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Our Team
Liuba Grechen Shirley
Founder and CEO
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Throughout her career, Liuba has forged strategic partnerships between public, private, and nonprofit sector organizations to tackle issues including economic development, access to health care, and paid family leave. She has also fought for increased accountability and less corruption in the use of international aid funds.
In 2018, Liuba ran a historic congressional campaign to represent New York’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She received the highest vote share of any Democrat to run against Peter King in 25 years. Liuba raised over $2 million with no corporate PAC money and built a grassroots movement of volunteers that knocked over 250,000 doors. She petitioned the Federal Election Commission and became the first woman in history to receive federal approval to spend Campaign Funds on Childcare
In 2019 and 2020, Liuba was selected as one of Long Island’s 100 Most Powerful People by City & State and was named to the Long Island Business News 40 Under 40 list. Together with UN Women, she launched the #IAmParent campaign for Parental Leave and was selected as a Global Champion for Women’s Economic Empowerment. She has appeared on CNN, The Today Show, and MSNBC and featured in The Washington Post, TIME Magazine, and Huffington Post. Liuba holds an MBA with specializations in Management and Economics from the NYU Stern School of Business, and a BA in Politics and Russian from NYU. She lives on Long Island with her husband Christopher and children, Mila, Nicholas, and Andrew.
Sarah Hague, LMSW
Political Director
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Sarah is a political social worker who has spent her career engaging young adults and womxn in government and politics. Sarah has started Youth Advisory Boards for 4 Congressmembers, mobilizing over 250 students. At Vote Mama Foundation, she spearheads the organization’s work on passing Campaign Funds for Childcare in all 50 states by 2023. Sarah also coordinates the foundation’s research and analysis efforts on childcare and the state of motherhood in American politics in partnership with leading researchers and organizations. Previously, Sarah served as NY Chief of Staff for Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12) where she worked on supporting family-friendly legislation among other important initiatives. Sarah holds an MSW degree from Columbia University School of Social Work and a BA in Social work, Sociology, and Peace and Conflict Studies from Gordon College. She lives in Long Island City with her partner and two dogs, Ruth Barker Ginsberg and Rosie the Riveter.
Corie Pope Lieberman
Director of Development
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Corie has over a decade of experience fundraising for progressive causes. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Development at Echoing Green, the world's leading investor in early-stage social entrepreneurs. At Vote Mama, Corie oversees fundraising, finance, and operations. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a BA in International Studies, and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and young daughter.
Josh Daniel
Communications Director
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Josh Daniel is immensely proud to be on the Vote Mama Foundation team as Digital Communications Director. In his political work, Josh has led programs for Katie Porter, Liuba Grechen Shirley, and multiple state and local candidates across the country––including social media management, email fundraising, comms strategy, and volunteer activation. In the non-profit space, Josh leads social media & digital communications for Open Progress and TextOut, having organized volunteers to send over 80 million texts nationwide since 2017. He is a founding member of Indivisible Harlem, in addition to being a NY County Committee Member and Alternate Judicial Delegate in the 70th AD. Josh also serves on the Executive Board of Manhattan Young Democrats as Social Media Director. More life!
Bailey Bruce, RN/BSN, MSW
Research and Policy Fellow
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Bailey is a Registered Nurse and recently earned a Masters of Social Work on the Accelerated Policy Track at Columbia University School of Social Work. Previously, they worked as a clinical nurse and clinical research nurse coordinator at Duke University, co-organized the 2017 Raleigh March for Science, and acted as the Raleigh City Coordinator with Puerto Rico Rises, facilitating donation of over 20,000lbs of material-goods in response to Hurricane Maria. Bailey is passionate about combating the political erasure of diverse and progressive rural communities and engaging Southern folx in fighting for economic and social justice. Originally from Monroe, Louisiana, Bailey now lives in Carrboro, North Carolina with their partner, Isabelle, and their pets – two dogs named Claes and Elke, a cat named June, and a small flock of chickens.
Emily Weiss
Research Fellow
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Emily is an aspiring social worker who has dedicated her young adult life to advocacy for human rights and mental health. During high school, Emily was the president of Youth to Youth, a drug and self abuse prevention organization which aims to positively engage and support teens struggling with various social pressures. In college, she centered her coursework around national and international civil rights issues ranging from housing discrimnation to the developing study of medical ethics. She has volunteered as an ESL teacher in Jackson Heights, served as a public service intern at the office of Rep. Carolyn Maloney and more recently worked as a preschool teacher and child care provider.
Emily is currently enrolled in a master’s of social work program. She is seeking to pursue policy and advocacy in progressive public service. At home, she and her family have fostered over 120 animals - many of which have kept more than busy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Juliette Richart Nova
Spring Fellow
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Juliette is a second-year student at Columbia currently working towards a double major in psychology and sociology, and her future academic interests include attending law school. As a part of Vote Mama’s team she is proud to contribute to the mission of achieving gender equality. In her free time she enjoys baking and reading for her book club.
Jaden Wong
Spring Fellow
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Jaden Wong is a current sophomore at Boston University majoring in International Relations and minoring in Political Science. During a gap semester in 2019, she interned at the Nassau County Legislature for Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum. In 2020, Jaden completed a fellowship with the United Nations Association of the United States of America. Here she gathered data from the local community and submitted their concerns to the UN. These experiences only deepened her love of public service, as well as political activism. She is also a part of Boston University’s Leading Women of Tomorrow and Women in Law clubs.