Staff | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Staff

E'Beth Adami

Communications & Development Director

E'Beth has roots in western Kentucky, and lives and works in Louisville. In her free time, E'Beth enjoys cooking, too many podcasts, taking pictures of her two dogs, and exploring Kentucky's beautiful parks with her partner.

Bonifacio Aleman

Organizing Co-Director

 A parent of four, Dr. Aleman has nearly two decades of experience in community organizing, program development, and capacity building. Dr. Aleman has a Doctorate, a Master's, and an undergraduate degree in Social Work from Spalding University.  

Dr. Aleman works for Kentuckians For The Commonwealth as an Organizing Co-Director. Issues that Bonifacio focuses on in his work include public education policy, program development, leadership development, education justice, healthy democracies, voting and voting rights, and grassroots organizing. Examples of work that Dr. Aleman has contributed to include efforts to protect diversity, equity, and inclusion in public education, stopping Amendment two (the school voucher amendment) on the ballot in November 2024, and coordinating the KFTC Public School Strong – a campaign coordinating local school district organizing teams in Kentucky. Other local community organizing & public policy that Dr. Aleman has worked on include the Louisville Ban the Box Ordinance, the Louisville Resolution to Support Statewide Restoration of Voting Rights, and the Louisville Minimum Wage ordinance. 

Dr. Aleman has previously served on the Board of Directors at the Kentucky Equal Justice Center, the Fairness Campaign, the Hispanic-Latino Coalition of Louisville, Sowers of Justice, and Women in Transition. A frequent writer & speaker, Dr. Aleman presents and writes on racial bias & structural racism, health equity, community organizing, and voting rights & civic engagement for people who have experienced incarceration.

Joan Brannon

Executive Director

Joan Brannon is KFTC’s Executive Directors. Joan first joined KFTC’s staff team in 2021 as Organizing Co-Director. With over three decades of experience working to advance racial, economic and social justice, her work is integral to advancing KFTC’s Organizational Change Initiative. Joan is passionate about community building, addressing and healing racial trauma and using art to create social change. Joan is a native Kentuckian who believes deep listening, story sharing and radical acceptance are key strategies to bridging community divides. Joan’s activist/organizing background includes healing drum facilitation and documentary filmmaking. She founded DrummingWorks and has held leadership positions in non-profit and arts organizations, including the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, West Louisville Women’s Collaborative, ArtsPower and the Kentucky Foundation for Women.

Morgan Brown

Director of Operations

Morgan joined our staff in summer of 2009. She was born, raised, and still lives in Knox County, surrounded by her extended family.  Morgan enjoys spending time with her husband and their two wonderful children. She works out of our London office.

Corey Dutton

Chapter Organizer

Corey grew up in eastern Kentucky and always said she would move out of state – but fell in love with Louisville and Kentucky organizing. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s in history and French. She is passionate about building a better, progressive South, and believes that Kentucky will be a leader in this process. In her (minimal) spare time, Corey is a complete book nerd and can be found reading anything and everything on her front porch.

Eric Fields

Rowan and Big Sandy Chapter Organizer
Eric is an Organizer working in eastern Kentucky. He grew up in Pike County and now lives in Floyd County, where he worked as a social studies teacher for several years teaching geography, civics, and drama before joining the KFTC staff. Eric is an alumni of Georgetown College with degrees in History and Education. He is excited to work for eastern Kentucky communities as they build a better life together.
 

Tayna Fogle

Lead Organizer

Tayna Fogle is a mother of two young men, a grandmother of eight, and a basketball player extraordinaire. In order to stand up for the issues that were important to her family, she had to bravely defend against harsh drug sentencing policies and learn to navigate bureaucratic mazes to regain her right to vote. Tayna has created Re-entry programs, trainings and ministries in many Kentucky counties. She has been a motivational speaker and community activist, Developer and past Instructor of “Steppin To A New Beat” and the Re-entry/Employment Specialist for Ex-Offenders. Tayna has empowered others for 11 years with the Kentuckians For The Commonwealth as she volunteered, worked on campaigns for the right to vote. She is a former felon that paid her debt to society.  She was the captain of a SEC championship basketball team at the University of Kentucky in 1982. She is also a former drug abuser. She spent several years in prison. She believes that her story has inspired and motivated many citizens to take part in this movement of restoring an individual’s self esteem, dignity, and self respect. 

