Drake Starling is the Senior Government Relations Advocate for Climate Justice, working for just, inclusive, and effective federal environmental legislation and executive action. His efforts to expand NETWORK’s political ministry are done in collaboration with Catholic, interfaith, and secular partners. In nearly 10 years of work in the environmental and legal sectors, Drake has gained…

As Senior Grassroots Mobilization Organizer, Catherine Gillette works to strengthen NETWORK’s field across the country—building Advocates Teams, mobilizing supporters, coordinating campaigns, conducting trainings, and forming new partnerships. She works primarily with NETWORK’s teams and advocates from CA, TX, OH, MI, NY, and VA. Most recently, she has provided leadership to NETWORK’s campaigns related to democracy,…

Chelsea Puckett is NETWORK’s Grassroots Mobilization Outreach and Education Coordinator. Her classroom teaching experience in urban and rural communities in Maine, Texas, and Pennsylvania inspires her work at NETWORK. She is educating and supporting young advocates as they pursue meaningful changes to federal policies that reflect an inclusive, multiracial, pluralistic democracy. She holds a B.A.…

Minister Christian Watkins, M.Div., is NETWORK’s Justice Systems Lobbyist. He is a proud alum of Jesuit College Preparatory (Dallas, TX), and has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Loyola University in New Orleans. After working in the corporate world for about ten years after undergraduate graduation, Christian was called to ministry. In May…

As Communications and Social Media Coordinator, Colin works to empower justice-seekers of all backgrounds to become effective faith-based advocates through NETWORK’s resources, content, and action opportunities. Colin has served as the Advocacy committee chair for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice and has taught classes at Georgetown University’s Capitol Applied Learning Lab. He is from…

Sister Eilis McCulloh, HM, JD, is a Sister of the Humility of Mary. She joined the staff at NETWORK in 2020 and currently serves as the Grassroots Education and Organizing Coordinator. Prior to joining NETWORK, Sister Eilis spent more than 10 years ministering in refugee resettlement and immigration services in St. Cloud, MN, Akron, OH,…

As NETWORK’s Digital Manager, Elissa is responsible for writing, editing, and deploying email; writing and creating content for the website and social media (blogs, creative, campaigns); training team members to effectively use communications and advocacy platforms; planning policy and communications strategy with the Executive, Government Relations and Grassroots Mobilization teams; and narrative work to advance…

Sister Emily TeKolste, SP, is a member of the Grassroots Mobilization team, engaging NETWORK leaders in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Her background as a volunteer activist and NETWORK organizer is supplemented by work in environmental and justice education as well as living in the Indianapolis Catholic Worker community and working at…

Sister Erin Zubal, an Ursuline Sister of Cleveland, is Chief of Staff at NETWORK. In this role, she leads internal coordination and integration of teams and operations to advance NETWORK’s mission. Sister Erin is the first person to serve in this position and brings a depth of knowledge and experience in education, social work, and…

Jarrett K. Smith’s interest in politics and community participation is a result of being raised by parents who served the United States with distinguished careers in the military and government. He is the son of an Army Major who was commissioned in 1967 and served 20 years as an Intelligence Officer and was given full…