our team
Lana Hansen
Executive Director
Austin
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Lana Hansen is a committed activist and community leader focused on building progressive organizing infrastructure in Texas. She is committed to social justice advocacy, gender equity, and increasing civic engagement in Texas. Her career in community outreach began as a Health Educator in 2002. With a degree in Health Science, she focused on HIV and Hepatitis C education in migrant communities, the unhoused, and county jail populations. She also taught sex education to teens in juvenile detention.
In addition to her deep roots in community outreach and organizing, Lana is an Entrepreneur with seven years experience in brand and community management
Andrea Flores
Data Analytics Director
Houston
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Andrea is a data technologist with experience in political campaigns from the municipal to the federal level. She studied political science and history at Newcastle University in the UK. Most recently she ran the data department for the coordinated campaign in Georgia successfully reelecting Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. In 2020 she oversaw data and targeting for state house campaigns in Texas, a program that increased Democratic votes by an average of 10,000 per district. In addition to her campaign work, she is passionate about bringing underrepresented groups into data and technology and has been a trainer for organizations such as Arena Academy and Re:Power.
Andrea is a native Houstonian and cares deeply about using electoral politics to create a better Texas that serves its population the way it deserves
Serena Ahmed-Arroyo
Program Manager
San Antonio
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Serena Ahmed-Arroyo comes to Texas Blue Action with a Master’s in Political & Macro Social Work from the University of Houston, where she received the Mahatma Gandhi 2018 Peace Award, and a BA in Anthropology from Reed College. She was Co-President of the Policy Insider’s Advisory Committee planning panel discussions with Houston leaders on topics concerning social justice. At UH, Serena was honored to train as a community organizer with the Texas Organizing Project, building policy advocacy power with Black and Latino communities; as well as with the Tahirih Justice Center, providing legal and social services to immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. In 2017, Serena served as a policy analyst in the Legislative Study Group for the Texas State Legislature. In the past 5 years, Serena drove social impact through service with the Orlando Arts and Culture community. She led exhibition curation, community events, volunteer management, patron experience, and community relationships with Survivors and their descendants at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida. Most recently, she managed partnerships and arts access education programs at Central Florida Community Arts emphasizing the arts as a vehicle for equity and social change.
Serena remains motivated by the power of purposeful dialogue, education, and goal-oriented community coalitions. She is extremely grateful to work with the Texas Blue Action network. She believes in the urgent need to support the growth of sustainable progressive infrastructure here in Texas, and data-driven, year-round relational organizing programs. Serena, her spouse, their dog and 2 cats have just moved back to Texas in the Hill Country region - San Antonio Metro area. They are so excited to settle in and build their family here together.
Jax Garcia
Bilingual Program Manager
San Antonio
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Jax A. Garcia (she/they) is a passionate and dedicated organizer with a diverse background in immigration advocacy, housing justice, and political relational organizing. Motivated to join grassroots movements in 2020, Jax began by distributing health kits and resources through local mutual aid groups. She later started canvassing around ESSER fund surveys to help San Antonio school districts secure resources based on parent and student input. Fluent in Spanish and skilled in community organizing, digital engagement, and event coordination, Jax prioritizes language justice to uplift Latinx communities. They hold certifications from the Center for Popular Democracy and SA Stands that helped them learn how to build and organize communities.
Born and raised in San Antonio to migrant parents from Monterrey, Jax is deeply committed to contributing to the fight that her community and family have led, from the border to across Texas. She is dedicated to ensuring that Latinx voices are heard, mobilized, and empowered.
Francesca Leahy
Chapter Coordinator - Travis
Austin
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Francesca Fraga Leahy is a researcher and strategist with fifteen years of experience including leading programs in higher education, state government, and local politics. Her professional journey began as a classroom teacher in the Rio Grande Valley. Her dedication to improving working and learning conditions for all teachers and students led her to school administration, education policy research, state government leadership, and community organizing. Francesca’s civic engagement began in her hometown of Waco, Texas, where she served as a Waco Youth Council member and worked for Democratic state senator Chet Edwards while in college. Today, as president of Blue Action South Central Austin, she leads a year-round neighborhood-based network of volunteers committed to registering, organizing, and mobilizing voters in South Central Austin communities. Francesca’s respect for public service developed at a young age and was deeply influenced by her parents’ involvement in political movements and civic causes.
Francesca is a proud resident of the 78704 neighborhood with her kids and husband, and loves going on adventures big and small--especially on hikes to the nearby Greenbelt, trying all the yummy foods at local South Austin spots, and going to her favorite venues to listen to music with her favorite people.
Ben Wilbanks
Managing Director & Lead Trainer
El Paso
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Ben was always politically engaged but didn’t become politically active until 2022 when the El Paso Chapter of Texas Blue Action was formed. The prospect of flipping Texas blue is intriguing, but El Paso’s below-average voter turnout is something that needs to be addressed.
Ben graduated from Texas State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Mass Communication-Advertising.
Gabi Theard
Communications Manager
El Paso
our board
Carrie Collier-Brown
President
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Carrie Collier-Brown is co-founder & chair of Texas Blue Action Democrats. She also co-hosts the "Left In Texas" podcast and a member of Planned Parenthood's Austin Community Board. Carrie is Senior Counsel with Locke Lord LLP, with 20 years' experience in energy regulatory law & policy.
Rish Oberoi
Regional Board Member at Large Houston
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Rish Oberoi is a first generation Texan and native Houstonian who has been fundraising for progressive candidates and causes since 2016. After graduating from the University of Houston, he served as a policy aide in the 85th Legislature, before shifting over to the campaign world and subsequently spent the next four years raising over $2 million to benefit progressive state and federal candidates.
In 2020, he ran in the Democratic primary for the Texas Legislature in which he was the youngest candidate in the district's history. Thereafter, Rish continued as a progressive development professional for more candidates and progressive nonprofits. He has singularly pursued a career in the social impact sector with a desire to elevate the next generation of Texans to grow their civic involvement and help build a Texas that truly embodies our values.
Elizabeth Bray
Treasurer
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Elizabeth Bray is a founding member of Austin Women Invest to Elect, was a co-chair of the Austin Annie’s List steering team in 2018. She was on the HDCC finance committee in 2020 and the finance chair for both MJ Hegar's Senate campaign and a Congressional Campaign for TX10 in 2020. She currently sits on the national boards for the Electing Women’s Alliance and Her Bold Move.
Prior to her work in politics, Elizabeth spent 15 years working for Procter & Gamble in multiple countries in Europe and Africa and 10 years as the Global Vice President of a wine importer.
Becca DeFelice
Regional Board Representative at Large San Antonio
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Becca DeFelice is the executive director of Emerge Texas. As an advocate, candidate, and organizer, Becca has worked to show the outsized difference that diverse women can make when they step into politics. She is committed to using her leadership, experience, and insight to help the next generation of women leaders in Texas run for office, win, and bring transformative change to their constituents, their districts, and their communities in all levels of office.
Becca grew up in rural Pennsylvania on a working farm. She organized statewide with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action and is a former State House candidate. Becca is especially invested in equitable healthcare access, reproductive justice, gun violence prevention, public education, and environmental conservation.
Becca is a mom of a teenage daughter, wife, and enjoys gardening in her free time.
About Emerge Texas:
Emerge has one goal - To increase the number of Democratic women in office who are reflective of the incredible diversity of the Democratic party by recruiting, training and providing a powerful network. Since 2002, Emerge has trained over 6,000 Democratic women to run for office and 1200+ Emerge alumni currently serve in office.
