Goldie VanZandt
Goldie VanZandt is an honorably discharged United States Navy veteran.
Goldie first connected with Texas Jail Project after her husband—a retired veteran living with PTSD and bipolar disorder—heard about TJP while incarcerated in a Texas county jail. At the time, Goldie was balancing three demanding roles: advocating tirelessly for her husband, working full-time as a claims specialist helping families navigate access to mental health care, and challenging the failures of Texas’ criminal legal and behavioral health systems.
As she advocated for her husband, Goldie also began organizing incarcerated veterans within her husband’s housing unit and connecting families across Texas to TJP’s services. She testified before the Texas Legislature against restrictive bail legislation, appeared on NPR and BreakThrough News, authored public commentary on the impact of cash bail, and worked directly with county officials to improve jail conditions for veterans and individuals living with serious mental illness. Following her husband’s release, Goldie left her corporate career to volunteer with Texas Jail Project before joining the organization full-time in January 2022.
Goldie possesses the rare combination of compassion, determination, and strategic leadership that defines grassroots advocacy. Texas Jail Project is proud to have Goldie as its Deputy Director and Director of Community Engagement.
In her role, Goldie oversees statewide community engagement, veterans advocacy, peer leadership initiatives, and family support while mentoring staff and representing Texas Jail Project in statewide coalitions, public forums, and advocacy efforts. She works closely with the Texas Veterans Commission and state oversight agencies to resolve cases involving medical neglect and abuse while cultivating new leaders from directly impacted communities.
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