Representative Anna V. Eskamani was born and raised in Orlando to working class immigrants from Iran who met in Florida while pursuing the American Dream. Anna carries her parents' struggle and sacrifices with her each day while fighting to build a government that works for the People, not elite special interests.
Anna never imagined she would run for public office, but that all changed in 2016 after the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub and President Trump’s victory. She knew change was necessary, and while trying to recruit other candidates to run for public office, community members and friends asked Anna why she wasn’t running.
That’s when it hit her -- if Anna could run and win, other fresh-faced potential candidates would be inspired to do the same, igniting a new generation of everyday people to run for office, and win.
Anna ran and won her first election in 2018, winning a seat previously held by a Republican, by building a massive grassroots, people-centered campaign that raised over $500,000 from 4,000+ individual donations and knocked on more than 40,000 doors with 500+ volunteers. After becoming a State Representative in 2019, Anna quickly rose to become a powerful statewide advocate on multiple issues, including public education, community safety, environmental protection, health care access, tax policy, affordable housing, and economic opportunity.
In Anna's 2020 campaign, she won two precincts carried by President Trump and won her reelection by 18%. Anna now serves as the Democratic Ranking Member of both the Reform Subcommittee and the Ways & Means Committee, while also serving on the Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee, Joint Administrative Procedures Committee, and Professions & Public Health Subcommittee.
As a State Representative, Anna has served Floridians all across the state during the COVID-19 crisis. Anna and her small, dedicated team personally served over 50,000 Floridians across 64 counties to navigate Florida's broken unemployment system. Anna not only secured millions of dollars of benefits for unemployed Floridians, but she’s fought for housing assistance, tax breaks for everyday families and holds the largest corporations accountable too. Floridians have rallied behind Anna due to her unmatched work ethic, deep devotion to public service, and her ability to get things done for Floridians. That’s why she was proud to launch People Power For Florida and continues to serve her community while organizing statewide.
Rep. Eskamani’s proudest possession is her 2018 “I Voted” sticker, self-describes her sleep schedule as non-existent, and she never gets tired of learning, her cats, and Star Wars.
REP. ANNA V. ESKAMANI
Founder
(she/her)
Originally born in Caracas, Venezuela but raised in Broward County Florida Juan is a staunch advocate for voting rights and the empowerment of minority communities. After registering hundreds of students to vote as a student fellow for NextGen America during his time at UCF he worked as a field organizer for progressive turnout project in 2020 helping turnout Democrats in 6 crucial swing states. Now at People Power Juan leads the field team of student fellows that register students to vote across the state year round!
Juan stans the Miami Marlins and Drake, is a firm believer pepperoni is the superior pizza topping, and enjoyed Hot Wheels as a child… and talking about BLIMPS.
JUAN ARDILA
Organizing Director
(he/him)
Allison cares deeply about ensuring every Floridian can access their right to vote—and travels the state to help communities find their power. After working in the Florida Legislature and for several progressive campaigns across the state, she has found her home at PPFF—where she gets the unique honor of crafting creative communications along with ✨unhinged✨ and ✨trendy✨ social media content.
She believes Lysol is the greatest gift to this world and that the best series ever created was Twilight.
ALLISON MINNERLY
(she/her)
Communications Director
LARRY KAHN
Larry Kahn has been a Team Anna/PPFF Volunteer - canvassing; phonebanking, envelope-stuffing, etc. He's a long-time resident of Rep. Eskamani's District, which means his SUV and two-wheel dolly are also frequently in demand at rallies. Larry spent 35 years working in research, marketing, and communications for radio stations and TV networks. He moved to Orlando to help start XL106.7FM and spent over 20 years as VP Research at NBCUniversal's Golf Channel. PPFF is drawing upon his knowledge of and experience with phone bank management, consumer list targeting, and motivational messaging in his role as a Statewide Community Organizer focusing on phone outreach. Larry's eager to put his efforts into getting more Florida residents to vote more often after spending decades trying to get golfers to watch TV ten minutes longer.
