Our Team
Amie Ashton
Executive Director
Amie Ashton is a passionate housing advocate, bicycling evangelist, environmentalist, and urbanist. In a professional capacity, Amie is a recovering CEQA practitioner, environmental planner, and project manager who works on housing and mixed-use developments throughout the Bay Area. She is Board Chair of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and leverages her connections with city staff and partners in the development world to educate and capitalize on the link between high-density housing development and bicycling. Amie has lived in Palo Alto since 2008. Her first job after graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara was with the City of Palo Alto Planning Department, where she obtained an in-depth education on the local development process. When not talking about housing, Amie can be found outdoors hiking, camping, skiing, gardening, and bicycling.
Contact Amie at info@paloaltoforward.com
R. Elysa Gurman
Community Builder
Elysa Gurman (she/they) is working to make the world a better place, which often happens through community organizing. She is the Founder and Director of Santa Clara Housing Advocates, a Group of residents advocating within the City of Santa Clara for sustainable and practical solutions to the housing crisis. Elysa claims to not be a “campaign staffer”, but for the 2024 cycle she worked on 3 local campaigns for pro-housing candidates and formerly worked with PAF to implement the Homes for Everyone? Yes! campaign. Previously she worked in DC, focusing on a variety of issues including criminal justice reform, the success of the nonprofit sector, progressive perspectives of international relations, and working in both the House and the Senate. She participated in the 2020 BLM protests in DC, and worked on the 2018 Nevada Democratic Coordinated Campaign.
Outside of work, Elysa volunteers as a BBYO Advisor with Jewish teens, uses her chronic illness as a punchline to jokes, snuggles her guinea pigs, and keeps up to date with the latest news on Harry Styles.
Max Quan
Social Media Manager
Max Quan is a rising senior at Gunn High School who has interests in music, games, and sports. Max has worked with the school board and Gunn PTSA on different occasions to help promote bike safety and usage throughout the community. He hopes to continue to be involved in the community through housing, transportation, and other issues.