Political Strategist, Community Organizer & Author

In observance of Martin Luther King's birthday, we FEATURE Charlene Carruthers. Carruthers is a community organizer and writer with over 10 years of experience in racial justice, feminist, and youth leadership development work. She has led grassroots and digital strategy campaigns for national progressive organizations including Center for Community Change, the Women's Media Center, and ColorOfChange.org. Media includes: BBC, NPR, The Grio, The National Institute, Huffington Post, MSNBC, WGN TV, WBEZ 91.5, and The Chicago Tribune.

Energy & Environment Journalist

With the Keystone pipeline bill advancing in the US Senate, we FEATURE Kate Galbraith. Galbraith is an expert on energy and environmental issues. She has written several stories for Texas Monthly and is a co-author of The Great Texas Wind Rush, a 2013 book on how the oil and gas state took the lead in wind. She has contributed to The New York Times, and she worked for The Economist from 2000 to 2007.

Executive Director

In light of upcoming State of the Union Address, we FEATURE Ellen Bravo to provide commentary on how President Obama can focus more on working families during 2015. Bravo directs the Family Values at Work Consortium, a network of state coalitions working for paid leave. Her publications include: Taking on the Big Boys, or Why Feminism is good for Families, Business and the Nation, and The Job/Family Challenge A 9to5 Guide (Not for Women Only,) a report on Quality Part Time Options in Wisconsin. Media includes: The Nation, CNN, ABC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Glamour.

Former Executive Director

After his recent speech in Phoenix, President Obama is expected to include housing in his State of the Union Address next week. To discuss what he might say, we feature Ruby Bright. Bright is the executive director and chief administrative officer of the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM). In the past 10 years, the Women’s Foundation has awarded $2.78 million supporting 203 programs provided by non-profit organizations in the greater Memphis area. In 2004, the Women’s Foundation board of director’s agreed to lead the fundraising efforts to raise an additional $1.2 million and $6.8 million in 2005 to help the City of Memphis leverage the opportunity to receive $40 million in Hope VI Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants. Bright has received numerous leadership awards including the 2005 Shelby County Mayors' Ruby R. Wharton award for community service and the 2005 Women of Achievement award.