For 40 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 Michele Smith at (202) 662-3593 or msmith@childrensdefense.org. 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

• Kim Brettschneider - State Coordinator, CDF-California
• Amy Crawford - Regional Director, CDF-Minnesota
• Jamila Iris Edwards - Northern Director, CDF-California
• Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Regional Office
• Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana
• Renuka Mayadev - Executive Director, CDF-Ohio
• Beth Quill - Director, CDF-Texas
• Jennifer Rojas - Deputy Director, CDF-New York
• Paul Ronningen - State Coordinator, CDF-North Dakota
• Karen Fossom - Rio Grande Valley Director, CDF-Texas
• Robin Sally - Director, CDF-Marlboro County (South Carolina)

Poverty

• Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Region
• Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana

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

Early Childhood Development

• Cathy Grace - Director, Early Childhood Development Policy 
• Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Region

Education

• Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald - Director, CDF-Southern Region
• Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana

Child Welfare

• MaryLee Allen - Director, Child Welfare & Mental Health
• Jennifer Rojas - Deputy Director, CDF-New York

Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign

• MaryLee Allen - Director, Child Welfare & Mental Health
• Mary Joseph - Relief Project Director, CDF-Louisiana

Juvenile Justice

• Angélica Salazar - Policy Associate, CDF-California

Religious Action

• Rev. Shannon Daley-Harris - Senior Religious Advisor

Youth Leadership

• Dr. Thomas Maridada - Director of Education Policy, Practice and Strategic Initiatives

Community Organizing 

• Chris Glaros - Managing Director and General Counsel

Spanish-Speaking Spokespeople

• Karen Fossom - Rio Grande Valley Director, CDF-Texas
• Angélica Salazar - Policy Associate, CDF-California

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.