Meet Our Team
Northe Saunders
Executive Director
Director, Maine Families for Vaccines
Northe brings 19 years of political leadership, grassroots organizing, and fundraising experience to our organization. He has worked on the local, state, and national levels for numerous political campaigns, candidates, and advocacy organizations.
In 2019, his partner, a pediatrician, encouraged him to testify in support of strengthening vaccine laws for students in Maine. He was galvanized by the strong opposition to the legislation and joined the volunteer organization Maine Families for Vaccines to support the effort. He led the grassroots citizen lobbying effort that saw the bill's successful passage. When the opposition attempted a referendum to use a “People’s Veto” and overturn the legislation, he served as volunteer political director for Maine Families. Maine Families celebrated a resounding 72.4 percent victory at the polls, and the legislation was upheld.
He loves bringing his passion for grassroots organizing, fundraising, and pro-science advocacy to other states nationwide.
Caitlin Gilmet
Communications Director
Director, Maine Families for Vaccines
Caitlin is a writer, designer, and grant fundraiser with deep experience working for nonprofit organizations supporting access to care, education, opportunity, and justice for historically marginalized individuals and communities.
When Caitlin’s infant son caught chicken pox shortly after starting daycare, she learned how easy it was for other parents to evade the vaccine requirements that keep us all safe. She co-founded Maine Families for Vaccines, which made history by eliminating non-medical exemptions to school-required immunizations.
Since joining SAFE in 2022, Caitlin has overseen communications strategy for the organization and its Families for Vaccines chapters, providing full-service brand development and training local teams on rapid-response multi-channel communication, print and digital design, PR, social media, event planning, and fundraising. Caitlin is passionate about demystifying science, empowering less likely activists, and promoting good health and hope.
Jennifer Herricks, Ph.D.
Advocacy Director
Founder, Louisiana Families for Vaccines
Dr. Jennifer Herricks earned a PhD in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in global health policy with a focus on infectious diseases at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.
During her postdoctoral work Jennifer saw how well-organized, well-funded anti-vaccine activists can shift public policies that directly affect public health. Since then she has been passionate about protecting public health through vaccine advocacy, and empowering families and policymakers to make informed decisions with accurate information.
In 2022, Jennifer founded Louisiana Families for Vaccines, a grassroots network of local advocates that works closely with a diverse set of community partners to combat vaccine misinformation, educate about the value of policy based in science, and support legislation that champions public health.
Jennifer joined SAFE Communities Coalition as Director of Advocacy in 2024 and works with other Families for Vaccines state chapters across the country to develop effective strategies that elevate the voices of the pro-vaccine majority and push back against anti-vaccine policies that threaten public health.
Ashley Chambers, JD
Director of Legal Affairs
Executive Director, Arizona Families for Vaccines
Ashley is a proud Virginian, but has called The Valley of the Sun her home for almost 15 years. At the College of Charleston in South Carolina, Ashley double majored in Political Science and Hispanic Studies. After college graduation, Ashley attended The George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C., where she focused on constitutional law. After law school, Ashley was offered a position at a law firm in Phoenix, and she picked up and moved cross-country.
Ashley was a criminal lawyer in Arizona for a decade, with experience in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, Ashley served as Executive Director of a criminal justice non-profit that lobbied at the legislature, which sparked her passion for legislative advocacy. After having children, Ashley knew she wanted to focus on issues directly impacting the children’s health. Ashley is currently the Executive Director at Arizona Families for Vaccines, focusing on building a grassroots pro-vaccine movement and bringing those stories to the Arizona Capitol. Ashley also serves as SAFE’s Director of Legal Affairs and specializes in building partnerships and coalitions with diverse stakeholders. Ashley is passionate about translating legal jargon and legislation into easily understandable language for diverse stakeholders, including everyday citizens, community groups, businesses, and policymakers, thereby empowering them to make informed decisions about their lives and communities.
Ashley has three active children who keep her on her toes and an Arizona-born husband. When Ashley is not spending time with her family, she likes to exercise, read fiction books, go for long walks, and listen to legal and true-crime podcasts. Ashley maintains her Arizona and Virginia bar licenses and is active in the legal community.