Jillian Shrader
Jillian is a life-long Iowan and a dedicated political and community organizer with a a background in grassroots campaigning and legislative work. While she has been volunteering for political campaigns and community organizations in Iowa since her teenage years.
She entered professional politics through field organizing, joining the Iowa Democratic Party’s campaign in Iowa’s 1st District during one of the tightest races in the country. She helped lead a volunteer team that turned out record rural voting rates and built lasting local relationships in just 50 days. She has also served as a Legislative Clerk in the Iowa House of Representatives, building relationships with representatives and organizations across the state.
Her experience in public service is grounded in a deep commitment to community and shaped by a lifetime of love for the state of Iowa.Jillian’s background also includes several years of environmental education and consulting. She served in FoodCorps - a subset of AmeriCorps - in Iowa, teaching students and their schools about food access and nutrition, and has served as an environmental consultant in Alaska, co-authoring a community-led climate adaptation plan and facilitating youth education programming. With a knack for jumping into fast-paced campaigns, building strong volunteer teams, and prioritizing equity and education in her work, she brings a people-first, justice-driven approach to electoral organizing.
Jillian holds a Master’s degree in the Environment and Sustainability, specializing in Behavior, Education, and Communication from the University of Michigan, as well as a BA in Environmental Anthropology from the University of Iowa.
Outside of her political work, she enjoys watching bad movies and spending time with her nephew.Hayden’s background in environmental politics including consulting roles with EDF Action and Farm to Power. He has shaped his approach to issue-based organizing and intersectional coalition building. His work has consistently bridged the gap between climate justice and electoral power, ensuring that communities most affected by environmental harm are at the forefront of political change. He also operates a joint consulting venture, Blue Monsoon Strategies. Hayden supports Activate America’s efforts to build a sustainable and inclusive democracy grounded in equity, science, and community voice.