Our Team

Dr. Lorelei E. Walker (she/her) is an experienced community resilience professional, community advocate, policymaker, labor leader, and public health educator. Her interdisciplinary focus fuels community-centric action, enabling systematic change for the greater good. Dr. Walker serves her community by participating on local nonprofit boards, participating in national community partnerships, launching a graduate course, shepherding young professional programs, advocating for environmental health, bargaining ground-breaking policy for wage equity across a 20-union master contract with King County, WA, and the Sr. Director of Community Resilience for the United Way serving Howard and Tipton Counties Our Kids First Initiative. 

Dr. Walker earned a PhD in Public Health and an MPH from the University of Washington’s School of Public Health, Institute for Public Health Genetics. Her work focused on children's health, allostatic load, stress response programming, environmental toxicants, epigenetic adaptation, health equity, and community organizing. She volunteers as the Director of Public Health Training for the Institute of Social Public Health. She is the mother of a fantastic neurodivergent 10-year-old gal who brings a new meaning to her work.

Elizabeth is our Communications Director. She has a passion for serving her local community and meeting new people. Elizabeth believes that everyone should have the option of affordable childcare no matter the circumstance. She is a first-time mom and is always on the go with her little one. She believes that you can do anything you set your mind to. She has been married to her husband, James for 2.5 years. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys working out, going on walks and being with her little family. 

We care about the children in our community because we see ourselves in them. A decade ago, I faced a challenging situation when I needed daycare for my son. The cost was overwhelming, consuming 60% of my income, and we didn't qualify for financial assistance. With no family support or external help, those days were incredibly tough. Working on the OKF initiative has been a healing journey, addressing the loneliness I once felt. By supporting this initiative, we aim to ensure that no family feels isolated or unsupported and that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Markeita Townsend, MPH, a Community Outreach Officer and iSPH Fellow (Unpaid). As a single mother of four children with varying mental health and developmental needs, Markeita brings a personal perspective to her work, having navigated the challenges of motherhood, work, and academic pursuits—she is currently finishing her Masters in Public Health. Her mission is to minimize barriers and uplift the community by enhancing access to quality childcare and supporting other families in similar situations.

Trilce Schneirla works at the Kokomo Rescue Mission as a Development Director. she is fairly new to Kokomo. She moved to Indiana with her husband, Rob, in 2018 from France, where she lived for almost twenty years. She is the mother of three kids: Samuel, 21, Victoria, 17, and our little Julian, who just turned one. Born in Mexico City, Fitness, traveling, food, and culture are her hobbies. She is passionate about growing and developing the community so that every citizen has access to opportunities to become the best version of themselves. Partnering with My School Options has opened the door for her to be able to do just that, facilitate communication between what the community wants, and those who can make it happen.

Her goal  is to create a healthy, fun and inspiring community where we voice our concerns, we implement actions to reach our goals, and grow as humans.

 Dr. Kaavya Gorur, is a Fellow of the Institute for Social Public Health. She serves as a Conversation Analyst assigned to the Our Kids First Initiative. Born and raised in India, She grew up with family in a multigenerational home where her grandparents were present to care for her. Through the years, she became hooked on medicine soon after earning a Doctor of Homoeopathic Medicine. After practicing for several years, She married and moved to Michigan, where her and her husband are raising their 20-month-old son. 

As she learns of the barriers Howard and Tipton County residents discussed, she does not feel alone in her own experience. She is a first-time mother, and she empathizes with these stories. She believes childcare isn't a luxury but a necessity for a family to get ahead. Professionally, She believes childcare is critical for social stability and community well-being. Your community's families are devoted to their children. The OKF data will provide the direction and insight necessary for successful community-centric solutions.  

Raghav Sharma, M.S., finished his Master's in Statistics from Purdue University this past Spring. Before coming to the States, Raghav received a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from VIT Vellore and worked in the tech industry. His previous work includes collaborating with teams to conduct market analysis for global brands and developing machine learning solutions for the healthcare industry. His expertise includes predictive modeling, data visualization, and Python-based statistical techniques.

Outside of work, Raghav enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and cooking. He's always excited to take on new data science challenges that make a real-world impact.

Taliah Wright, is a senior at Kokomo High School. She has lived in Kokomo her entire life and loves to give back to her community. When she graduates, she plans to go into education and become an elementary teacher. She feels that everybody deserves to have their children in a safe environment that they trust. Being a part of this team can help her make a difference in her community and further her leadership skills. 

Arianna Hall is passionate about making childcare more accessible because every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment. By improving access, she can help support working parents, strengthen families, and contribute to a better community.

