Seniors Taking Action was founded seven years ago by Mary Mulvihill in reaction to Trump‘s first election. She, and a handful of friends, began meeting in a New York coffee shop to write postcards for Democratic candidates.

When COVID hit Mary, Judy Loeb and a few others began meeting over Zoom and started a speaker series. It  hosts extraordinary speakers each Wednesday at 11 AM Eastern time

Seniors taking action has grown to 1900 people in 3I states. We are a powerful community working together to protect our rights and save our democracy.

Our Team

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Mary Mulvihill,

Founder of Seniors Taking Action,

Co-Founder of We the Seniors

Mary spent the first half of her career as an Associate Dean and Professor at Fordham University’s Business School, where she also taught. In the next chapter of her career, she served as Executive Director of two different nonprofits, educating and empowering underserved women and revitalizing a housing project on the brink of bankruptcy. In 2019, Mary founded Seniors Taking Action, an organization committed to mobilizing older Americans in the fight for democracy. What started with writing postcards has since evolved into a powerful advocacy network engaged in letters to the editor, editorials, op-eds, a vibrant social media presence and weekly Zoom discussions.

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Judy Loeb, 

President, Seniors Taking Action

Co-founder, We the Seniors

Judy began her career as a fashion designer and after creating the “baby with the arrow” tee shirt while pregnant with her 2nd son, she became the owner of her own maternity wear manufacturing company, which she ran for over 20 years. For her second career Judy joined Emily’s list as the Northeast regional coordinator. During the 18 years that she worked there she raised millions of dollars to help elect pro-choice Democratic women running for all levels of government. In addition to her work with STA and WtS, Judy is an accomplished oil painter.

Diane Dodge, Co-Director of Postcarding Diane Trister Dodge began her 50-year career as a preschool and kindergarten teacher. In 1966, she became the Education Coordinator for a new Head Start program in Mississippi, responsible for creating the program and training 120 teachers to serve 900 children. Recognizing the value of the curriculum guides and training materials she developed, she created her own publishing company, Teaching Strategies. It became the most successful early childhood publishing company in the United States. In 2010, Diane was inducted into the Association of Educational Publishers Hall of Fame for her lifetime contributions to education. For the past 12 years, she and her husband have managed the Dodge Family Fund, a grantmaking foundation, with the mission of supporting programs serving children in families with low incomes to enhance their chances to succeed in school and in life..

Diane Dodge,

Co-Director of Postcarding

Diane Trister Dodge began her 50-year career as a preschool and kindergarten teacher. In 1966, she became the Education Coordinator for a new Head Start program in Mississippi, responsible for creating the program and training 120 teachers
to serve 900 children. Recognizing the value of the curriculum guides and training materials she developed, she created her own publishing company, Teaching Strategies. It became the most successful early childhood publishing company in the United States. In 2010, Diane was inducted into the Association of Educational Publishers Hall of Fame for her lifetime contributions to education. For the past 12 years, she and her husband have managed the Dodge Family Fund, a grantmaking foundation, with the mission of supporting programs serving children in families with low incomes to enhance their chances to succeed in school and in life.

Kate McMullan, Co-Director of Postcarding Kate McMullan taught 4th grade on an American Airbase in Germany. Every day after lunch, she read to her class. Inspired by her students’ enthusiasm for books, she went back to school to learn how to write. To date she’s written and published over 100 books books for kids. Dragon Slayers’ Academy, a series of short, funny books, is for boys like the ones in her 4th grade class who still struggled with reading. She’s best known for ten vehicle books, with art by her husband, noted illustrator, Jim McMullan. Titles include I STINK, a NY Times Best Book of the Year and I’M DIRTY, A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year. These books are now an animated series, THE STINKY & DIRTY SHOW.

Kate McMullan,

Co-Director of Postcarding

Kate McMullan taught 4th grade on an American Airbase in Germany. Every day after lunch, she read to her class. Inspired by her students’ enthusiasm for books, she went back to school to learn how to write. To date she’s written and published over 100 books books for kids. Dragon Slayers’ Academy, a series of short, funny books, is for boys like the ones in her 4th grade class who still struggled with reading. She’s best known for ten vehicle books, with art by her husband, noted illustrator, Jim McMullan. Titles
include I STINK, a NY Times Best Book of the Year and I’M DIRTY, A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year. These books
are now an animated series, THE STINKY & DIRTY SHOW.

