The Progressive Party was founded because this country needs a fundamental change and has a strong vision for our country. Our staff and supporters work tirelessly to bring this vision to light, including crushing corporate corruption, human rights for all, and ending endless war.
Our Core Team
Sydney Satalino
she/her | Party Leader, Board of Directors
Sydney Satalino is a writer, leader and world-changer who serves as the Party Leader of the Progressive Party. After a lifelong journey of activism, both for other people and as a way to stand up against a corrupt school system, she founded the current incarnation of the Progressive Party at age 19. In her role at the Progressive Party, Sydney serves as a leading voice on the Board of Directors and is tasked with platform creation, outreach efforts and helping candidates like her flourish under the Progressive Party
Heather Schaab
she/they | Party Chair, Board of Directors
Heather Schaab is an organizer, human rights activist, and currently serves as Party Chair of the Progressive Party. She got her AS in Criminal Justice in 2024 at County College of Morris and BA in Political Science in 2026 at Rider University. She is on track to get her MA in Human Rights and Global Ethics in 2027 from the University of Leicester. She is also a Certified Human Rights Consultant and brings a strong foundation in organizing, human rights and policy work. Her experience spans from grassroots organizing, policy implementation and development and electoral campaigns. She has worked on multiple congressional and statewide campaigns, leading and supporting events, contributing to communication and policy strategy building and engaging in voters. Her leadership extends to national and international spaces, through multiple conferences and summits. Heather is a Lifetime Girl Scout, and continuously uses her voice to fight for people-centered political change, mental health advocacy, environmental justice, immigrants rights, gun violence prevention, disability rights, queer rights, reproductive justice, etc. Across all her work and passions, Heather is dedicated to building inclusive spaces that prioritizes accountability, equity, and diversity.
Ajak Johnson
they/she | Chief of Staff, Secretary of the Board of Directors
Since 2024, Ajak has served as the Chief of Staff for the Progressive Party of America, where they develop strategy for rising independent candidates across the country.
Prior to relocating to Wisconsin, Ajak served in public health as a nonprofit leader and advocate, contributing to campaigns in several states to expand mental healthcare capacity in educational institutions, local governments, and public hospital systems. Their work had included healthcare coverage expansion, school safety, and suicide prevention.
Now, Ajak supports organizing across Wisconsin opposing abuse of immigration enforcement operations and builds mobilization infrastructure with Badger Collective.
Ananya Chillara
she/her | Communications Director
Ananya Chillara is the Communications Director of the Progressive Party, where she leads the party’s outreach and messaging strategy. A graduate in Biology currently working on cardio-oncology research, Ananya focuses on clinical science and advocacy as she prepares for medical school.
Beyond her research, Ananya has a track record of community leadership. She served as the President of the College Panhellenic Council while being an active sister of AOII. In this role, she managed large scale organizational transitions and community wide philanthropic and educational events.
Ananya joined the Progressive Party because, to her, every policy is a health policy. Her work is driven by a clear mission for the future of American medicine: “In the future, if I have to turn someone in need away simply because they were unable to pay, then what is the point of becoming a doctor?”