PORTLAND – The ACLU of Maine has hired Rachel Myers Healy to be the organization’s first-ever Director of Communications and Public Education. Healy, who served as the ACLU of Maine’s field organizer from 2005 to 2007, returns to Maine after five years in the communications department at the ACLU nationwide headquarters in New York.
“We are delighted to welcome Rachel back to the ACLU of Maine. She brings a wealth of experience working on the key civil liberties issues we face today, as well as a deep familiarity with Maine and its people,” said Shenna Bellows, Executive Director of the ACLU of Maine. “With Rachel at the helm of our communications and public education work, we look forward to expanding our presence and reach across the state.”
Healy, a native of Auburn, has extensive experience using media and communications tools to protect and promote civil liberties for Mainers and all Americans. Most recently, she served as a senior communications strategist with the nationwide ACLU Center for Justice. She will lead the ACLU of Maine’s communications and public education efforts on key civil liberties issues including privacy, criminal justice reform and voting rights.
The ACLU of Maine has also added two staffers to its legislative team. Jill Barkley, who joined the organization as its marriage project coordinator in April, has been named public policy advocate. Barkley led the effort to establish Republicans United for Marriage as part of the successful 2012 campaign to secure marriage equality for same sex couples statewide.
Oamshri Amarasingham, a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, will serve as public policy counsel. Amarasingham formerly served as a legal intern at the ACLU of Maine, the ACLU of Northern California, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and the law firm Kotin, Crabtree and Strong. She was a law clerk at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Beginning immediately, Barkley and Amarasingham will join Bellows and Legal Director Zachary Heiden in spearheading the organization’s legislative efforts, including analyzing bill language and giving testimony on bills related to ACLU issues. They take over for Alysia Melnick, who has taken a job in the office of the Speaker of the House.
“With Jill and Oamshri on board, our presence at the State House will be larger than ever, “ said Bellows. “We look forward to protecting and promoting the rights of all Mainers in the coming legislative session.”
Headshots of the new ACLU of Maine staff members are available by emailing [email protected].
