Kelsey Reyes

Campaign Associate

Kelsey is a Campaign Associate for Momsrising’s Youth and Family Justice Campaigns. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech, with a bachelor's degree in International Studies, and is a native of Central Pennsylvania. Kelsey previously participated in a year of service with the Sycamore House Service Corps in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her year was spent serving the community as a political staffer with the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. Kelsey has extensive experience and knowledge in grassroots organizing and campaigning. Her time as a political staffer allowed her to fight against issues such as mass incarceration, solitary confinement, immigration, climate change, and gun reform.

Blog Post List

Six PA House Democrats from across the state held a news conference at the state Capitol announcing

Maternal Justice MomsRising Parenting & Families Politics & Policy Social & Emotional Development

March 28, 2025

For Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ youth, the rates of incarceration are alarmingly higher than their white peers. Not because they commit more crimes but rather because they are criminalized at higher rates for the same infractions as their white peers. Nationally, Black youth are 4.7 times more likely to be incarcerated than their White peers. Indigenous youth are 3.7 times more likely, and Hispanic youth are incarcerated at a 16% higher rate than White youth ¹. In Pennsylvania, these disparities are even worse. PA ranks higher in incarceration rates than 11 of the...

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Three young students smiling in a classroom

Maternal Justice MomsRising Parenting & Families Politics & Policy Social & Emotional Development

March 3, 2025

Students, teachers, and families across the country are anxious and uncertain about the potential impact of President Trump's strict immigration policies. This fear is not unfounded. In his inaugural address, President Trump claimed he would send “millions and millions” of undocumented immigrants back to their countries of origin. Moreover, less than a day after taking office, he revoked a long-standing policy that had prevented federal immigration enforcement from making arrests at schools and other sensitive locations, such as hospitals and places of worship. As the U.S. Education...

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Maternal Justice MomsRising Politics & Policy

October 4, 2024

The Youth and Family Justice Team traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the People’s Coalition for Safety and Freedom (PCSF) Week of Action. Over 90 people from 29 grassroots organizations gathered for the three-day convening to lobby legislators to repeal the 1994 Federal Crime Bill and replace it with the People’s Bill for Safety and Freedom . September 14th marked the 30th anniversary of the passage of the 1994 Crime Bill. In that time, change has occurred but the detrimental foundational structures prevail. PCSF comprises base-building and member-led grassroots organizations and racial...

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YWomen Vote USA 2024 National Town Hall Cover Image

Maternal Justice MomsRising Politics & Policy Reproductive Justice

September 18, 2024

The current narrative around Gen Z is that we are uneducated, unmotivated, and uncaring about elections. This is simply untrue! Research has shown that Gen Z's voter turnout in 2022 was higher than that of Gen Xers and Millennials when they made up the age 18-24 voting block¹. It is well past time to include and support the positions and solutions poised by Gen Z. We are engaged, educated, motivated, and this month, we came together in a powerful way to raise our voices, share our stories, and demand solutions. On September 7th, I was a participant and Gen Z speaker at the YWomen Vote USA...

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Gun Safety Maternal Justice MomsRising Parenting & Families Social & Emotional Development

June 25, 2024

Are you an artist or creative? Do you have ideas on what our communities need to thrive and build a sense of safety and belonging? If so, we invite you to join the MomsRising coloring/drawing for a community safety challenge! MomsRising has been working at the local, state, and federal levels to advocate for meaningful community safety efforts. We know it is time to reimagine public safety and create crisis responses that are appropriate and equipped to meet the needs of communities. The reality is that our current approach to public safety is not working for children or families. What we are...

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Maternal Justice MomsRising Parenting & Families Politics & Policy Social & Emotional Development

May 14, 2024

Our school systems should be environments that encourage children to grow in both their mental and emotional abilities. Safe school settings should inspire children to express themselves and grow. Four years ago, the pandemic exacerbated the mental and emotional crisis among our young people, forever changing the school landscape. Youth are experiencing anxiety, depression, and worse, are struggling with mental health challenges that can be incredibly overwhelming for parents and educators to navigate. School counselors, nurses, social workers, and school psychologists are often the first to...

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Rep. Porter, Rep. Pressley, and Rep. Bush Introduce the Community Safety Agenda

Childcare & Early Education Gun Safety MomsRising Parenting & Families Politics & Policy Social & Emotional Development

May 10, 2024

On April 16, 2024, in partnership with the Community Safety Working Group, MomsRising stood with Representative Cori Bush (D-MO), Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Representative Katie Porter (D-CA) to present the introduction of the 2024 Community Safety Agenda. This press conference brought together a coalition of 70+ advocacy organizations, uplifting priority legislation that champions affirmative, evidence-based approaches to public safety. The current U.S. approach of prioritizing carceral “safety” solutions fails to serve this critical goal. We know that this country can do...

