Team Future — A Strategic Advocacy and Equity Collaboration

Leon W. Russell is one busy man! He not only serves as Chair of the American Children’s Campaign Board of Directors, but also as Chair of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP. Leon retired in January 2012 after serving as the Director of the Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County, a position he held since January 1977.

He has been involved with the National Board of Directors of the NAACP since 1990, having also served as its Vice Chairman and Assistance Secretary. He previously was the President of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP for four years (January 1996 – January 2000), after serving for 15 years as its First Vice President.

In September 2007, Leon was elected President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies. The IAOHRA Membership is agency based and consists of statutory human and civil rights agencies throughout the United States and Canada, and also includes representation from several other nations. These agencies enforce state and local civil rights laws and are actively engaged in reducing and resolving intergroup tension and promoting intergroup relations.

He is also a member of the International City Management Association; member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators; past Board Member of the Pinellas Opportunity Council; past President and Board Member of the National Association of Human Rights Workers; and served on the Blueprint Commission on Juvenile Justice with responsibility for recommending reforms to improve the juvenile justice system in the state of Florida.

Roy Miller built a direct service agency for children and families over a 13-year period before becoming a political consultant, managing both candidate and issue campaigns. The strategic advocacy science of American Children’s Campaign, which he founded in 1992, builds on the knowledge and information he acquired from both of these professional experiences.

Roy is described by colleagues as the state’s top watchdog for children, an insightful political strategist, determined lobbyist, plain spoken media spokesman and commentator, and, more important, an unapologetic yet neutral critic of ineffective services to children.

His innovations have resulted in new non-partisan approaches to public policy, new service structures for at-risk children, and powerful new advocacy voices. His models and strategic communications techniques have been replicated in other states.

In 2005, he received the statewide Champions for Children award from the Early Childhood Association of Florida and his work was featured for the launch of the national website for PreK Now, a project of Pew Charitable Trusts. In 2006, Miller received the statewide Presidents Award from the Florida Network of Youth & Family Services, an award that has been bestowed only four times in the previous 30 years. In 2008, the statewide Youth Advocacy Award was presented to Miller by the Florida Juvenile Justice Association.

Roy is spearheading conversation and action across the country for building a stronger and more effective political voice for children.

In his spare time, Roy likes the beach, tennis and golf. He supports several organizations that care for dogs and endangered animals.

Alan has a long history of volunteerism and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations. He currently serves as chief executive officer of The Arc of Florida, a highly respected grassroots advocacy organization focused on ensuring individuals with disabilities and their children have the information, opportunities and supports to reach their full potential.
Prior to joining The Arc of Florida, Alan served for more than 10 years as the executive director of the Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office under Governors DeSantis, Scott and Crist. In addition, he spent 10 years at the Department of Children and Families as the chief legal counsel for central Florida and as manager of a variety of regional and statewide offices. He also served for four years as assistant general counsel for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, as well as assistant attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, and as an assistant public defender for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.

Alan holds a Juris Doctorate from Florida State University, master’s degrees in Public Administration and Sociology, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kansas State University. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats and has served with United States Peace Corps, United States Army Reserve, and Florida Army National Guard.

Shelley is a mission-driven nonprofit leader with 30 years of progressively responsible positions delivering quality services for children and families. She is well- known for her passion for helping vulnerable and at-risk populations, as well as her strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability for working across systems to improve lives. Shelley currently serves as Chief Operating Officer with LSF Health Systems. Previously, she was the Chief Operating Office with Victor Community Support Services/Victor Treatment Centers, overseeing all program operations for this California children and family services agency with an operating budget of $88M.
Her prior experience includes leadership positions with LSF Health Systems, Florida’s managing entity for the state-funded behavioral health system in Northeast and North Central Florida, and also Children’s Home Society of Florida, one of Florida’s oldest and largest providers of child welfare services.

Shelley was selected to participate in Miami Herald’s Influencer Project and has served on numerous boards including Florida Coalition for Children, Florida Association of Child and Family Agencies, and United States Selective Service. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida and Leadership Gainesville and served as a training peer reviewer for Council on Accreditation.