Who We Are
North Carolina's pro-democracy coalition, aimed at educating the public on how to build a democracy where everyone participates, every vote is counted, voting rights are fully enforced, and everyone's voice is heard.
Beatrice Beaubrun is the Deputy Director at North Carolina For The People and has over a decade of experience in political organizing, nonprofit management, and communications. As the Deputy Director, she leverages her expertise to build coalitions, drive civic engagement, and advance digital security in the fight for equitable policies.
A Jersey native and proud Haitian-American, Beatrice's journey in advocacy began with her work on the 2008 election doing GOTV alongside her mom knocking on doors in the streets of Philly. Her passion for elevating marginalized voices led her to pursue a B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina Central University and an M.A. in Communications from Queens University of Charlotte.
In 2020, Beatrice honed her digital organizing skills during the Census, a turning point that inspired her to launch BeaPixel Studio—a branding and web design firm tailored to political nonprofits. Through her diverse roles, Beatrice remains committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and expanding opportunities for growth and change in the communities she serves.
Melissa Price Kromm is the Chair and Executive Director of North Carolina For The People, where she has served as the leader of North Carolina's statewide pro-democracy coalition for the past fifteen years. The coalition coordinates education advocacy on structural democracy, voting rights, election administration, campaign finance reform, government ethics and transparency, redistricting reform, judicial independence, protecting dissent, and constitutional crisis prevention.
She is a proud graduate of North Carolina State University and lives in Durham with her husband and three children.
Sailor Jones joined Common Cause NC in 2022 as the organization's Associate Director and now serves as its Executive Director. Prior to joining Common Cause NC, Sailor focused on pro-democracy work as Southern Coalition for Social Justice's Communications Director and Democracy North Carolina's Campaigns Director, supervising messaging, digital efforts, resource creation, training, and partner coordination.
During Sailor's more than a decade in social justice spaces, he served with Equality NC, the League of Women Voters of NC, NARAL Pro-Choice NC, NC AIDS Action Network, North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections, and the North Carolina NAACP. He hails from rural Eastern North Carolina and is a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Jeanne Van Divender is happily retired after working for over 20 years in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical industries, with a focus on Information Management. She is formerly a Board member of North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections and has long volunteered in leadership roles with PTA, church, and Girl Scouts.
She has been a long-time volunteer with AARP—helping lead volunteers with Advocacy, DIY Presentations, community outreach, and technical assistance—and currently serves as President of AARP NC. Jeanne has also served as an election poll worker for many years, including as Chief Judge at her precinct. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Richmond and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.
Benjamin Barber is a Research Associate at the Institute for Southern Studies and a contributing writer for Facing South. He holds a graduate degree from the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in history from Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina.
His work at the Institute focuses on projects that link history, advocacy, policy, and civic engagement to promote equity, democracy, and social justice. He has written and spoken widely on Southern politics, voting rights, history, and movements for change across the region.
Jovita Lee is a North Carolina native and graduate of Meredith College with a B.A. in International Studies and a PgD in Business Administration. She has also completed an M.P.A. from North Carolina Central University and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership at Gardner-Webb University.
Her advocacy, policy, and justice work—specifically for environmental communities of interest and Black and Brown communities—spans both state and national scale. She is Program and Policy Director for Advance Carolina and the North Carolina Black Alliance, and convener of the North Carolina Black and Brown Policy Network, a network of over 30 Black and Brown-led organizations statewide. She is also Co-Founder of the Meredith College Black Alumnae Collective and a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.
Our work is powered by people who believe democracy is worth fighting for. Support NC For The People and help us keep educating, equipping, and engaging North Carolinians across the state.
A donor collaborative dedicated to creating a healthy democracy that protects fundamental rights. Piper Fund invests in grassroots, community-led coalitions advancing democracy reform, money in politics, fair courts, and the right to protest—with a priority on organizations led by communities of color.
A nonpartisan pooled fund pursuing a holistic approach to defending U.S. democracy. The Moxie Fund supports the pro-democracy field in three core areas: trusted elections, defense of civil society, and nonpartisan accountability for assaults on rule of law.
A private family foundation serving the people of North Carolina since 1936. ZSR supports nonprofit organizations working to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable North Carolina through systemic change, community progress, and transformative grantmaking across the state.
A nonpartisan organization fighting for free and fair elections at the state and local level. All Voting is Local builds sustained, locally tailored advocacy campaigns to expand voter access, prevent partisan interference in elections, and ensure every vote is counted—centering Black, Brown, and historically marginalized communities.
