9.0
LEADS
Fellows
Adam Bright
Executive Director, Double Edge Theatre
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Adam Bright is Executive Director of Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield, Massachusetts, where he works alongside the ensemble to cultivate the organization's artistic vision, operations, finances, fundraising, and long-term strategic development. Since assuming a leadership role, he has helped grow the organization's annual operating budget from approximately $500,000 to more than $2million while guiding major capital, housing, sustainability, and cultural infrastructure initiatives that strengthen both the theatre and the surrounding rural community.
His work focuses on building systems that connect arts and culture with affordable housing, climate resilience, food security, municipal planning, and community development. He also currently serves as Project Coordinator for the Clean Energy in the Cultural Sector initiative, a collaboration between UMass Arts Extension Service and UMass Clean Energy Extension, supporting arts organizations across Massachusetts in advancing equitable clean energy and climate resilience projects.
Beyond his professional roles, Adam has worked as an independent consultant with emerging nonprofit organizations, particularly BIPOC-led, rural, and community-based organizations, supporting strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising, and governance.
Adam serves as an elected member of the Ashfield Planning Board and has participated in regional Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) planning initiatives. He also serves on local and regional committees advancing affordable housing, sustainability, and rural community development. Across his work, he is committed to building partnerships that bridge sectors and create resilient, equitable communities through culture.
Adam lives in Ashfield, MA, with his partner, Tomantha Sylvester, and his daughter, Yulia. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, swimming and playing football (soccer), and finds inspiration through theatre, community gatherings, and the forests and hills of Western Mass.
B.A. (Hons.) in Theatre and Performance, University of Hull (Hull, England). His education has been further shaped by more than two decades of ensemble-based artistic practice, community leadership, and collaborative learning across the arts, nonprofit, and civic sectors.
Brian Boyles
Executive Director, Mass Humanities
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Brian Boyles is Executive Director of Mass Humanities, a foundation based in Holyoke that creates opportunities for the people of Massachusetts to transform their lives and build a more equitable commonwealth through the humanities. Before joining Mass Humanities in 2018, Boyles served as Vice President of Content at the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, where he directed programming at the Louisiana Humanities Center in New Orleans and served as publisher of 64 Parishes magazine. His first book, New Orleans Boom & Blackout, was selected as the citywide read in 2015. Under his leadership, Mass Humanities has grown its impact as a grant maker focused on supporting grassroots organizations, delivering more than $10 million in direct funding to nonprofits across Massachusetts. Boyles co-chaired the Special Commission on the Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth, and currently serves on the board of Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford. A native of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Tulane University, he lives in Leverett with his family.
Ben Clark
Owner/President, Clarkdale Fruit Farms, Inc.
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Ben is the fourth-generation of his family to own and operate Clarkdale, originally founded in 1915. Situated in the hills of Deerfield, the orchard is comprised of 40 acres of apple, peach, pear, plum, nectarine, and cherry trees, as well as grapevines. 95% of sales are through the on-farm retail store, with a small amount of wholesale business to local restaurants, grocers, and schools. Apple cider is produced on-site October-January. The store operates seasonally July-January, but the business of tending the trees and land is year-round and requires 12 full- and part-time seasonal employees. Ben oversees all aspects of operations, sales and administration.
The farm donates fruit to and sponsors numerous school, church, and civic groups, as well as local food pantries and meal sites. Ben is very involved with the annual March for the Food Bank of Western Mass, and is consistently a top fundraiser for the event. He has volunteered with the Deerfield Fire Department for over 20 years and currently holds the rank of Assistant Chief. He previously was also a volunteer EMT. Ben serves on the boards of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association. He is past president of the Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture(CISA) board, was previously on the steering committee of the Greenfield Farmers’ Market and recently termed off as a Trustee of Deerfield Academy, after 10 years of service. In 2023 Ben was awarded the Greenfield Recorder’s Franklin County Citizen of the Year.
Ben and his wife Lori live on the farm in Deerfield with their 2 boys. The family enjoys weekends in NYC, vacations in NH and theme parks in Florida. They bond over board games, swimming, and movie nights and are thankful for the natural beauty of the land they steward.
Ben graduated from Deerfield Academy, and earned a B.A. in Theater from Wesleyan University. He lived and worked in Boston and Providence prior to returning to the family farm in 2006.
Erika Kuester
CEO, Treehouse Foundation
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Erika is a seasoned nonprofit leader, with 25 years of experience in the sector. She brings a deep and steadfast commitment to social justice and community to her role as CEO of Treehouse Foundation, whose award winning intergenerational model ensures that children who have experienced foster care, their caregivers, and older adults have the support necessary to thrive. Treehouse’s flagship community, located in Easthampton, MA, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026. As CEO, Erika leads efforts to expand the Treehouse model across New England, with communities in development in Boston, Framingham, Worcester, and beyond.
Erika has extensive experience building and leading teams, including as COO, with a focus on scaling for growth. She has led operations and programmatic work in multiple national organizations. Through her community organizing, she found a passion for team-building, coaching and mentoring, and building systems and infrastructure that poise teams to do their most impactful work. Erika also serves on the Board of Directors for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst, MA.
Erika is married to Ian Galloway, with whom she is a parent to two young kids and a small menagerie of pets. She and her family live in Amherst, where they take advantage of all the outdoor activities that Western Massachusetts has to offer, including hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing.
Erika holds multiple degrees, including a BA in Philosophy from the University of Toledo and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law.