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MomsRising Politics & Policy

January 11, 2024

As we enter into the new year, we are reminded that police violence and brutality continue to permeate police culture. It is time for collective reform to change problematic policing practices in this country. The People’s Response Act is an answer to alternative methods of policing that encourage the use of mental health professionals and community engagement. 2023 marked the deadliest year for homicides committed by law enforcement, with at least 1,232 murders. Data suggests that there is a consistent pattern of police violence tactics, with an average of three people killed by officers...

MomsRising Education Fund

Maternal Justice MomsRising Politics & Policy

January 11, 2024

On January 7, 2023, Tyre Nichols was savagely beaten to death by five Memphis City police officers. Police approached Nichols’ vehicle with guns raised and aggressively pulled him out of the car. While repeatedly stating his innocence, police pepper-sprayed him and pinned him to the ground. After getting free and running away, police caught Tyre and severely beat him. Although additional officers arrived at the scene, Tyre did not receive medical attention for several minutes. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition where he later passed away. Court and police documents reveal how...

MomsRising Education Fund

Maternal Justice MomsRising Politics & Policy

January 11, 2024

It is the first anniversary of the murder of Kennan Anderson , who died at the hands of the LAPD. On January 3, 2023, Kennan was involved in a nonviolent traffic incident in which he flagged down police for help. Instead of helping, the police escalated the situation and treated Kennan as a criminal. Police chased Kennan and then held him face down on the asphalt while repeatedly tasing him. With each taser, Keenan received roughly 50,000-volt shocks to the body. These shocks sent Kennan into cardiac arrest and he later died at a local hospital. In the wake of this injustice, the involved...

MomsRising Education Fund

Politics & Policy

July 5, 2023

On May 31st, Georgia police raided and arrested Adele MacLean, 42, Marlon Scott Kautz, 39, and Savannah Patterson, 30, on charges of charity fraud and money laundering. These organizers are the leaders of the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, an organization providing crucial bail money to arrested “Stop Cop City” protesters. Tell Georgia Police to Drop Charges Against Bail Fund Organizers!

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Maternal Justice Politics & Policy Social & Emotional Development

December 16, 2022

On October 25th, 2022, parents across the country joined MomsRising and partners for a virtual teach-in on truth over fear and to learn ways to advocate for safe, honest, and inclusive education as the foundation of a just democracy. The event featured keynotes from Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw and Ibram X. Kendi, parent stories, and ways to take action! Click to watch! Education is the cornerstone of multiracial democracy and schools are where we learn to engage in society in meaningful ways. Still, parents, students, and educators across the country are experiencing a climate where far-right...

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Gun Safety MomsRising Politics & Policy

May 2, 2022

It’s time to END youth incarceration here in NH and instead focus on investments in services and supports that create opportunities for New Hampshire youth. Join me in calling on Gov. Sununu to close the Sununu Youth Services Center for good. What has happened and continues to happen to NH youth is unacceptable and heartbreaking. Over the years, the reports of abuse coming out of the Sununu Youth Prison in Manchester have been nothing short of horrifying. Over 400 reports of abuse including sexual abuse have occurred. One case, described in 2018 by the Disability Rights Center of New...

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Gun Safety MomsRising Politics & Policy

April 27, 2022

Police violence has been a hot topic of conversation in America over the past couple of years. The pandemic has stripped away the distractions and forced us face the uncomfortable reality of police violence and lack of accountability in this country. MomsRising is committed to finding alternatives to police and is organizing to pass the People’s Response Act , an inclusive, holistic, and health-centered approach to public safety. The bill, created by Missouri Congresswoman Cory Bush, sets out to adopt a new approach to public safety that will save lives, and build systems of care that are...

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MomsRising

October 27, 2021

October is Juvenile Justice month and to kick off the month, the Youth and Family Justice team held a Facebook Live event to educate folks on the issues of police free schools and the school-to-prison pipeline. One our main objectives was to have a group of panelists who would bring a wide array of perspectives to the conversation. In the end, we found six amazing organizers and leaders from across the country to speak on the issues of police free schools and the school-to-prison pipeline. Our brilliant list of panelists included: Breya Johnson, Deputy Director of Organizing with Girls for...

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Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Reform Advocacy Day

Schools and Communities Are Afraid Their Friends Will Be Deported. Here is How You Can Help.

Change is Now! Inside The People's Bill for Safety and Freedom

RECAP: YWomen Vote USA 2024 National Town Hall

MomsRising Community Safety Coloring Challenge

Invest in the Counseling Not Criminalization Act

RECAP: Congress Introduces Vital Alternatives to Community Safety Legislation

It's Time To Reimagine Public Safety and Policing In America. Congress,Pass The People's Response Act.

Police Brutality and Violence Killed Tyre Nichols. What Can We Do To Change The System.

The Murder of Kennan Anderson Exemplifies the Lack of Police Accountability in America.

#StopCopCity Advocates Need Your Help!

Recap: 'Saving Our Schools: Activating Parents in an Age of CRT-Backlash' Teach-In

Prisons Harm Kids. Close Sununu Youth Prison!

DOWNLOAD: People's Response Act One-Pager

Recap of "Students, Safety, and Solutions: An Honest Conversation about Police Free Schools"