Ashley Frasher

Operations Associate

Ashley grew up in Salyersville, KY and moved to London in 1999 where she now lives with her partner Daniel and his two kids. She joined the KFTC staff in November 2016 as the Operations Associate and provides day-to-day operational support to the Operations Manager and Deputy Director. In her free time she enjoys reading, embroidering (poorly) and half-finishing DIY projects.

Joe Gallenstein

Lead Organizer

I have been blessed to work for Kentuckians For The Commonwealth in Northern Kentucky since 2010, and with the Rolling Bluegrass Chapter since 2013. If you share our commitment to justice and a desire for a strong democracy then please join us at an upcoming KFTC event!

Reach me at 859-380-6103! 

Ali Gautier

Communications and Development Manager

Ali Gautier is an activist, comedian, and performing artist originally from Danville, KY, currently living in Louisville, serving as Communications & Development Manager for KFTC. You can find her performing throughout the city, or online, usually featuring her cat Matilda, on her Youtube channel and film podcast.

Erik Hungerbuhler

Data & Digital Communications Manager

After many years as KFTC's website manager/e-organizer, Erik has shifted into a data and digital communications role. He grew up in Corbin and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. He was involved with KFTC in a number of different roles as a member before joining the staff and is excited about integrating the website and social media into our organizing strategy. He currently lives in Lexington with his wife and two daughters. He spends some of his free time geeking out on sci-fi, playing board games and helping at his wife's yarn store, Rebelle. He is an accomplished knitter and always willing to teach others.

Nyeila Jones

Jefferson County Chapter Organizer

Nyeila is a Eastern Kentucky University graduate. She earned her Bachelors in Political Science and Social Justice Studies, these programs taught her how to fight against injustice through activism and policy change. While working for multiple campaigns she grew a passion for registering young people and people of color to vote in every election possible.

Dave Newton

Organizing Co-Director

Dave has been an active member of KFTC since 1999, is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with degrees in History and Political Science and has experience organizing with the Kentucky Democratic Party, internal and external union organizing with SEIU in California, has worked as a consultant, and most recently was Deputy Director of Media Justice in Oakland, CA.  He now lives in Covington, KY after coming back to us after 5 years out of state.  He's also a giant nerd who loves sci-fi and cats.

Heather Roe Mahoney

Deputy Director

Heather grew up on a farm in Lewis County, Kentucky and graduated from the University of Louisville more years ago than she'd like to admit.  She came to KFTC in 2005 after working for seven years at Democracy Resource Center, first as project coordinator, then as co-director. She works closely with the Executive Director, helps with foundation fundraising, provides administrative oversight for KFTC, and staffs several of our leadership teams including the Steering Committee, Executive Committee, and Finance Committee.  She lives in Lexington with her husband Chris and son Kaden.

Carl Weaver

Cumberland Chapter Organizer

Carl is a life-long Kentuckian, from Laurel County.  Carl has a background in community service through his work in public education, criminal justice, and small business. His family has been a permanent fixture in downtown London Kentucky with their restaurant, Weaver's Hot Dogs serving the community since 1940.  Carl graduated from Union College with a degree in Sociology and attended Eastern Kentucky University to receive a Master's degree in Community Counseling, paving his future path to serve as an Addiction Recovery Facilitator in 5 jails in the Eastern region, helping inmates with their transition from jail back into the community.  Currently, Carl lives in Williamsburg with his wife Angelika enjoying fitness, travel, and reclaiming vintage clothing.