Ilir Zherka is currently supporting DC Vote as a consultant and serving as its Interim Executive Director (ED). He previously served as the ED between 2002 and 2012. During his tenure, DC Vote was successful in advancing a DC representation bill in Congress for the first time in 30 years. Working with the Board, he significantly expanded the DC Voting Rights Coalition and increased the organization’s size and reach. He was recognized for his work with a resolution pronouncing “Ilir Zherka Day” in the District of Columbia. Ilir has led three other organizations, worked in the U.S. Congress, on presidential campaigns, and as a political appointee. He is the author of Winning the Inside Game: The Handbook of Advocacy Strategies. He is the Founder and CEO of Civica, a consulting firm.
As Director, Chanel Sherrod channels her legal training and deep commitment to democracy into DC Vote’s fight for full representation for District residents. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, she has built a career advancing civil rights and public policy, developing strategies and building coalitions that amplify underrepresented voices.
Prior to joining DC Vote, Chanel was Senior Manager of Government Affairs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. There she drove legislative strategies on voting rights, the census, federal data collection, and civil rights protections—crafting policy solutions and coordinating congressional briefings and coalition efforts that shaped national conversations. Her earlier experience spans legal and policy roles with Intuit, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and Street Law, Inc., giving her a broad perspective on how law, policy, and advocacy intersect to strengthen democracy.
Chanel believes democracy works best when every community’s voice is heard. At DC Vote she furthers advocacy to secure statehood and full democratic equality for the District, continuing to build coalitions and tell the stories that make the case for change. Having built her career and community in the nation’s capital, she is deeply committed to ensuring all District residents enjoy the same rights and representation as every other American.
Kelsye Adams is the Director of Organizing at DC Vote, where she leads the organization’s local and national advocacy campaigns to secure full equality and self-governance for the 700,000+ residents of Washington, DC. A lifelong organizer, she has built a career at the intersection of culture and politics, using artistic activism, coalition building, and grassroots mobilization to elevate the fight for DC statehood and protect home rule. Kelsye is a co-founder of Free DC, a people-powered campaign confronting congressional overreach, and also serves as Chair of the U Street Neighborhood Association and U Street Main Street Manager, where she works to preserve the cultural legacy and economic vitality of DC’s historic U Street corridor. As Executive Director of Long Live GoGo, she has transformed DC’s official music into a national advocacy tool, producing peaceful demonstrations and visibility campaigns that highlight the urgent demand for democracy and racial justice. Recognized as a 2021 DMV 35 Under 35 honoree and a Black Justice Fellow, Kelsye continues to merge culture, advocacy, and movement-building to amplify DC’s voice on the national stage. She believes the time is now for DC to become the 51st state—because Washingtonians deserve to be treated like the rest of Americans, with the same rights, representation, and respect.
Stasha M. Rhodes is a veteran movement strategist, organizer, the Founder and President of Antaeus, and the Founder of United for Democracy. With over 20 years of experience leading state and national campaigns, Stasha has shaped pivotal conversations around issues such as rebuilding democracy, gun violence prevention, and Supreme Court reform. As the Managing Director of Democracy Campaigns at The Hub Project and the leader of 51 for 51, Stasha helped redefine the conversation around D.C. statehood, driving national awareness and mobilizing action to promote statehood as central to strengthening American democracy. Stasha is a trained organizer through the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) and a recognized leader. Her insights were featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vox, Elle, and more. She is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and an adjunct professor at Smith College and a proud graduate of Southern University and Southern University Law Center.
Lindsey Michaud serves as a Program Fellow at DC Vote, where she supports public education, advocacy, and other programs advancing DC statehood. She brings significant experience in policy research and advocacy from her work as a Program Assistant at Civica Consultants and her congressional internship with Congresswoman Dina Titus. She recently completed her MSc in International Relations at the London School of Economics, where her research focused on transnational feminist movements, and holds a BA in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies from the University of Rochester. Lindsey is committed to expanding and protecting democracy, with a particular focus on human rights and voting rights. Her background includes coalition management, legislative research, and policy communications for civic engagement initiatives. She has demonstrated leadership through her role as Justice on the All-Campus Judicial Council and as a team captain of UR Mock Trial.