CIVIC: Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict

CIVIC is based in Washington, DC, and in Kabul and includes an invaluable network of people around the world who volunteer their time and expertise.

SARAH HOLEWINSKI | Executive Director

Sarah Holewinski has served as executive director of CIVIC (Campaign for Innocent Victims inConflict) since 2006. She has traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Lebanon andIsrael to lobby for smarter, more compassionate policies for war victims. Sarahis a frequent commentator on armed conflict with major media outlets includingCNN and BBC, and has published op-eds in the Washington Post, USA Today,International Herald Tribune, among others.  Read more...

'Marla B' joined CIVIC as associate director in October 2005. Prior to joining CIVIC, Marla was an Edward Rawson Fellow at Citizens for Global Solutions working on US global engagement on such issues as the Darfur genocide and Avian Influenza. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, she started a management consulting company in New York City -- working with a small portfolio of clients in diverse industries including technology, not-for-profit and finance. She has previously served as Manager of Marketing & Communications, Communications Coordinator and Financial Planning Analyst in private sector organizations. Marla has also worked with the Disaster Public Affairs Office for the American Red Cross. She holds a M.S. degree in International Policy & Policy Analysis (research focus of human rights in areas of conflict) from the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University and earned her Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona.

JEANETTE LESPECT | Associate

Jeanette joined CIVIC as an Associate in November 2008 after completing her M.S. degree in International Relations at Troy University with a focus on African affairs, conflict resolution, and international law. Prior to graduate school, Jeanette provided administrative management for private sector organizations in the United States and worked as a language teacher for large multinational corporations, universities and scientific research programs in Bordeaux and Toulouse in France. She has also volunteered as a medical assistant and refugee coordinator for several not-for-profit organizations in the United States and Africa and continues to provide support for emergency relief programs. Jeanette earned a B.A. in History and Geography from the University of Bordeaux, France.

SHELLY CLAY-ROBISON | Associate

Shelly joined CIVIC as an Associate in April 2010. Prior to joining CIVIC, Shelly worked for the Future of Peace Operations at the Henry L. Stimson Center. She has also previously worked in human rights advocacy, activism and meeting planning for CARE International, Amnesty International and the National Organization for Women. Additionally, Shelly has over five years experience managing programs in the non-profit and higher education sectors as well as cross-cultural education work with indigenous populations in Australia and Dominica. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology from American University and a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation from the University of North Florida. Shelly is currently a Board member for the Peace Study Center in Baltimore, MD.

SCOTT PAUL | Fellow, Making Amends Campaign

As the Making Amends Campaign Fellow, Scott Paul directs CIVIC’s advocacy at the United Nations. Paul meets regularly with government delegates to the UN and UN officials to build support for the principle that all warring parties should help the civilians that they harm during combat.  Read more...

CHRIS | Field Fellow

Chris Rogers is a Field Fellow, based in Islamabad, Pakistan,focused on the Afghanistan and Pakistan region.  Rogers graduated from Harvard Law School in 2009, where he focused on human rights and international humanitarian law. Read more...

MASHA GRIGORYEVA | Intern

In addition to interning at CIVIC, Masha is a second-year M.S. Peace and Conflict Research student at Uppsala University in Sweden.  During her first year at Uppsala, Masha served as a board member of Pax et Bellum and contributed to a doctoral research paper seeking to find a link between aid amount and conflict intensity.  Her interest in the peace and conflict field sprouted from volunteering with the Human Rights Watch in Los Angeles.  Prior to moving to Sweden, Masha worked as a performance analyst for a large investment management firm.  During her undergraduate years, Masha interned at the development and program departments of the  Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership.  She graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a B.A. in Political Science and a concentration in International Relations.  Masha is fluent in Russian and conversational in German.       

JENNIFER KEENE | Intern

Prior to joining CIVIC, Jennifer taught high school Biology and Chemistry at L’Ecole des Sciences de Musanze in Rwanda. She also worked as a field organizer for the 2008 campaigns of President Barack Obama and Senator Mark Warner, as well as during the 2010 UK General Election. Additionally, Jennifer interned in the offices of UK Member of Parliament Robert Blizzard and US Senator Patrick Leahy. She holds a B.A. in Government from the College of William and Mary.