Diane Saatchi, Director of Social Media, Seniors Taking Action and We the Seniors Diane Saatchi worked in the mental health field for eighteen years during which she served as the Director of Therapeutic Activities at the New York Hospital, maintained her own private practice and taught at Columbia, NYU and SUNY. Afterwards, she transitioned into real estate where she ran a 50 agent firm which was later sold to NRT. She went on to be a leading broker in the Hamptons who was often quoted about the industry. She became an activist in 2017 and, working with a partner, helped register 500,000 young, first-time voters through social edia by 2024.

Diane Saatchi,

Director of Social Media, Seniors Taking Action and We the Seniors

Diane Saatchi worked in the mental health field for eighteen years during which she served as the Director of Therapeutic Activities at the New York Hospital, maintained her own private practice and
taught at Columbia, NYU and SUNY.

Afterwards, she transitioned into real estate where she ran a 50 agent firm which was later sold to NRT. She went on to be a leading broker in the Hamptons who was often quoted about the industry.

She became an activist in 2017 and, working with a partner, helped register 500,000 young, first-time voters through social
edia by 2024.

 

Ilene Freedman, Director, STA, States Project Giving Circle Ilene earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Douglass College in NJ and a Masters in Guidance and Counseling from NYU, and spent most of her work life using these tools in Vocational Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Directing a work program for Cerebral Palsy individuals and more, before finding her passion in teaching ESL for the community college in Wake County, NC and then working independently tutoring English and helping graduate students at any of the three Universities in her area. She relocated south from NJ in 1989 and hasn’t looked back. Now retired, she has returned to her other forever interest in organizing and campaigning and trying to keep our democracy functioning. She was turned on to Seniors Taking Action six years ago and has found a home amongst the wonderful people connected with the organization.

Ilene Freedman,

Director, STA, States Project Giving Circle

Ilene earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Douglass College in NJ and a Masters in Guidance and Counseling from NYU, and spent most of her work life using these tools in Vocational Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Directing a
work program for Cerebral Palsy individuals and more, before finding her passion in teaching ESL for the community college in Wake County, NC and then working independently tutoring English and helping graduate students at any of the three Universities in her area. She relocated south from NJ in 1989 and hasn’t looked back. Now retired, she has returned to her other forever interest in organizing and campaigning and trying to keep our democracy functioning. She was turned on to Seniors Taking Action six years ago and has found a home amongst the wonderful
people connected with the organization.

Sandy DiPasqua, Website and Graphic Designer For more than 30 years, Sandra DiPasqua has been known for her design leadership and distinctive visual style — in her creative direction for major media companies as well as in her pro bono designs for individuals and institutions. She has designed for such companies and publications as The New York Times, Time-Warner’s Money Magazine, New York’s Avenue, Dow Jones Markets, City Journal and Time Inc.’s magazine development group. She is also co-author and designer of visually arresting books, such as Novena: The Power of Prayer, Holy Places and Ancient & Modern Saints and the Novena app. In addition, the US Department of State has recognized her pro bono work creating materials for women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan for Bpeace. A native New Yorker, she has been a volunteer at Encore Community Center for over fifteen years and currently teaches an ongoing writers’ workshop at Encore.

Sandy DiPasqua,

Website and Graphic Designer _____________________________

For more than 30 years, Sandra DiPasqua has been known for her design leadership and distinctive visual style — in her creative direction for major media companies as well as in her pro bono designs for individuals and institutions. She has designed for such companies and publications as The New York Times, Time-Warner’s Money Magazine, New York’s Avenue, Dow Jones Markets, City Journal and Time Inc.’s magazine development group. She is also co-author and designer of visually arresting books, such as Novena: The Power of Prayer, Holy Places and Ancient & Modern Saints and the Novena app. In addition, the US Department of State has recognized her pro bono work creating materials for women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan for Bpeace. A native New Yorker, she has been a volunteer at Encore Community Center for over fifteen years and currently teaches an ongoing writers’ workshop at Encore.

We couldn’t do what we do without the excellent help of:

Jenn Doyle, a certified travel advisor for Friend Like Me Travel Co., manages our zoom calls and organizes and sends out our weekly newsletter.

Jeremy Loeb, a Product Management Professional, updates our websites including next and future speakers and posts videos and photos sent by members.

Brittney Hayes with background in film and event planning is the assistant to Mary Mulvihill, founder of Seniors Taking Action and assists with social media efforts.

Ray Horton web designer, video editor and social media specialist who updates our website.

Gaurav Panchal, Founder and CEO of 3 Steps Ahead Technology, built our We the Seniors website and continues to update it.