Prior to joining the foundation in 2007, Alexandra worked at a communications firm in New York and the International Herald Tribune in Paris. She has also spent time at the U.S. Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo and with Save the Children in Mali. Alexandra holds a Master of Health Science from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, an MA in international development from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a BA in politics from Princeton University. She is fluent in French. Alexandra enjoys running (for exercise) and to keep up with her two daughters.
Following her work with Columbia, she joined the Office of Family & Children’s Ombuds, a state agency that investigates complaints against Child Protective Services and Child Welfare Services. She later joined The Mockingbird Society where she served as the Director of Public Policy & Communications. In that role, Erin led the agency’s strategic advocacy and policy agenda at the local, state, and national level—in collaboration with young people who experienced foster care and homelessness—to improve foster care and end youth homelessness.
In 2016, Erin started her own consulting firm, E.S. McCann, LLC, where she works with communities, policymakers, government agencies, programs, nonprofit organizations, and private funders to elevate the needs and voices of vulnerable children and families.
Erin most recently joined Legal Counsel for Youth and Children as the organization’s first-ever Deputy Director. With LCYC, Erin will play an instrumental role in designing and building out the organization’s systemic legal advocacy related to four direct service programs: child welfare, juvenile court, youth and young adult homelessness, and youth and family immigration.
Erin graduated from the University of Washington and received her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. Erin has two young children who were born with the support and love of her partner and an incredible doula.
For the past few years, Nika has taken on her most challenging and rewarding role yet– mom to two toddlers. The births of her children raised Nika’s awareness of the crucial difference being supported and heard can make during the heroic and life-changing–yet vulnerable and intimate–transition to motherhood, and sparked a passion to help other mothers find and honor their voice in their care. Nika is thrilled to draw on all of these experiences as a board member for Open Arms.
Nika holds a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Vocal Music from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She enjoys singing, skiing, burritos, and family adventures near and far.
Lynn has spent her professional career as a public school educator. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Washington and was employed for many years as a high school Special Education Teacher in the Renton School District. After formal retirement, Lynn trained to become a certified birth doula and has practiced for ten years. She particularly enjoys her service to Open Arms clients. Seeing, firsthand, the positive effect that having a doula brings to a laboring woman and her family inspired Lynn to join the Board where she could offer the doula perspective. In her second Board term, Lynn has witnessed the exponential financial growth of the organization prompted by a deep sense of national respect for the work Open Arms does. A result of Lynn’s positive experiences with the Board has prompted her to seek other community Board positions where she can continue to build community support and increase a network of local donors and supporters. Lynn believes in the positivity of Open Arms’ mission and work.
Mari holds a Bachelors degree in Child Development from California State University Sacramento and has conducted research on advanced child development systems at the University of California Berkeley and Edinburgh University. Mari is honored to support Open Arms in furthering their mission to provide vital supports to families during pregnancy, birth and early parenting.
After graduate school she worked in strategy consulting at Deloitte and Point B focused on healthcare improvements. She transitioned to non-profit and is currently emoloyed at Country Doctor as a manager working on special projects reporting to the Executive Director. She is also the founder of a non-profit, The Maternal Coalition, whose mission is to ensure that all moms have access to just equitable care. Srilata is also on the board of Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation and Make-a-wish Alaska and Pacific Northwest.
Srilata lives in Capitol Hill with her husband, Charles and 2.5 year old daughter Saanvi and her dog Hunter. In her spare time she enjoys exploring recipes from the villages in India her parents are from, exploring her artistic side, and binge watching Netflix.
Christine was first introduced to Open Arms through a grant proposal in 2011, and it was love at first sight.
Tisha currently serves as both a community volunteer and a part-time consultant to nonprofit organizations. She has volunteered as a board member of the Children’s Alliance, Washington Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, and the Leadership Tomorrow Alumni Committee. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Washington. Tisha believes that leadership of a nonprofit organization, either professional or volunteer, is some of the most challenging and important work in our society. Her commitment is to provide as much support as possible to those willing to take it on.