 Lillian Roberts is a senior at Kokomo High School. She has a deep passion for helping others, especially children in our community. She plans to pursue a career in nursing to provide care and support for families. Lillian believes that every child deserves a healthy and safe environment to thrive in. Being apart of this team allows her to connect with like-minded individuals and work towards creating a brighter future for our youth. She is excited about the opportunity to grow as a leader and make a lasting impact in Kokomo.

 Sarah Milligan serves as the Assistant Director of Community Engagement for the Institute for Quality Education. She has been passionate about school choice and education advocacy since she interned at the statehouse in 2011 when the first piece of Choice Scholarship (voucher) legislation passed the Indiana state legislature. Since then, Sarah has been involved in campaigns and working in government at the local, state, and federal level. In 2021, she worked to implement the largest expansion to school choice in the state of Indiana in over a decade.  In 2023, she worked on the implementation of Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program, which has doubled in size in the past 4 years, and Indiana’s Education Scholarship Account. Originally from Southern Indiana, Sarah now lives in Downtown Indianapolis in the Fountain Square Neighborhood with her cat, Puffertons. 

 Cesar Roman is an education advocate who is passionate about working with Indiana communities to empower their voice in the conversation of education.  Since 2017, Cesar has worked as Director of Community Engagement for the Institute for Quality Education.  As such, he leads a statewide team dedicated to raising awareness and empowering communities around the issue of education. In 2021, Cesar worked to implement the largest expansion to school choice in the state of Indiana in over a decade.  In 2023, Cesar worked on the implementation of Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program, which has doubled in size in the past 4 years, and Indiana’s Education Scholarship Account, that was established in 2021. Cesar is a father of five children who loves to spend time with family, jogging, and golf.

Millie Shotwell is a 15-year-old Freshman at Northwestern High School. She has been a member of Girl Scouts for eight years and earned her Silver Award last year alongside other girls from her troop, which is the highest award available at that level. This year, Millie serves as one of the managers for the Northwestern football team. She is also the Vice President of her Freshman class and a member of Student Council. Millie enjoys spending time with her friends, listening to music, watching movies, and helping her community.

Elizabeth has two siblings and a two-year-old nephew. She is a sophomore who began her journey in Girl Scouts in the fourth grade and is currently working on her Gold Award.

Amy Tygart lives in Kokomo, Indiana, and is married with two beautiful daughters, both of whom are Girl Scouts. She has volunteered with Girl Scouts for 15 years and is a former bus driver. Amy has worked for GSCI for four years. She loves being outdoors and has a passion for animals. Additionally, she sings a cappella barbershop style in an all-women's chorus.

Cindy Edwards is a mother of two daughters, Stephanie (22) and Jessica (15). She has been married to her husband, Steve, for 27 years. Cindy is a Registered Nurse with 30 years of experience, specializing in Labor and Delivery, and has worked at Riverview Health for the past 19 years. Cindy enjoys volunteering in various capacities and has been involved with Girl Scouts since 2008, serving as both of her daughters' leader for multiple years, including five years simultaneously. Her commitment has been so rewarding that she became a Lifetime Member. Additionally, she has served as a Girl Scout County Constituent representative for Howard/Tipton County. In her free time, Cindy loves spending time with her family, watching Jessica participate in her activities, cooking, watching movies, and caring for her two Mini Goldendoodles, Peach and Daisy.

Jess Edwards is a 15-year-old Sophomore at Northwestern High School. She has been involved in Girl Scouts for 10 years, earning many badges along the way, including her Bronze Award and, last year, her Silver Award with other girls from her troop. At Northwestern, Jess plays on the Varsity Soccer Team, is a Varsity Cheerleader, serves as a Wrestling Manager, competes on the tennis team, and is a member of the Student Council. In her free time, Jess enjoys spending time with her family and friends, listening to music, roller skating, and playing with her two Mini Goldendoodles, Peach and Daisy. She also finds fulfillment in helping the community, which is supported through her involvement in Girl Scouts.

Caitlin Shotwell is a mother of two, Samson (18) and Amelia (15). She has been married to her husband, Adam, for 16 years, and they have a two-year-old pup named Nia Harlow.  Caitlin has worked at Northwestern Elementary for seven years and is currently in her second year as the school's Secretary. She enjoys volunteering in her daughter's Girl Scout troop, spending time with family and friends, and cherishing the moments with the kids at school, especially the hugs.

Stephanie Frakes has three siblings and is a mother to a five-year-old who is a Daisy Girl Scout. She graduated in 2016 as a Girl Scout and became a lifetime member. Stephanie co-leads a multi-level Girl Scout troop and started her own Daisy troop this year.