State Working Group
In 2022, T1International’s US Chapter Advocates prioritized four state Chapter campaigns related to addressing the insulin price crisis in America. T1Internatinal’s State Working Group serves as a forum for education and training for advocates, and works toward realizing T1I’s four state campaign priorities. Our Working Group members across the United States are working to win those campaigns in their states and beyond.
State Working Group Members
Max Goldberg is a type 1 diabetic who's been involved in T1International since his diagnosis in 2019. Max is a native New Yorker and avid pick-up basketball player who works, both professionally and in his free time, to support people trying to fix America’s broken healthcare system.
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Chewey Lam is a member of the CA Chapter and resides in San Francisco, California. He has lived with T1D for 22 years and Diabetes a total of 24 years. An avid runner/racewalker marathoner with over 570 races since Oct 2016 for Diabetes Migraine, Pancreatic Cancer, and #insulin4all Awareness.
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Arden Parrish has been living with type 1 diabetes since age 7 and is now a pre-med student at Yale, using his voice and story to fight for both fellow patients and the patients he’ll someday serve. Arden is proud to be an intersectional activist and grassroots organizer, and is also the CT #insulin4all Chapter Leader.
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Quinn Nichols (He/She/They) was diagnosed with Type 1 at age three, and will be coming up on her 20th diaversary this December. Because of diabetes, she's been a lifelong activist and advocate for disability rights, diabetes awareness, ending gun violence, equality regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, and more. She's the Michigan #insulin4all Chapter Leader and T1I State Working Group Co-leader.
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John Tagliareni currently serves as the Legislative Lead for the Iowa Chapter. John has lived with Type 1 diabetes since 1994 and lives in Iowa.
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Staci Golar is a policy lead with the Idaho #insulin4all Chapter. She volunteers with T1International to push back against the cruel and unjust systems that those with chronic illnesses (like type 1 diabetes) face when trying to access medication and supplies.
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Dawson Thomas lives in Utah and has three sisters, each with type 1 diabetes. Dawson looks forward to changing state policy to improve the lives of people with diabetes.
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Andrea (Andee) Leisy has been a member of T1International for two years and has been living with Type 1 for over 13 years. She is a land use/environmental attorney and resides in Seal Beach, CA.
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Lori Ruder is a member of the Ohio #insulin4all Chapter and was one of the founding members of the first state Chapter, KOI (Kentucky-Ohio-Indiana) #insulin4all, in 2018. Her son has been living with T1D since 2014. She is a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, mother and patient advocate who believes everyone should have access to affordable insulin and diabetes supplies.
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Lacy McGee (she/her) is a member of the Georgia #insulin4all Chapter and is a type 1 diabetic, diagnosed in 2011. She found her voice in writing about her experience with diabetes online. She became a passionate advocate for healthcare equity after struggling with insulin rationing, and was invited to be Senator Warnock’s 2023 State of the Union Guest to advocate for insulin affordability.
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Adeline (Lina) Umubyeyi, is a professional, advocate, and children's book author. Lina has been involved in T1International since 2019 as a member of the Communities of Color and State Working Groups. As a type 1 diabetic since the age of 10, she’s faced situations where her circumstances caused her to ration insulin. This gave her a passion to advocate for lower insulin prices, and to serve as an advocate for underrepresented groups by fostering education, forging community partnerships, and raising awareness.
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Morgan Szekely has been type 1 Diabetic since 2006 and also currently serves as the Ohio #insulin4all Chapter Leader. She has dedicated her advocacy work and other efforts to ensure that those who have diabetes and their caregivers do not have to endure the prices set forth by insulin manufacturers.
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