Americans for Prosperity Debuts Storytelling Video, Spotlights Dedicated Grassroots Activists as Faces of Change
From the rolling hills of West Virginia to the deserts of Arizona and the mountains of Utah, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is teaming up with dedicated grassroots activists to break down barriers, elevate resident voices, and mobilize around important issues.
Here are some of the activists who are making liberty possible. Meet this year’s faces of change:
Tristan Leavitt – West Virginia
In West Virginia, Tristan Leavitt and his wife Brittany, parents to five children, struggled to find a school for their 9-year-old daughter Mack who suffered from dyslexia and ADHD.
Born nonverbal and navigating a delayed diagnosis, Mack experienced learning challenges from the onset that greatly impacted her self-esteem and ability to keep up with her peers. Everything changed in 2021 when AFP successfully convinced the Legislature to pass the Hope Scholarship, which provided funds to the Leavitt family so they could put Mack in a school that specialized in providing the support and services Mack needed. Tristan has since been an outspoken supporter of the Hope Scholarship and other education freedom reforms in West Virginia, most recently he won his race to represent district 53 in the state’s house of delegates to expand his reach and impact. Mack on the other hand is thriving in school and has gained her confidence back.
Gillian Kohn – South Carolina
In South Carolina, Gillian Kohn and her husband Mark fell victim to the excessive patient wait times and diminishing quality of care caused by Certificate of Need (CoN) laws that restricted access to new medical providers, facilities, and equipment. When their son Axil was just 16 months old, they knew something was different and sought out a medical diagnosis. They were told it would be six months to a year just to be seen in a developmental pediatric office where he would eventually be diagnosed with autism. They lived the same nightmare while waiting for Mark’s time-sensitive Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. AFP partnered with Gillian who testified in front of lawmakers and shared her story. The state team worked with volunteers to knock 60,000 doors in ten days and collected over 16,000 signatures, which they wheeled through the capitol in a wagon. Due to their efforts CoN was repealed and South Carolina families like Gillian’s have access to faster, high-quality h
ealth care.
Kendra Wesson – Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, Kendra Wesson, a mother of eight children, saw how her local school board took a turn for the worst during the pandemic. She felt helpless but had never been one to voice her opinions. That all changed after she was introduced to AFP and attended the Grassroots Leadership Academy training through Americans for Prosperity Foundation, which turns citizens into community leaders through grassroots action. The experience was transformative for Kendra who gained a tremendous amount of confidence, backed by knowledge, strategies and tactics that made her an effective advocate for change. She was later appointed to the State Board of Educatio
n where she now pushes for pro-student reforms. Kendra was the driving force behind a tax credit program that allows students and parents to customize their education based on their individual needs.
Christi Berrong-Barber, Mississippi
In Mississippi, Christi Berron-Barber spent years protecting her son Chance from succumbing to his heroin addiction that started when he was just 17 years old. There was a prevailing culture of silence around drug use in Mississippi, but Christi knew ignoring an issue didn’t make it go away. She began her crusade to change a law that forbade the use of fentanyl testing strips, a measure intended to prevent deadly overdoses. AFP partnered with Christi and empowered her to use her story to galvanize other activists and decision-makers. Their efforts resulted in a bill that decriminalized fentanyl testing strips, saving countless lives across the state.
William Glass, Wisconsin (Eau Claire)
In Wisconsin, anti-competitive policies barred William Glass from opening a brewery in a clear attempt from the Big Alcohol lobby to protect their bottom line by squashing small taprooms and breweries from emerging in the market. Every time Will applied for a permit, the state treasury denied it, putting him in an impossible situation where he’d have to decide between his permit approval and his wife and children. AFP partnered with Will and launched the “Fermenting Up Freedom” campaign that connected local brewers with lawmakers and organized rallies to kick-start an awareness effort that captivated residents across the state. For the first time, AFP and Will wer
e in a position to dictate the terms, ultimately passing new legislation that removed the barriers and allowed small Wisconsin breweries to thrive.
