WHO WE ARE
How We Got Here
VFC is a volunteer-run, bi-partisan 501(4)c dedicated to education, empowerment, and advocacy against gun violence. We use our social media, digital outreach, and monthly meetings to educate about the reality of gun violence & related policy, empower members to confidently engage with GVP in their daily lives, and advocate directly with the Virginia General Assembly, federal representatives, and local leaders. Our over 3,000 members are parents, grandparents, and concerned community members who come from various political backgrounds, include gun owners and non-gun owners, and are located across the state of Virginia.
VFC began in April 2023 when our founder couldn’t stand one more cycle of “read about a mass shooting → weep & feel sick to the stomach → donate to a GVP org & Go Fund Me for victims’ families → return to daily life while always feeling the specter of gun violence looming over dropping the kids at school, planning a family outing, and even running mundane errands.” Knowing that time and energy are dear resources, and that GVP is an incredibly daunting topic, VFC was created with the goal of making activism approachable, concrete, and presented in a way to fit into daily life.
We are an organization founded and led by moms who feel called to step out of our comfort zones and into advocacy for the safety of children. Yet, we've always striven to be a group of "mothers and others" as we know that gun violence prevention isn’t a cause important to only moms. Originally called “Virginia Moms for Change,” in 2025, led by the input of our members and advisory council, our board of directors changed our name to Virginians for Change: Action Against Gun Violence.
With a grassroots energy and a primary focus on Virginia-level legislation, VFC strives to be nimble and responsive to GVP efforts in the commonwealth. VFC partners with a large coalition of GVP organizations to make strides in bringing Virginia to the leaderboard of states with common-sense gun laws. We aim to amplify and uplift communities who bear the brunt of gun violence, and we seek preventative measures that will make Virginia communities safe to live in and to raise our families. Join us in this work.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
former public school teachers, retirees, social workers, professors, administrators, marketing professionals, nurses, artists, engineers, early childhood educators, lawyers, consultants, realtors, former military, full-time parents
30-45 Years Old (83%)
Women (99%)
Firearm in Household (24%)
Progressive/Liberal (59%)
Located in Central VA (57%) & Northern VA (21%)
THEIR IMPACT SINCE OUR FOUNDING
Over 700 combined emails, calls, and public comments to Virginia General Assembly members
3 Letters to the Editor and Op Eds in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Virginian Pilot
280 flyers dropped at Virginia General Assembly offices
16 meetings with legislators and 3 meet and greets with political candidates
4 testimonies in Virginia General Assembly committees
Our Board Members
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Sarah Peyton Kaufman
PRESIDENT
Sarah is a stay-at-home mom of two girls and holds a MS Ed in Intercultural Communication. Her professional background is in adult education, including training design and facilitation, teaching English language learners, and higher ed administration. Sarah is passionate about supporting her community through learning and advocacy.
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Jackie Beilhart
VICE PRESIDENT
Jackie is a mom to two girls and a seasoned marketing and communications professional with 17 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree from Georgetown in Communication, Culture, and Technology, where she focused on political advocacy and strategic messaging.
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Carolyn Kochard
TREASURER & FOUNDER
Carolyn is a former teacher and marketer turned stay-at-home mom of three girls. During her time in the classroom, she led students through active shooter drills—an experience that deeply shaped her perspective. She is committed to building a world where all children can grow up safe from the threat of gun violence.
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Maria Pahuja
SECRETARY
Maria is an Operations and Strategic Partnerships professional with over 20 years of experience across publishing, tech startups, and online video, leading cross-functional teams and innovative initiatives. She serves on the Board of Startup VA and is a proud mom to two children who fuel her drive for meaningful, positive change.
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Nicky Payne
Nicky leads a boutique government affairs firm in Richmond, VA, with more than a decade of experience in state government. She helped pass critical gun safety legislation under Governors McAuliffe and Northam. Nicky is also a proud mom to two young boys -
Liza Kimbrough
Liza is a stay-at-home mom of two with a professional background in social work, spanning both school and foster care settings. She’s deeply committed to supporting children and families. Her lived experience informs her advocacy and care in everything she does. -
Marissa Sapega
Marissa is a Director of Product Marketing with 15+ years of experience leading strategic campaigns both nationally and internationally across a variety of industries. She a mom to a 3-year-old who already knows that even small changes can create a meaningful and lasting impact.
Our Advisory Council
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Chrissy Muse
Chrissy is a former Special Education teacher with 16 years of experience in central Virginia and now a stay-at-home mom to two young children. Her time in the classroom revealed the deep toll gun violence takes on students, families and schools. That firsthand experience brought her to Virginians for Change. Chrissy also enjoys reading, volunteering with animal rescue organizations, and spending time with her friends and family. -
Maggie Van Arsdell
Maggie is a senior PR professional at a global agency and the proud mom of two girls. She lives in Ashburn, VA, where she’s actively involved in the local PTA and Girl Scouts. A supporter of Moms Demand for nearly a decade, Maggie believes too much is at stake to remain silent. Her strong commitment to building a safer future for children and families brought her to Virginians for Change, where she now advocates for meaningful, lasting action to end gun violence. -
Emily Griffey Ewees
Emily is the mom of two elementary-aged children who attend Henrico County Public Schools. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and previously worked on children and family policy at the state and local levels. Emily brings a deep understanding of how policy impacts families and is passionate about creating safer communities. Her lived experience as a mother fuels her advocacy and her work with Virginians for Change. -
Devyn Keller
Devyn is a former educator and mom based in Richmond who has spent years advocating for policies that make Virginia safer and more equitable. As a teacher, she saw the impact of gun violence on students and families and felt called to act. Devyn brings her expertise in education and policy to Virginians for Change, driven by the belief that all children deserve to grow up in safe, thriving communities free from the fear of gun violence. -
Becca Payne
Becca is a mom to two kids (and one corgi) and lives in Richmond with her husband. She leads communications and staff development at a historic church and holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Studies. Becca serves on the Virginians for Change Advisory Council and is committed to protecting the most vulnerable. For her, that means working toward a future free from gun violence and using her voice to help build a safer, more compassionate world. -
Jenna Miles
Jenna is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in Maternal Mental Health and Couples Counseling. She is also a wife, mom to two young boys, and proud rescue pup parent. Over the years, Jenna has seen how trauma and grief shape lives—and how preventable tragedies like gun violence can devastate families. Motivated by her personal and professional experience, Jenna joined the Advisory Council of Virginians for Change.
Get Involved
From 5 minutes a month, to 30+ minutes a week, or anything in between, VFC breaks down GVP to approachable activism. Subscribe to our newsletters to have bite-sized actions sent directly to you, attend a monthly virtual meeting, or join a working team, and do something about gun violence.