Staffing

History
Building on the success of the NARAL-NC affiliate of the 1980's and 1990's, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina continues to invest a significant amount of resources to create and strengthen North Carolina’s pro-choice movement.

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina has a rich history in North Carolina, dating back to the mid-1980’s when NARAL-NC worked through the North Carolina’s political and legislative systems to advocate for comprehensive reproductive health policies and to secure reproductive choice for all North Carolinians.

While many Americans felt safeguarded by the election of a pro-choice president in 1992, several NARAL Pro-Choice America affiliates, NARAL-NC included, began to experience a lack of support and were forced to close. In 1997, after years of victories and accomplishments in securing and safeguarding reproductive choice throughout North Carolina, NARAL-NC dissolved.

In December of 2001, recognizing North Carolina’s importance in the battle for reproductive freedom and based on contact with local North Carolinians about their desire to have a local presence, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Inc. and NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation began investing significant resources and support to re-establish a NARAL Pro-Choice America presence in North Carolina.

Staffing
NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina is staffed with an Executive Director, Field Director, Director of Development, and a Civic Engagement Coordinator. 

Executive Director Sean Kosofsky, hails from Detroit, Michigan where he served for twelve years as the Director of Policy for Michigan’s leading LGBT civil rights organization, Triangle Foundation. Since 1994 he has been one of the most recognized LGBT organizers in Michigan and is known nationally for his expertise in the areas of legislative advocacy, diversity training, canvass operations, political campaigns, fundraising and media advocacy.  Kosofsky is a graduate of Oakland University with a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Communications. Kosofsky is a former fellow with the Center for Progressive Leadership, and has served on the board of the Oakland County, MI ACLU and Ethnic Advisory Commission in Oak Park, Michigan. Kosofsky has received several awards from the GLBT community, including the 1997 Rising Star award and the 2002 Prism Award, as well as the Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council. He lives with his partner in the Raleigh area.

 Deann Butler, Charlotte Field Organizer, joined NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina in December 2008. She graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelors and Masters in Health Education and Promotion with an emphasis on Community Health.  Upon graduation she worked with Planned Parenthood Health Systems, Inc. in Charlotte, NC where she helped start their successful teen mentoring program, Teens Taking Action, and coordinate all education events in the Charlotte and Asheville area.  She has also worked for the American Cancer Society and spends eight weeks of her summer coordinating a reading program for k-12 graders in the Lancaster SC area.  She believes there is great potential for NARAL in the Charlotte area and looks forward to advocating for reproductive issues in the state.

LaFonda Jones-General, Civic Engagement Coordinator, within this capacity she is responsible for building and fostering collaborations with organizations across the state to promote NARAL's progressive legislative agenda.  Before joining NARAL LaFonda served as the NC project director for Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM).  LaFonda holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science from North Carolina Central University where she graduated magna cum laude, and she is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Administration at North Carolina Central University. LaFonda has been appointed to serve on a National NAACP board because of her commitment to social justice. This appointment was bestowed upon LaFonda by Julian Bond, Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the NAACP. LaFonda receives her greatest gratification serving as an activist for families whose lives have been altered by unfavorable social policies. At this point of her professional growth, she committed to serve and meet the needs of those people within our community who are underserved regardless of ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.