Institute Advisory Council

• Policy interests: Children/families being able to cope in dysfunctional environments, crime, seniors being able to "stay in place", the welfare system, DCS, affordable childcare

• Policy interests: Family mental health, housing insecurity, paid time off, and wage gaps.

RJ Dunavan, Cayuga, IN – I am a County Commissioner from Vermillion County. I have a strong passion for serving my community as I got elected at age 21 to my local school board. Affecting change and being a voice for the people is something I take pride in doing. I’m always looking to expand my horizons and help in any way I can. I like to leave a place better than I found it. 

• Policy interests: Housing, including addressing issues with housing stock before they get to a point of no repair, workforce and jobs, giving tools/letting people of all ages know what’s available to them

• Policy interests: Social work, social justice, domestic violence, and addressing systemic barriers contributing to poverty
  

Wendy Wright, Camden, IN - I worked in and out of healthcare for over 20 years and received my Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Administration/Management before becoming disabled because of an unconventional cervical spinal cord injury in 2019. I have been a Certified Health Care Worker and Certified Addictions Recovery Coach, have led women's trauma groups, and have worked in in-patient facilities and schools along with working with patients in behavioral and mental health. I have also engaged in social work, helping link people to resources and assist them with navigating and completing different programs. I am a passionate advocate for mental health, trauma victims, fighting against homelessness, and fighting for the aged and disabled communities.    

• Policy interests: Addressing circumstances contributing to the increasing amount of people who are living in poverty and on the verge of homelessness, bringing more awareness to people about assistance programs, addressing the lack of assistance and insurance coverage for people with disabilities who are not veterans to address what people with disabilities actually need and the challenges they face. I also want to help identify and address the many issues within federal programs that are in place that contribute to people being disqualified from state programs

Roshawn Neal, La Porte, IN - I bring both lived and professional experience to this work. As someone who is disabled and relies on Social Security and Medicare benefits/entitlements, I understand firsthand the challenges that many face in accessing necessary resources. My son, Seth, is also disabled, further deepening my commitment to fighting for equitable and just policies that protect the most vulnerable among us. I have a Bachelor of Applied Science and have worked with the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute as a Policy Fellow, focusing on solutions that uplift individuals and families facing financial hardship.

• Policy interests: Advancing policies that support marginalized communities, rural areas, and those who rely on critical social programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
  
  

 Kendra Cuyler, Merrillville, IN  

• Policy interests: Housing, supports for individuals with disabilities

Sarah Conrad, Fort Wayne, IN - Passionate gardener with a background of grassroots volunteer work and experience with homelessness and housing instability. My community work focuses on Housing First, Harm Reduction, and the local Environment. Hoping to expand my scope in community work and share ideas. 

• Policy interests: Housing justice

Oriana Fuenmayor, Indianapolis, IN - I am a first-generation immigrant, asylum-seeker, and service-oriented young professional with a passion for social and environmental justice, equity and human dignity. I graduated with degrees in Political Science and Global & International Studies from IU Indianapolis. My background includes working in legal services, education, and nonprofit organizations. I have lived experience with the many barriers facing poor and working-class families, especially those who are noncitizens. My long-term goal is to become a public interest attorney and support initiatives that enhance the well-being of our communities. 

• Policy interests: Legal barriers to justice, community well-being
  

Dr. Cicé Carney, Valparaiso, IN – I am an educator serving students in K-12 settings in Portage, Indiana, with a background in adult education and workforce development. I am passionate about ensuring that every learner — whether an adult seeking new skills or a young person building their foundation — has access to high-quality educational programming that leads to real workforce outcomes and lasting economic opportunity. Strong educational systems, aligned with the needs of employers and communities, are essential to breaking the cycle of poverty and helping every Hoosier achieve stability and success in an ever-changing economy.

• Policy interests: Skills-based pathways connected to workforce outcomes and coordinated systems that lift up families in Northwest Indiana and across the state

Deb Fisher, Indianapolis, IN – I joined #TeamInstitute in 2023 as a research associate, engaging with Hoosiers through interviews and focus groups on a wide range of topics. I enjoy connecting with others because I also have a story for everything. As a young woman, I was a wife and a foster and adoptive mom taking care of babies. At age 49, driven by a love of learning, I decided to go back to school and in doing so, I opened a whole new life for myself. As a member of the first cohort of Ronald McNair Scholars at IUPUI, I learned how to conduct research and present data. I earned a Master's Degree, joined the Grassroots Maternal and Child Health Initiative, and served as a family interviewer for the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. 

• Policy interests: Maternal and child health, debt protections, health care access
  

Rob Williford, Indianapolis, IN - I have been a Hoosier for the last 10 years but was proudly born and raised in Flint, Michigan. Much of who I am today comes from experiencing poverty growing up and having a family who emphasized the importance of community as a means for survival. I currently work in higher education where I get to walk alongside young people trying to navigate what it means to be a human in a world that is not always built with their care in mind. I also serve as the Treasurer on the board for The Facing Project where my deep curiosity for storytelling and human connection is exercised. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my partner and our two cats, going down research rabbit holes, and writing both academically and creatively.

Emily Meyer, Jasper, IN - Through my own personal hardships—being a single mother and living in a community that lacks resources—and my job/volunteer experience, I have a firsthand look at the hardships on different levels. With 15+ years of experience in the Criminal Justice area, my goal to  help individuals and families achieve a better life by narrowing hardship gaps.  

• Policy Interests: Mental Health, Individual/Families with Disabilities, Childcare, Housing, Legal Barriers, Medical/Financial Barriers, and Community Resources