As the new president of WIN, I am thankful for the current board members willingness to continue to serve on the board and share their experiences, talent and commitment to gender equality with our community. My special thanks to Molly Klett who despite her other commitments, accepted to join WIN Board again. The Current Board members are as follow:
Elahe Amani President, Long Beach CA
Junemarie Justus Vice-President, Thousand Oaks, CA
Cathryn Harris-Marchescusi Secretary, Esq. New York
Charlie Toledo Treasurer, Napa, CA
Molly Klett, Assistant Treasurer, Oakland CA
Gail James, CitiesforCEDAW Committee Chair , Kansas City, Missouri
AT Large:
Tricia Lindsey, Esq., New York
Wendy Pelle-Beer Esq., New York
Advisory Board:
Lenka Belkova, Toronto Canada
Julianne Traylor, Oakland CA
Elmy Bermejo, San Francisco CA
Elahe Amani
Elahe Amani is a gender equality, peace, and human rights, activist. She served California State University System in the capacity of senior administrator and Women Studies lecturer for 31 years. Elahe has been following the global women’s movement since the third UN Women Conference in Nairobi. Elahe is currently the President of Women’s Intercultural Network, a global network with consultancy status with the UN. Elahe is a trained mediator, conflict analysis, conflict management, and conflict transformation since 1992 and has been contributing to the efforts of Mediators Beyond Borders (MBB), for more than a decade. She is Faculty of MBB International Training Institute and on the Strategic Partnership Committee of the National Association of Community Mediation. Elahe has served in many leadership roles at local, statewide and global level including Chair, International Interest of American Association University Women (AAUW ), Chair Coalition of Women from Asia and the Middle East (CWAME ), Founding member of ICWIN, Chair President Commission on the Status of Women at CSULB and other organizations and networks.
Elahe is well-published in English and Persian. Her articles are published by Women News Network, Open Democracy, Truthout, Safe World for Women, Mediators Beyond Borders, UN Women Reporting Network, and many Iranian women / human rights publications.

Cathryn Harris-Marchesi
Cathryn Harris-Marchesi is a federal constitutional attorney who practices employment law as a Partner at The Noble Law’s New York City office. Ms. Harris-Marchesi has extensive experience in litigation practice and mediation civil rights matters. Having worked as Senior Associate with the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington for over a decade, she has a strong commitment to leveling the field for women and marginalized groups.
After earning her juris doctorate, Ms. Harris-Marchesi grew versed in litigation, mediation, and negotiation involving mostly Title VII class action lawsuits as Litigation Fellow with a Washington D.C. based law firm. She, then, moved to Long Island, where she joined ERASE Racism and was appointed a board member to the Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board by then-New York State Governor George Pataki. Alongside a small team, Ms. Harris-Marchesi drafted new fair housing laws with enforcement systems that were enacted in Nassau and Suffolk Counties in January 2007 and conducted legal analyses of proposed community development plans and zoning ordinances. She frequently entered into negotiations with federal, state, and local government agencies, testified at several county legislative hearings, and frequently spoke publicly on fair housing law. Ms. Harris-Marchesi serves on the Board of Advisors for Long Island Housing Services.
Dedicated to providing education that furthers ethical law practice, Ms. Harris-Marchesi has acted as guest lecturer at Touro Law School and Stony Brook University regarding public policy issues and gender equity. Additionally, she was invited to be a guest speaker at NYCLA to discuss “Predatory Lending and the Ethical Responsibilities in Foreclosure Actions.” She frequently participates in the Nassau County Bar Association’s CLE program to spread awareness of employment discrimination issues.

Gail James
Dr. Gail James, from New Jersey, received her B.A in History and Political
Science, Elmira College, New York, and Ph.D in French Literature, University of Arizona and the Sorbonne, University of Paris. Her academic career spanned 16 years as faculty and 20 years in administration, as Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs at several colleges. She received Fulbright Fellowship for study in India, National Defense Education Act Fellowship, and was selected for post-graduate study at Kennedy School of Government. Dr. James retired from the University of Kansas, where she served as Director of Learning Communities and Academic Achievement Center.
She is a founding member of Women’s Intercultural Network, and has served on Boards of Directors: Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, Women’s Foundation, Alliance Francaise, United Nations Association. Currently, she coordinates Women’s Equality Coalition. Dr. James was recently inducted into the Women’s Political Hall of Fame.

Junemarie Justus
Junemarie Justus is Founder and Director of The Acorn Project, a social justice advocacy organization. A retired technology executive with international and entrepreneurial experience, Junemarie’s latest venture combines her more than 3 decades of success with her lifelong commitment to human rights advocacy and activism. She serves as a United Nations delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women, and on the Santa Barbara council of Human Rights Watch. She also serves on the boards of Women’s Economic Ventures and Women’s Funding Network. Junemarie is a member of Women’s Economic Ventures’ League of Extraordinary Women.

Trisha Lindsey
Attorney Lindsay is accustomed to hard work and working for the interest of the people. As a young adult Attorney Lindsay worked with various religious institutions and community organizations to address the spiritual, educational, social and cultural needs of the communities of Harlem and Bronx, New York and Hartford Connecticut.
A former schoolteacher of 24 years and life-long community activist, Attorney Lindsay served the communities of the Bronx, Yonkers, and Harlem, New York and Hartford, Connecticut, working with underserved families to address the ever present social and educational disparities. Ms. Lindsay’s experiences in her long career in education fueled her desire to impact education on the national level by changing legislation.
Attorney Lindsay provides voice, advocacy, and legal representation for those who often go unheard. Ms. Lindsay’s passion has been centered on improving the lives of inner-city families, community building, and ensuring equity and justice in education, which includes empowering women and girls, ensuring fair representation in all areas of government and industry. Once upon a time, she believed education was the key to equity and justice. She now believes equity and justice will best be served in the Courts through organizations like WIN, via due diligence, fair, fierce and collective representation.

Charlie Toledo
Charlie Toledo is of Towa descendant, native to New Mexico. She is the Executive Director of the Suscol Intertribal Council a community-based organization (501©3) incorporated in 1992 located in Napa, California. She has extensive experience as public speaker, presenter and community organizer in regional, statewide, national and international forums. She has over forty years in alternative healthcare fields, as well as background in consultation for mediation for individuals, families, and organizations. She has been an organic gardener since 1978. She has lifelong commitment to social justice and international work on Human Rights and Environmental social justice issues. she has traveled extensively as a WIN delegate working for Human Rights for women and children and Indigenous communities. Since 1986 she has served on Boards at local, state and international levels. Ahe has traveled extensively as a WIN delegate working for Human Rights for women and children and Indigenous communities. Since 1986 she has served on Boards at local, state and international levels.
