Travel, Lodging, and Honoraria Policies
Should a request require CDF staff to make a trip out of town, CDF asks that the requesting organization pay all expenses for travel and hotel accommodations.
CDF staff does not accept fees for speaking engagements, so any honoraria should be donated to the Children's Defense Fund.
CDF Speakers Bureau
For 35 years, the Children's Defense Fund has been a leading advocacy voice for all the children of America. Our talented advocates, educators, organizers, policy experts, and other spokespeople use their voices every day to help lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure access to health care, quality education, and a moral and spiritual foundation to help them succeed. Learn more about CDF's public speakers below.
To invite CDF President Marian Wright Edelman to a speaking engagement, please contact Robin Turner at rturner@childrensdefense.org or (202) 662-3692. For media inquiries, to request an interview with Mrs. Edelman, or to request information about any other CDF speaker, please complete our online request form.
Regional Spokespeople
Poverty
Federal Budget and Tax Priorities for Families
Health and Mental Health
Early Childhood Development
Education
Child Welfare
Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign
Juvenile Justice
Religious Action
Youth Leadership
Community Organizing
Spanish-Speaking Spokespeople
Regional Spokespeople
- Edward M. Augustus, Jr., Executive Director, CDF-California
- Barbara Best - Executive Director, CDF-Texas
- Kristina A. Davis - Executive Director, CDF-Montana
- Ron Browder - Director, CDF-Ohio
- Oleta Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Region
- Rhea Bishop - Deputy Director, CDF-Southern Region
- Jim Koppel - Director, CDF-Minnesota
- Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana
- Rev. Emma Jordan-Simpson - Executive Director, CDF-New York
- Jennifer Rojas - Deputy Director, CDF-New York
- Cliff Sarkin - Senior Policy Associate, CDF-California
- Luisa Saenz - Rio Grande Valley Director, CDF-Texas
Poverty
- Oleta Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Region
- Jim Koppel - Director, CDF-Minnesota
- Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana
- Rhea Bishop - Deputy Director, CDF-Southern Region
Federal Budget and Tax Priorities for Families
- MaryLee Allen - Director, Child Welfare & Mental Health
Health and Mental Health
- Alison Buist - Director, Child Health
- MaryLee Allen - Director, Child Welfare & Mental Health
- Barbara Best - Executive Director, CDF-Texas
- Kristina A. Davis - Executive Director, CDF-Montana
- Ron Browder - Director, CDF-Ohio
- Jim Koppel - Director, CDF-Minnesota
- Cliff Sarkin - Senior Policy Associate, CDF-California
- Rhea Bishop - Deputy Director, CDF-Southern Region
Early Childhood Development
- Dr. Cathy Grace - Director, Early Childhood Development Policy
- Oleta Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Region
- Jim Koppel - Director, CDF-Minnesota
- Rhea Bishop - Deputy Director, CDF-Southern Region
Education
- Dr. Bert L'Homme - Education Policy Director
- Edward M. Augustus, Jr., Executive Director, CDF-California
- Oleta Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Region
- Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana
- Rhea Bishop - Deputy Director, CDF-Southern Region
Child Welfare
- MaryLee Allen - Director, Child Welfare & Mental Health
- Jennifer Rojas - Deputy Director, CDF-New York
- Ron Browder - Director, CDF-Ohio
Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign
- Dr. Bert L'Homme - Lead Coordinator, Cradle to Prison Pipeline Crusade
- MaryLee Allen - Director, Child Welfare & Mental Health
- Ron Browder - Director, CDF-Ohio
- Jim Koppel - Director, CDF-Minnesota
- Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana
Juvenile Justice
- Ron Browder - Director, CDF-Ohio
Religious Action
- Rev. Emma Jordan-Simpson - Executive Director, CDF-New York
Youth Leadership
- Jeanne Middleton-Hairston - National Director, CDF Freedom Schools® Program
- Ron Browder - Director, CDF-Ohio
- Jim Koppel - Director, CDF-Minnesota
Community Organizing
- Kristina A. Davis - Executive Director, CDF-Montana
- Ron Browder - Director, CDF-Ohio
- Jim Koppel - Director, CDF-Minnesota
Spanish-Speaking Spokespeople
- Luisa Saenz - Rio Grande Valley Director, CDF-Texas
Travel, Lodging, and Honoraria Policies
Should a request require CDF staff to make a trip out of town, CDF asks that the requesting organization pay all expenses for travel and hotel accommodations.
CDF staff does not accept fees for speaking engagements, so any honoraria should be donated to the Children's Defense Fund.


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