Staff & Leadership
Thomas DeVito
National Director
Tom was instrumental in the creation of Families for Safe Streets in New York during his tenure at Transportation Alternatives. His political acumen was responsible for New York’s successes on speed limits, street design and speed safety cameras. In 2022, after a brief hiatus, Tom returned as the FSS National Director to design and implement a strategic plan to grow this burgeoning movement.
Alyson Geller
Support Services Manager
Aly was the FSS manager for the San Francisco chapter where she organized and supported member-advocates in winning several initiatives including the creation of a car-free stretch in JFK Park and authorization to reduce the speed limit in California cities. Aly joined FSS-National in 2022 and coordinates all of our support services. She has a background in journalism and holds a degree in community health science from UCLA’s School of Public Health.
Amy Cohen
Co-Founder & President
After her 12-year-old son Sammy was killed in 2013 in front of her home, Amy Cohen joined with others and helped found Families for Safe Streets. Amy helped lead New York’s numerous legislative successes including lowering the speed limit, getting the nation’s largest speed safety camera program, passing legislation implementing a master plan redesigning streets, and more. Amy is a social worker and was previously an administrator of a large social service agency.
National Executive Committee
Patty Avery
Patty’s 37-year-old daughter Bethany Schklar was a talented and creative elementary teacher in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Just weeks after her peers named her Teacher of the Year, Bethany was turning left when a driver going at excessive speed failed to stop for the red light. In addition to her parents, Bethany left behind a husband, a young son, and a devastated school community. Patty lives in Evansville, Indiana and is an FSS Ambassador.
Jessica Reister Hart
Jessica’s 5-year-old daughter Allie was riding her bike with her dad after kindergarten in their residential neighborhood in Washington, DC. As she rode in the crosswalk of a four-way stop in a school zone, Allie was struck by a driver who failed to make a complete stop. She died in the crosswalk wearing her bright yellow school t-shirt. Jessica started speaking out right away, demanding that the intersection where Allie was killed be fixed, and then joining the Steering Committee of the FSS DC chapter.
Latanya Byrd
Latanya is the co-chair of the FSS Greater Philadelphia chapter and has been fighting for safe streets since her 27-year-old niece Samara and three of Samara’s four children were killed by two drag racing drivers on Roosevelt Boulevard. The 12-lane road they had to cross in order to reach their home lacked pedestrian infrastructure or speed monitoring. Latanya successfully advocated for the first automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras in her city and for funding to fix Roosevelt Boulevard.
Janet Heston
Janet Heston’s 30-year-old son Matthew was walking to Iroquois Park in Louisville and crossing to get to a bus stop when a speeding driver hit him and left the scene. Matthew lost his life on a road known for treacherous driver speed. Matthew loved animals, a range of sports, and reading a good book. Janet is now an FSS Ambassador and has been fighting to make streets safer in Louisville, including pressuring city officials to fix the known dangerous roadway where Matthew was killed and fighting for automated enforcement to combat the pervasive speeding in Louisville.
LAURA keenan
Laura’s 42-year-old husband, Matt Keenan, went out for an evening ride on a beautiful night in 2021 after putting their baby to bed and never returned. Matt was riding in the bike lane, wearing his helmet and extremely bright lights. Yet this was not enough to protect him from a reckless driver who crossed into his unprotected bike lane, hitting Matt head on. With Matt’s death, Laura was left a young widow and a single parent to their then 15-month old son Evan. Laura started advocating for safer streets immediately and founded the San Diego FSS Chapter.
Sarah Risser
Sarah and her 18-year-old son Henry were driving to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan along Wisconsin Highway 63 to enjoy a few days of Nordic skiing when the driver of a Dodge Ram truck, speeding and hauling a load that significantly exceeded legal limits, crossed the centerline. Henry died at the scene. Sarah survived with significant injuries. Sarah became involved with FSS by organizing Minnesota's first World Day of Remembrance event. With a recent move west, she has become an active member of the Portland, Oregon FSS chapter.