Phonebank Organizer
JESS SILES
Orlando Organizer
(she/her)
(he/him)
Jess is an Orlando native and is a proud UCF graduate with dual degrees in Political Science and Journalism with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Throughout college she worked as a substitute teacher, was a reporter and editor for UCF News Site NSM Today, and competed in and coached speech and debate. In her free time, she can be found at vegan restaurants, reading at coffee shops, hiking or attending concerts. Jess is passionate about education, advocacy, and voting rights. Her ultimate goal is to empower others to use their voices and work towards creating a brighter future.
If her life was a TV show, it would be American Horror Story, she loves Lana Del Rey, and the closest she ever came to death was watching the 2016 election results.
Cameron Driggers is a student activist attending the University of Florida. Cameron began organizing in response to the anti-LGBTQ+ agenda of his local school board, as well as the "Don't Say Gay" Bill. Cameron's accomplishments include organizing several state-wide school walkouts as well as spearheading a successful electoral campaign to remove far-right members of his school board. Cameron continues to confront Governor DeSantis through youth-led initiatives across the state of Florida, and by increasing voter registration among students.
He collects Funko Pops, loves to treat himself to Mac n’ Cheese, and his biggest fear is encountering a pregnant spider.
CAMERON DRIGGERS
Gainesville Organizer
(he/him)
TRENECE ROBERTSON
Tallahassee Organizer
Trenece is a Senior Sociology major at FAMU. Her passion for her HBCU is unmatched—and she loves registering her fellow Rattlers. On campus, she can be seen tabling with GenAction or being a girlboss. She has been organizing around reproductive justice and education justice for a year and it’s the reason why she urges you register to vote with her!
When she isn’t keeping us all informed on her Instagram story, she can be heard saying “people gonna people” and preparing for her favorite holiday, Halloween.
(she/her)
Amber is the first openly trans organizer for People Power for Florida. She is also a graduate student and teaching assistant at Florida State University studying Media and Communication. Before joining People Power for Florida, Amber wrote for FSU’s student newspaper, the FSView & Florida Flambeau, and worked in former State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith’s Tallahassee office as a Policy & Research Fellow. With a fierce passion for progressive causes, Amber is honored to serve her community through the work she does with People Power for Florida.
She believes But I’m a Cheerleader was robbed of an Oscar and their coffee order is an original creation called the Spring Fling—-a rose & honey latte topped with lavender foam and honey drizzle.
AMBER FULLER
Tallahassee Organizer
(she/they)
RACHEL GERSTENBERGER
Rachel Gerstenberger is a current senior at University of Central Florida! She’s majoring in Humanities and Cultural Studies and minoring in Women's and Gender studies as well as Education. She’s super passionate about reproductive justice and serves as a Planned Parenthood Peer Educator as well as an E-board member for UCF's Planned Parenthood Generation Action RSO! In Rachel’s free time, she loves to create art and play with her cat! She’s thrilled to be a part of People Power For Florida's initiative and look forward to being able to bring about positive change to our community!
Her guilty pleasure is watching reality TV and her cat’s name is Miso, which is short for Misoprostol, one of the two abortion medications.
Orlando Organizer
(she/her)
OLIVIA SOLOMON
Olivia Solomon is the Miami Organizing Fellow. She has been a community activist working towards a more equitable world since she was 16 and is a recent graduate of UCF and wants to continue working in advocacy and getting people registered to vote!
Her favorite accessory is a funky pair of socks, she’s terrified of palmetto bugs, and on occasion can be heard using the word “flabbergasted.”
Miami Organizer
(she/her)
RAYMER MAGUIRE
Raymer Maguire is doing just about everything to save the state of Florida. Whether it was co-founding our organization in 2021, working on Florida ballot initiatives, or leading on different issues, Raymer has been there and done that.
His first side-hustle was operating a series of gumball machines, he loves his Dobermans, and his favorite fast casual restaurant is Olive Garden because when you’re there, you’re family.
Co-Founder
(he/him)