After completing her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2011, Ruqiyyah served as an AmeriCorps member to support low-income, first-generation high school students in preparing for and applying to college. Her AmeriCorps service reinforced her understanding of the structural barriers that women, children and families face in achieving their full potential.

This experience inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs, with coursework and research focused on health, gender and family policy. Her educational background coupled with her recent experience working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on disease prevention policy and her service in community has given her work the benefit of a lens built on a combination of direct service and policy analysis. She is excited to apply that lens to work serving DC children.

She began her career as a legal aid attorney in Virginia and held policy positions at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Benefits Data Trust, and AARP Foundation. In each role, Ty worked with state and federal officials as well as state advocates to strengthen and improve safety net programs. She has a demonstrated history of building and cultivating relationships with diverse leaders, organizations, and businesses.

Ty holds a law degree from Howard University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and is excited to bring her expertise to the DC Action Team.

"I would like to intern at DC Action for Children because I have a goal of making a difference in my own community. I would like to aid in making a change, in order to be surrounded by people that feel the same way I do. After I was informed of the opportunity at DC Action for Children I jumped at the chance to volunteer. I wanted to understand...how to invoke change within the D.C community, especially for youth." After graduating in 2021 Craig hopes to find a career that will allow him to travel and to help people.

While completing her undergraduate degree in Community Health at the University of Maryland, College Park, Nisa discovered a passion for women’s health, sexual health, and health promotion. Before coming to DC Action, she managed a workforce and leadership development portfolio at the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs. Through her experience in that role, she recognized the demand for change around health disparities, racial inequities, and cultural competence within public health and the policies that impact maternal and child health populations. 

Outside of work, she loves to spend her time going to concerts around the city, supporting reproductive rights campaigns, and enjoying a good book.

Kimberly brings more than 20 years of experience as an advocate for children and families and has a proven record of success in nonprofit management, policy advocacy, and civic engagement. She is most well known as Founding Director of DC Hunger Solutions, Vice President of the Clinton Foundation’s Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Executive Director of DC Vote, as well as other advisory roles in political campaigns, public policy advocacy and philanthropy.

Kimberly serves on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Hunger Center, the DC Community Housing Trust, and is Chair of Highest Ground.

When she’s not working you can find her at home perfecting recipes, watching and producing documentaries, salsa dancing, or on a hiking trail. 

You can also find Kimberly on Linkedin and Twitter.