Get To Know Us
Vanessa Batters-Thompson joined DC Appleseed as its executive director in May 2022. Vanessa brings to her role nearly twenty years of litigation, policy, and advocacy experience, as well as a passion for serving the District community.
Prior to joining DC Appleseed, Vanessa worked at the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center as their Associate Director of Legal Services for Individuals and Families. In this role, Vanessa spearheaded the launch and directed the Family Law Assistance Network, a joint endeavor of several legal service providers to offer parents and caregivers family law services through a single, accessible, intake point. As co-manager of the Pro Bono Center’s Advocacy & Justice Clinic, Vanessa oversaw the intake and matching of up to 300 clients per year with pro bono attorneys from private law firms and the public sector. Vanessa additionally supervised and provided substantive guidance to the Pro Bono Center’s individual representation training program, which won the D.C. Bar’s 2022 Frederick B. Abramson Award.
Prior to joining the Pro Bono Center, Vanessa worked for an anti-poverty organization, Bread for the City, providing direct representation to clients and engaging in systematic advocacy regarding child support issues. From 2009 through 2011, Vanessa served as a Friedman Fellow for the George Washington University Law School, teaching and supervising students handling domestic violence and family law cases through the Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics. While in law school, Vanessa clerked for the Mental Health Division of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, as well as the Humane Society of the United States.
Vanessa obtained her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and her B.A. from American University with a certificate in Women, Policy, and Political Leadership. She currently lives with her husband, daughter, and dog. During her downtime, Vanessa likes camping, reading, and growing flowers.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Vanessa
Batters-Thompson
Muhammad Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth,” and that principle could not be truer for this Southern belle transplant to the Nation’s Capital. Erin Calloway holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Health Administration from Louisiana State University–Shreveport. She earned her Juris Doctor in Health and Philanthropic Law from American University, Washington College of Law in May 2025 and is eligible to sit for the South Carolina Bar Exam in July.
For over ten years, Erin has been a distinguished leader in the nonprofit sector, where she has excelled in forging strategic partnerships, ensuring philanthropic compliance, and managing charitable campaigns.
As a proponent of community outreach and stakeholder engagement, Erin has spearheaded numerous public health initiatives with local hospitals and agencies while managing a diverse portfolio of major and corporate donors. Erin encourages collaboration as a keen connector of people and mission-oriented trailblazer. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the National Capital Health Care Executives (NCHE), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the American Health Law Association (AHLA), Pediatric Clinical Ethics Committee at Children’s National Hospital, and the John Carroll Society (JCS).
Beyond her professional endeavors, Erin enjoys mentoring young professionals, hosting dinner parties, and traveling. Erin jointly serves as the CEO of Calloway & Company, a nonprofit consulting firm.
Director of Development & Communications
Erin M. Calloway
Kristin is Policy Counsel for DC Appleseed, where she leads the Health Equity Project, focusing on behavioral health, sexual & reproductive health, and environmental justice & health-related climate change issues. She is passionate about health equity and the broader social determinants of health impacting residents in the District. Her work often reminds her of this quote from FDR: “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”
Before joining DC Appleseed, Kristin was Legislative Counsel for DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto. She has also worked with the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and the House Oversight Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. Before becoming an attorney, Kristin lived in New York City, where she was a professional musical theater performer, performing in NYC and around the country.
Kristin received her JD from Georgetown Law and BS from the University of Nebraska, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Education. Kristin also graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, where she studied Musical Theater. In her free time, Kristin enjoys traveling, performing in shows in DC, seeing live theater, trivia, escape rooms with her awesome family, and exploring DC neighborhoods, including her Capitol Hill neighborhood.
POLICY COUNSEL AND DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Kristin D. Ewing
Tommy Wells
SENIOR FELLOW
Tommy Wells brings a 35-year track record of driving progressive policies in Washington and the ability to build coalitions among diverse interest groups.
As the Director of the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and Chair of DC Water from 2015 to 2023, Wells became a nationally recognized proponent of carbon emissions reduction, climate change resilience, river and stream restoration, and the activation of parks and public spaces.
