Ellen is currently the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. She is the former Colorado State Director for America Votes and worked for 14 years with the Service Employees International Union and Colorado AFL-CIO. She was elected the first woman president of the Colorado AFL-CIO in 2000 and led the successful lobbying and legislative efforts for the organization for 10 years.

Tamara Grigsby
Learning from Wisconsin's Struggles

Representative Tamara Grigsby joined the Wisconsin Legislature in January, 2005, as Representative to the 18th Assembly District in Milwaukee.

Representative Grigsby’s path has been directed by her life in Wisconsin and her commitment to strengthening the lives of children and families. After receiving her Bachelor of Science from Howard University in 1997 and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000, Grigsby went to work as a family social worker in Milwaukee. There, she focused on empowering struggling youth and families in Milwaukee’s diverse communities.

RepresentativeGrigsby then joined the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families, as a program manager, and lectured at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee until her election to the Wisconsin Legislature in November, 2004. Working with the Council, she collaborated on efforts to reduce racial disparities and improve programs related to Wisconsin’s child welfare system. Early in her career, Representative Grigsby's work quickly led to an interest in advocating for changes to the institutions that affect struggling people throughout Wisconsin. She became a vocal advocate, not only for changes to child welfare and W-2, but also for improvements to education, criminal justice, and all systems serving children and families.

Through her positions as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Children and Families and Member of the Joint Committee on Finance, Representative Grigsby continues to advocate for the same issues she championed as a local activist and social worker. Her leadership has been recognized by organizations such as the Flemming Leadership Institute and the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) and has taken her places as far as South Africa, Israel, and the West Bank. As Representative to the 18th Assembly District, she is dedicated to being a “voice for the people” concerned with the health, strength, and security of Wisconsin's families.

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