Brandon Pena, Georgia
In Georgia, Brandon Pena and his family had a dream of owning and operating a food truck where they could sell authentic Mexican cuisine and share their culture with the community. They thought they might have to walk away from this dream after the permitting process proved too onerous and expensive to navigate. Georgia at the time required food truck owners to acquire a permit in every county they operated in, which was not an easy ask since Georgia has 159 counties. AFP saw how the permitting process was driving away delicious, quality food providers and led the fight to reform the licensing process so only one permit is required to operate within state lines in Georgia. Brandon and dozens of other food truck owners joined the Food Truck Association of Georgia (FTAG) to raise their voices and influence policies
impacting their industry. AFP partnered with FTAG to bring people like Brandon to the forefront of policy making and successfully break down barriers for those seeking their American Dream. Today, Brandon’s family runs a food truck called Tres Jardines, the business is so successful that it supports the whole family and Brandon is looking to purchase more food trucks and open a storefront location.
Carmen Perez, Arizona
In Arizona, Carmen Perez was amongst many Hispanic residents who sought to sell their tamales to make a living. However, the Cottage Food Bill prohibited the sale to the public of homemade goods that could spoil and enforced the law by deploying health inspectors who would show up, dispose of the food, and shut down businesses. The Tamale Bill was brought forth in the legislature to decriminalize the practice. It passed the house and senate before Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed that bill, igniting a heated and highly publicized debate around the issue. AFP and LIBRE got together and created the viral campaign “Free the Tamales.” LIBRE’s connections within the Hispanic community enabled them to identify grasstops voices like Carmen to get involved on behalf of those who felt they had no avenue to change their circumstances. The second attempt to pass the bill was successful, expanding opportunities and access for food vendors across the state.
Heidi Balderree, Utah
In Utah, Heidi Balderree found herself in the middle of a local policy battle threatening the security of her small town, but she lacked the resources and skills to effectively drive change and scale her impact. When AFP opened its Utah chapter in 2015, they brought with them trailblazing technology, formal training, and paradigm-shifting relationships within the capitol. Heidi jumped at the opportunity to strengthen her skills and attended the state’s first ever Grassroots Leadership Academy training. From there, she began volunteering and then eventually sought out a full-time position with AFP, where she was part of meaningful tax and health care reforms measures in the state. Heidi eventually ran to fill a vacant senate seat in Utah’s District 22 and won, crediting her grassroots prowess. Today, Heidi is a leader for positive change in the Utah State House, where she partners with organizations like AFP to pass sound policy.
Ashley Oyen, Wisconsin (Platteville)
In Wisconsin, Ashley Oyen lived on a farm with her husband and four boys. She homeschools her sons and takes pride in being part of their education journey. When the pandemic hit, Ashley’s local school board relinquished its voting right to the superintendent, so she knew she had to get involved to be an advocate for the rights of all students and parents. At the time, AFP-Wisconsin was connecting parents and training them to be more effectively involved in their community. Ashley jumped at the opportunity and dedicated her time to learning the ropes of grassroots activism. Her experience with AFP inspired her to get involved in education reform and run for the Platteville School Board, a position she now holds due to the sophisticated ground game she obtained through her training with AFP. Ashley proves that despite busy schedules, moms can and should get involved in issues that impact the next generation.
Grace Cabrera, Missouri
In Missouri, Grace Cabrera spends much of her time door knocking and volunteering for AFP. Her reason? She grew up in communist Cuba and lived through the terrifying consequences of an oppressive government. Citizens were starving, there was no private sector, and the government controlled everything, religion was banned, and the only god was Fidel Castro. Grace’s father Leonardo was sentenced to 20 years in prison for being a traveling pastor but was freed a few years later after Pope John Paul II negotiated the release of 150 prisoners, including Leonardo. Fast forward to 2024, Leonardo leads his church in Kansas City and Grace partners with AFP to
connect with her fellow Hispanics and Missouri residents and spread the message that freedom is precious and should be protected. Grace knew AFP aligned with the principles and values that made the United States the beacon of hope and standard of human dignity and freedom that much of the world looks to.
Each of these stories features ordinary people rolling up their sleeves and taking action that shapes their community for the better. These activists are a reminder that real change starts in our own backyards by those brave enough to stand up for what they believe in.
