Holly’s mantra is that she is an advocate with a law license. Youth justice has always been central to her work. During law school she focused on youth law and interned for Legal Services for Children where she represented children in delinquency and dependency matters, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status applications, and school expulsion proceedings. Holly most recently served as the Policy Director for the ACLU of Nevada where she managed a diverse legislative agenda. She is most proud of her work to limit the  transfer of youth under 18 years of age to the adult criminal legal system and to improve living conditions for children in juvenile justice facilities. 

She currently serves as a board member of the Institute for a Progressive Nevada, Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada, and the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty. She previously served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Nevada Sentencing Commission and the Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice. Holly was recognized as a Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals 40 under 40 finalist and is a recipient of the Community Leadership Award from Silver State Equality. As a Nevada native, and first generation college graduate and lawyer, Holly strives to give back to her community through her advocacy and philanthropic efforts.

Dr. Tara C. Raines is a licensed psychologist with a history of research promoting equity and access in the areas of education and mental health. She is a former Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training for the School Psychology program at the University of Denver. She has spent the last decade implementing and supporting a number of grants to improve outcomes for youth at highest risk for mental health disorders. She has partnered with large school districts including Clark County School District, the fifth largest district in the country, to do this work. Tara has been active in the Las Vegas My Brother's Keeper Alliance and sits on the Board of Directors for Democracy Preparatory Academy Nevada and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Dr. Raines additionally leads cultural immersion experiences in Ecuador to promote cultural humility and Spanish language acquisition in mental health professionals.  Dr. Raines has been honored with a presidential citation from APA Division 16 for her work in anti-racism and a presidential award from the National Association of School Psychologists for her work leading the policing in schools taskforce.  She believes in the value of using data to identify and implement supports for Nevada's most vulnerable youth.

Ben Douglas joined Children’s Advocacy Alliance the summer of 2020. With over a decade of experience with non-profits as a board member, serving as President and Treasurer, Mr. Douglas has finally been able to give back by assisting CAA as their Director of Finance and Operations. Ben comes with a great deal of experience from for-profit business serving as the executive in charge of finance, operations and administration. Mr. Douglas has spent the last 15 years facilitating accounting and management classes at the university. Ben loves helping students obtain their dreams by obtaining their bachelors and/or masters degree. Mr. Douglas graduated with his MBA in 2003 and then obtained his Masters of Science in Accountancy in 2010. Ben’s main joy is his family, including his wife of 25 years, three boys, one daughter-in-law and grandson. He is excited to continue fighting for the children of Nevada and beyond.

Annette Dawson Owens, M.A. is a lifelong education advocate who believes in equity and access to an excellent education for all students. She has worked in both district and charter schools and has studied high performing schools and leaders across the country. She has seen first hand, quality outcomes that are possible with effective school design.  Annette attended K-12 in the Clark County School District and went on to earn an undergraduate degree in Zoology, a Masters in Education from UNLV, and a Masters in Administration from Sierra Nevada College. 

Annette has been appointed by the last 3 mayors to serve on Henderson's Community Education Advisory Board since its inception and serves on two Charter School Boards. She completed Georgetown's Executive Leadership through the Public Education Foundation, Henderson Leadership and is grateful to be a Jameson Fellow and serve on Compassionate Las Vegas' Steering Committee.  Annette recently was Nevada's first White-Riley-Peterson Fellow studying out of school time with peers across the country. In her free time she enjoys exploring the great outdoors. Annette looks forward to working together with the community and improving outcomes for all students and families in the great state of Nevada.

Jamelle Nance enthusiastically joins the Children’s Advocacy Alliance Nevada team to serve as the Director of Strong Start Initiatives. Jamelle brings vast experiences in the field of Human Services, Education, and Organizational Leadership. Her personal and professional experiences are centered around public service to empower, educate, and provide opportunities for families to thrive not just in her community, but across the nation. She has led similar initiatives in her home state of Maryland to provide equitable educational opportunities to those who need it most. Jamelle earned a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science with a concentration in Child Advocacy Studies and a master’s degree in Administration of Human Services both from Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware. Jamelle is passionate about providing access to essential resources and opportunities that strengthen families and level the playing field. She wholeheartedly believes that a strong start provides children and families with a solid foundation to build a strong and promising future.

Carissa Pearce (she/her) is a dedicated advocate for children and family well-being, with a strong background in policy advocacy. Her journey began as an intern with CAA in 2022, and soon after she joined as a team member in Health Policy after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. Since joining CAA she has built upon and expanded state and national partnerships leading initiatives to support medical coverage for all children and families in  Nevada Currently pursuing her MPH in Epidemiology at the University of Nevada, Reno, Carissa is driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to quality care and resources, especially those in underserved populations in Nevada. Through her academic pursuits, Carissa continues to deepen her understanding of health disparities and evidence-based approaches, while building the skills and knowledge to drive impactful policy changes in healthcare, and children and family services. Her commitment to creating equitable systems led her to engage in legislative advocacy, where she played a pivotal role in supporting bills that would benefit vulnerable communities. Balancing her professional pursuits, Carissa enjoys spending time with her dog, close friends, and family. Her drive, expertise, and compassionate approach make her a valued advocate for creating equitable systems to advance health and family services in Nevada.

Incorporated in 2000, JK Belz & Associates provides a thoughtful tailored approach to governmental affairs. They have strong relationships with both sides of the legislative “aisle” to maximize opportunities for their clients. In support of this commitment, they work diligently to develop and nurture relationships with members of the legislature, both during legislative sessions as well as during the interim between sessions. Several areas of their advocacy work cross over into children’s issues. Ensuring children have access to education and a path to a career they love; ensuring access to mental health care and behavioral health services; supporting healthy outcomes for moms and babies; researching and exposing gaps in children’s health through dedicated reports on child welfare; supporting literacy efforts; and ensuring children are safely riding in cars with seatbelts and car seats. In 2019, JK Belz & Associates was successful in amending a bill to include a report on the number of children placed out of state for behavioral health services. This report has helped inform legislators on the need for residential placement and an expanded network of care in our state.