Photograph of Cynthia Van Maanen, Executive Director

Cynthia Van Maanen (she/her)
Executive Director

Cynthia's personal and professional mission is to fight for representation and accountability in Texas by promoting a progressive agenda that fosters equity and civic engagement. Her work at the Texas House of Representatives and Austin City Council has been integral in reimagining public safety, advancing reproductive justice, promoting equitable pandemic relief, empowering vulnerable homeowners, and expanding access to the ballot.

Cynthia is originally from North Texas, and has lived in New York and Washington, DC. In her diverse career, she worked in academia and affordable housing before moving to Austin in 2016, dedicating herself to building a better Texas. She joined the Travis County Democratic Party as Executive Director in July, 2021.

Photograph of Katy Schmader, Organizing Director

Katy Schmader (she/her)
Organizing Director

Katy Schmader’s organizing career began as a super volunteer for the Beto for Texas Senate campaign in 2018. Two years later, during the peak of the pandemic, she left teaching full-time and jumped into the political arena. 

Katy has had the opportunity to fight for Supreme Court expansion at Demand Justice and build voter registration programs at Deeds Not Words. She’s managed various campaigns – most recently, the Luke Warford’s race for Texas Railroad Commissioner.

Katy lives in Austin, TX, with her husband Andrew and cat Savvy. When she isn’t organizing, you’ll find her curled up with a book and a cup of coffee.

Darren Nevares (he/him)
Central Texas Organizer

Darren Nevares, a native Texan born in Austin and raised in San Marcos, is a dedicated advocate for social change. Graduating with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and a Minor in Computer Science from Texas State University, Darren has honed his skills and knowledge to fuel his passion for activism.

With nearly seven years of organizing experience under his belt, Darren has been deeply involved in various impactful initiatives. From contributing to the decriminalization of marijuana and engaging in police reform efforts to spearheading canvassing, volunteer recruitment, and fundraising for nonprofits, Darren has left an indelible mark on his community.

Driven by a fervent commitment to criminal justice reform, youth civic engagement, and workers' rights, Darren tirelessly champions these causes, striving to create a more just and equitable society for all.

Amy DonJuan (she/her)
Campus Organizer

Amy is an upcoming sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin where she is majoring in Plan II and economics. During her first year at UT, Amy spent her time advocating for students by becoming involved with The Daily Texan Newspaper as an opinion columnist and Texan-en-Español translator, Student Government as a University-Wide Representative, and UT Senate as a member of the Recruitment and Retention committee and Accessibility and Accommodations Ad Hoc. 

After her undergraduate studies, Amy will attend law school with aspirations of becoming an attorney, and she plans to eventually run for a position as a state representative. Amy’s mission is to empower women and minority groups to get involved in politics. She joined the Travis County Democratic Party as an Intern in May 2023.

Elif Painaik (she/her)
Intern, Spring 2024

Elif is a current freshman at the University of Texas at Austin where she is majoring in Government with a Certificate in Core Texts and Ideas. At UT, she is active in organizations such as University Democrats, Student Government, and Minority Women Pursuing Law. She became passionate about public service from a young age and wants to spark progress on issues such as women's rights, the environment, and education. She also aspires to attend law school and work in the public sector.

Elif is the current Secretary-General of UT's University Democrats and she has previously worked in TCDP's Watson Eckhardt Organizing Academy. She joined Travis County Democratic Party as an intern in January 2024.