and developing digital content.

Shana earned a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications and Public Relations from Marian University, deepening her interest in storytelling. While playing collegiate basketball at her university, she helped reinstate the Black Student Union after 15 years, creating a space for students to coexist as their authentic selves. Shana also brought new life to the campus newspaper, serving as a reporter. In addition, she has conducted news stories focusing on children experiencing foster care in Michigan, sharing their personal stories and lived experience with the community by teaming up with organizations like Park West Foundation and Channel 7 WXYZ. Shana is excited to bring a new spark to Georgia Watch.

Rahwa is a first-year MPH Health Policy student pursuing a certificate in Social Determinants of Health at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University where she double majored in Public Health Studies and Molecular and Cellular Biology. In her time at Hopkins, she volunteered as a patient health advocate at a health clinic where she developed her passion for public health and specifically working in health policy to help address health disparities. She channeled her advocacy efforts into her work at PeaceTech Lab where she served as the Road to Equal Justice Intern, helping bring together community leaders for innovative workshops on how to incorporate tech into their justice efforts. In her future career, she hopes to be able to advocate for communities by helping craft policies directly informed by those they are meant to serve. As such, she is excited to be partnering with Georgia Watch and helping advocate for consumers while learning more about the health policy landscape in Georgia.