Learn About Our Mission
Our Staff and Leaders
The Progressive Maryland Education Fund is a proud team of organizers working to drive our vision for an equitable, thriving, safe state for all. As a member of Progressive Maryland, one of your many benefits is having direct access to some of the best organizers in the state.

Larry Stafford, Jr. (he/him)
Executive Director

Jennifer Mendes Dwyer (she/her)
Deputy Executive Director

Ann Keasling (she/her)
Montgomery County Housing Organizer

Anne-Margaret Denlinger (she/her)
Operations Specialist

Anton Aluquin (he/him)
Prince George's County Organizer

Christianne Marguerite (she/her)
Director of Communications

Janay Fenner (she/her)
Communications Coordinator

Josie Pines (they/them)
Development Specialist

Kurt Stand (he/him)
Returning Citizens Task Force Organizer

Lev Hirschhorn (he/him
Director of Organizing

Max Socol (he/him)
Director of Campaigns

Patty Snee (she/her)
Healthcare Organizer

Senay Emmanuel (he/him)
Climate Policy Analyst

Shannon Talbert (She/Her)
Black Workers Center Organizer

SirJames Weaver (he/him)
Environmental Justice Organizer

Woody Woodruff (he/him)
Blog Manager
For all finance and administrative matters please contact Angela Lau.
Email: finance@progressivemaryland.org

The Mission
Our mission is to build a society and economy that works for all Marylanders, with special emphasis on traditionally marginalized groups–low and moderate-income residents, people of color, women, LGBTQ+, and all oppressed and exploited people. We seek to build a grassroots electoral force capable of changing the social, economic, and political landscape of Maryland by transforming oppressive systems into those that honor the inherent dignity and worth of all human beings by meeting their basic needs, providing a quality standard of living, and freedom to self-determine.

What We Value
Since PMEF’s founding in 2000, we have helped win important victories including increasing the state minimum wage to $15 per hour, bail and police reform, legislation to combat income inequality between men and women, making childcare and prescription drugs more affordable, campaign finance reform in three counties, and paid sick leave for thousands of workers across Maryland.

What We Believe
PMEF’s primary path to power is community organizing and leadership development in traditionally marginalized communities. We do this because we believe that, to make real change, we must deeply involve those that are most impacted by systemic injustice. This involvement must not be merely transactional, but transformational in the sense that we must develop leadership and skilled capacity within the communities of those most impacted by current systemic breakdowns.
Get Involved!
Find out how you can help us change the political landscape of Maryland by transforming the oppressive systems surrounding us.