Emerging Leaders Council
The Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) is a member-based organization of Texas Appleseed. ELC members will establish flagship pro bono projects and create new and innovative ways to support Texas Appleseed through its own elected leadership.
Membership Benefits
- Opportunity to help underserved populations via pro bono and participate in the systemic reform work of Texas Appleseed
- Opportunity to network with Texas Appleseed board members and other ELC members
- Creates leadership opportunities
- Allows for creative problem-solving on some of Texas’ most challenging issues
Who Can Join
We invite any professional residing in or pursuing their profession in the State of Texas to join — the Emerging Leaders Council is not just for lawyers! Cross-pollination of ideas between professionals allows for creative identification of innovative solutions to systemic problems. We would like to have a range of professions represented, including legal/law, architecture, business, design, education, grassroots advocacy, marketing/communications, medicine, sciences/environmental, social services, tech, and more.
Membership Opportunities
New members will be added to the ELC membership the first week of April or December of each year. Please submit an application before April 1 or before December 1 of the year you would like to join. Texas Appleseed will respond approximately 20 days after it's received.
2025 ELC Officers
- President: Natalie DeCesare, Thomson Reuters*
- President-Elect: Christina Graham, Grams Law LLC*
- Immediate Past President: Andrew Vickers, DuBois, Bryant & Campbell, L.L.P.*
- Vice President: Daniel Allison, Sidley Austin*
- Treasurer: Georgia Jolink, DLA Piper LLC*
- Secretary: Marianne Nitsch, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon, & Moody*
- Pro Bono Committee Chair: Ayo Adaranijo, Sidley Austin*
- Membership Committee Chair: Christina Graham, Grams Law LLC*
- Events & Fundraising Committee Chair: Andre Gonzalez
*affiliations listed for identification only