Serving two terms on the DC City Council from 2007 to 2014, Wells was known for promoting livable walkable neighborhoods through innovative urban transit, environmental restoration, and the enhancement of community amenities including schools, parks, and libraries. He was a leading advocate for sustainable development, fueling unprecedented economic revitalization in Ward 6. He also stood firmly for adhering to a strict code of ethics at a time when many of the city’s leaders were mired in controversy.
Previously, as a social worker, school board member, and nonprofit director, Wells spent 15 years devising, advancing, and executing measures to improve public education and social services. As the Director of the Consortium for Child Welfare, he helped forge a coordinated response to the effects of the AIDS crisis on families. He also partnered with leaders in Congress to create the DC Superior Court’s Family Court, which led to a 300% increase the number of foster children adopted into permanent homes every year.
Wells currently serves on the board of directors for Anacostia Riverkeeper and Greater Greater Washington. He has a law degree from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota. He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Barbara Wells.
Julia Hartman is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Georgia. She is majoring in International Affairs and Spanish while preparing to apply to law school. Julia is involved with several nonprofit organizations in the Athens Community and writes for the Georgia Political Review. Julia is interning with Dc Appleseed while participating in UGA’s Washington Semester Program. After graduation, she hopes to teach English abroad through the Fulbright Program before attending law school.
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Julia Hartman
Karina Chatha is a fourth year at the University of Georgia, pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science. She is passionate about prison reform and criminal justice reform, and hopes to attend law school after graduation. In her free time, Karina enjoys reading, painting, and walking her dog.
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Karina Chatha
Brendon Samide
LEGAL POLICY INTERN
Brendon is a rising 2L at The George Washington University Law School, where he is the incoming president of the Human Rights Law Society and an active member of the Jewish Law Students Association and Lambda Law. He holds an M.A. in Gender, Society, and Representation from University College London and a B.A. in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Philosophy from Tulane University.
He is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights, civil and human rights, and strengthening democratic institutions. Through his internship with DC Appleseed, he hopes to contribute to work that advances equity and justice in D.C. In his free time, Brendon enjoys traveling, scuba diving, photography, and exploring D.C.
Christina Gordon
LEGAL POLICY INTERN
Christina is a rising 3L at the Howard University School of Law. She serves as President on the OUTlaw e-board, representing the LGBTQ+ community of lawyers as well as advocating for equal rights. She also serves as Treasurer on the Health Law Society e-board, representing those with an interest in healthcare advocacy and access.
Christina graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2020. Working as a teacher and nurse aid gave Christina the passion to protect the most vulnerable among us; children and the elderly. Christina's current goal is to work in the DC area in public policy or in-house to positively impact the healthcare and insurance space.
In her free time, Christina loves exploring DC, hosting dinner parties, and watching reality TV.
Sophia Rappazzo
LEGAL POLICY INTERN
Sophia is a J.D. Candidate at American University Washington College of Law from Miami, Florida with a background in political science and public policy. She holds a B.A and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida, where she focused on Public Affairs and earned a certificate in Gender and Development. Sophia is interested in Health Law and currently serves as a Junior Staffer on the American University Law Review and on Washington College of Law's Health Law and Policy Brief. Sophia hopes to leverage her academic, judicial, and political experiences to contribute to legal and policy change in DC, while gaining insight and guidance from legal professionals. She looks forward to building on her advocacy and research skills at DC Appleseed. During her free time, Sophia enjoys cooking, spending time outside, visiting cafes, and exploring museums!
Talia Rumsky
LEGAL POLICY INTERN
Talia is a rising second-year law student at Georgetown University Law Center, where she is pursuing a J.D. with a focus on health and environmental law and policy. She earned a Bachelor of Public Health from the University of Florida in 2024, along with a minor in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance. Through this internship, she hopes to deepen her understanding of how local and national policy can promote equitable health outcomes and justice for marginalized communities.
She brings prior experience from internships at a tobacco prevention nonprofit and a community arts and wellness organization, where she supported outreach and advocacy efforts. Outside of school and work, Talia enjoys cooking, discovering new coffee shops, and spending time with friends.