Open the Cages Alliance (OTCA) - Until All Are Free

Open the Cages Alliance is organized and run by a dedicated and efficient staff of three Directors who donate their time, plus additional local volunteers. Meet the Directors of OTCA (listed in alphabetical order):

Alexis Cornell
Treasurer
allie@openthecages.org

Allie's roles within OTCA include event coordinator/organizer, volunteer, and treasurer. She jointly admins the OTCA Facebook page, sharing the duties with the other directors. She also whips up sweet treats for OTCA bakesales.

Her work in a small branch of a national nonprofit helped to prepare Allie to become a director of OTCA. She was responsible for maintaining the office's income and expense records, which prepped her for the treasurer duties. In addition to her experience in professional administrative roles, Allie has volunteered with several Baltimore & DC animal rights groups. She also co-founded and organized for two vegan groups: Maryland Veg Social (a potluck and picnic group) and Rogue Brunch Brigade (a monthly brunch fundraiser, benefiting small social justice & AR nonprofits).

Robin Helfritch
President
robin@openthecages.org

Robin's work in OTCA includes project and event coordination, graphic design of printed and online materials, website design and maintenance, OTCA Facebook page co-administration, advertising, marketing, and networking. She also loves to cook and bake for OTCA's foodie events!

The founder and owner of Red Robin Design, a Maryland/DC-based graphic design company that specializes in design and marketing for small businesses and non-profit organizations, Robin has over 15 years professional experience in the graphic and web design industry and 8 years experience in small business management. She donates much of her time to designing logos, printed materials, advertisements, and websites for vegan and animal rights organizations. Some of her non-profit clients include Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), A Well-Fed World, Compassion for Animals, Defending Animal Rights Today & Tomorrow (DARTT), and the Vegetarian Resource Group.

Robin has been active for many years in the animal rights and animal rescue communities in the Baltimore and DC areas. She has organized with and volunteered for several local and national organizations, including Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), Defending Animal Rights Today & Tomorrow (DARTT), Baltimore Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), NoVa Rottweiler Rescue League, and Washington Animal Rescue League.

Erin Marcus
Secretary
erin@openthecages.org

Erin's roles in OTCA include serving as the group's secretary, coordinating and conducting outreach and other advocacy events, helping to generate content for OTCA's email alerts and websites, and co-facilitating the group's Facebook page. Also, she'll happily whip up some cookies or cupcakes for a vegan bake sale!

Erin has professional experience in record-keeping and dealing with the public, and she currently works at a doggie day care and boarding facility. She began attending animal rights events as a teenager, her first demonstration being a vigil for turkeys with United Poultry Concerns in the mid 1990s. She has been organizing for animals on the grassroots level in Baltimore since 2003. She is passionate about the connections between different struggles for justice, and values the experience she gains from volunteering with local labor organizations in addition to her work with OTCA.