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Penn Action's Staff
Jeff Garis is the executive director of Penn Action and a life-long
resident of the Keystone State. Prior to founding the organization two
years ago, Jeff was an organizer for Citizens for Consumer Justice
(2005 - 2006) and the executive director of Pennsylvania Abolitionists
United Against the Death Penalty (1998 - 2004). He is a Mennonite
former minister, having served as associate pastor in a congregation
in Bucks County (1990 - 1995). A father of three, Jeff resides in
Philadelphia.
Robin Stelly is Penn Action's Field Coordinator. She graduated from Bucknell University and has a master's degree in Education. She has worked as a teacher and activist/grassroots organizer all her life, notably in Bucks County. Robin was a precinct organizer for Move On's 2004 Leave No Voter Behind campaign in Bucks County. Robin is a member of the board of the Emergency Relief Assocation, a food cupboard located in Levittown, PA. She is also an active member of the Coalition for Voting Integrity, based in Bucks County and dedicated to bringing voter-marked paper ballots to Pennsylvania. Robin lives in Lower Makefield Township with her husband and three children.
Richard McVay is Penn Action's Field Organizer in Erie. Richard attended Maryville College, completing their unique special studies program on race relations with honors, and is a graduate of Miami-Dade College. He began his organizing career as a volunteer in the Robert Kennedy presidential campaign as a senior in high school. After participating in the Vietnam war protest movement during his college years, he volunteered in every democratic presidential campaign thereafter. Richard was also a member of the Dade Country Democratic Executive Committee, and worked on the campaigns of Miami mayors Xavier Suarez, and Manny Diaz. Before joining Penn Action, he was a Field Organizer for the Iraq Summer Campaign in Erie.
Caleb Payne is Penn Action's Field Organizer in Pittsburgh. Caleb graduated from Florida State University in 2006 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Business. During college, he was a Pop Warner Football Coach and participated in an advanced speed reading program. In high school he completed over 200 hours of community service with Habitat for Humanity, Metropolitan Ministries, and at the James A. Haley V.A. Hospital. He was a Field Organizer for the Iraq Summer Campaign in Pittsburgh, PA, and helped organize events that were covered by media nationwide.