Ellen Moorhouse
Communications and Marketing Director, Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW)
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As the Communications and Marketing Director for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW), Ellen’s primary role is to strengthen the Commission’s brand, outreach efforts, and positioning among stakeholders, government officials, and the media. Ellen was also an inaugural commissioner during the formation of the regional Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (HCCSWG), and cares deeply about advocating uplifting local and regional issues that improve access to opportunities and equality for women across the Commonwealth.
Previously, as the Communications Director for the Women’s Funding Network (WFN), Ellen was responsible for leading, directing, and administering WFN’s communications strategies and programs. She directed these efforts alongside staff, consultants, and coalition partners to provide strategies, research, and resources that supported the critical agency and influence of women’s foundations and gender justice funders worldwide. In addition, as the former Program Officer for the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWN), Ellen also directed the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), a women’s leadership course designed to encourage women to run for office.
Born and raised in Springfield, MA, Ellen graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a bachelor’s in political science and an Honors International Relations Certificate from the Five Colleges. In 2018, she was honored as a 40 Under 40 awardee by BusinessWest. In 2020, she received her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in executive leadership management and was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta honors society.
Gerry McCafferty
Director of Housing and Homelessness Policy, City of Springfield
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Gerry McCafferty is the Director of Housing and Homelessness Policy at the City of Springfield, where she is currently shepherding creation of a new housing strategy focused on improving the marketability of Springfield and its housing stock. During her tenure with the City, Gerry has coordinated Springfield’s response to homelessness, launched a Healthy Homes home repair initiative, and managed housing rebuilding following the devastating 2011 tornado. Prior to joining the City’s Office of Housing, Gerry worked as a tenant’s rights attorney for 15 years, first at Colorado Legal Services in Denver and then at Western Massachusetts Legal Services in Springfield. Gerry began her law career as a Skadden Fellow.
Gerry lives in Springfield, where she gradually advances home improvement projects, adds native plants to her yard, and walks her dog in nearby Van Horn Park. Gerry enjoys music, reading, and spending time with her adult son and with friends.
Gerry is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned her Juris Doctor cum laude. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied the Great Books curriculum.
Jessica Collins
Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western MA
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Jessica Collins has dedicated her career to collaborative efforts that build equitable communities and sustain programmatic, policy, and infrastructure change that supports quality of life. She has served as Executive Director of the Public Health Institute of Western MA for over ten years. PHIWM leads regional data assessments, coalition convening, and communications and advocacy on regional public health issues. She has founded and led many community-based coalitions in Massachusetts like CambridgeWalks, Shape Up Somerville (nationally recognized); Live Well Springfield and Equity in the 413. She was named a 2021 BusinessWest "Women of Impact", awarded the Healing Racism Institute Community Builder Award in 2023 and the Urban League of Springfield Inclusion Luminary Award in 2025. Ms. Collins brings regional equity perspective to state efforts including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community Promote and Prevent Behavioral Health Commission (2018 and 2025); served as the Co-Director of the BeHealthy Partnership, the Accountable Care Organization (2018-2023) and served as on the MA Public Health Alliance Board of Directors for ten years and as President 2017-2019 and currently serves on Health Care for All Board; Ms. Collins has a master’s degree from Tufts University and is a proud graduate of Wellesley College. Her passion for health equity began from experiences as a Jesuit Volunteer and US Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa. More recently, she spent over ten years coaching youth basketball and was elected to her town’s Board of Health for seven years (2017-2024). She lives in South Hadley with her husband and two teenagers.
Jennifer Core
Executive Director, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
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Jennifer Core is the Executive Director of Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), a non-profit working across Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties to strengthen farms and engage the community to build the local food economy. Jennifer provides strategic vision and leadership in advancing structural and economic conditions that support farms and food production across our landscape. Previously, Jennifer developed a curriculum for new and beginning farmers at The Farm School, provided operational leadership at Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment and served as the Director of Agriculture for The Trustees of Reservations, a statewide conservation organization, where she oversaw production operations across multiple farms and implemented agroecological trials & research.
Jennifer and her husband own and operate Hettie Belle Farm, a small, grass-based livestock farm in the town of Warwick in Franklin County. Originally from Oregon, she settled in New England to start her family and her farm after falling in love with the rural communities dotting the hills. When not picking up hay, setting fences or helping with lambing, she enjoys celebrating the abundance of local food by cooking for her family and friends.
Jennifer earned her Master of Arts in Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management from The School for International Training and Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion from Pacific Lutheran University.
Joshua Faller
Co-Executive Director, Just Roots
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Joshua Faller is Co-Executive Director of Just Roots, a nonprofit community farm and regional food hub based in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He helps lead the organization's strategy, operations, and partnerships while advancing a vision for regional food systems that improve community health, strengthen local farms, and expand equitable access to fresh food.
Joshua has helped grow Just Roots into a statewide leader in Food is Medicine, developing partnerships that connect healthcare providers, community organizations, and more than 100 local farms. His work focuses on building the systems that allow healthcare dollars to support both healthier communities and thriving regional farm economies. He has played a central role in developing Massachusetts' first statewide farm-based Food is Medicine network and serves on multiple state advisory groups working to shape the future of nutrition services and healthcare integration.
Before joining Just Roots, Joshua managed ecological restoration projects with Abound Design, led the farm and agricultural education program at North Country School in New York, and directed farm production and educational programming at Alaska Pacific University, where he also co-founded South Central Alaska CRAFT, a collaborative network supporting beginning farmers.
Joshua regularly speaks on Food is Medicine, regional food systems, and agricultural market development at state and national conferences. He serves as Chair of the Community-Based Organization Task Force for the Food is Medicine Massachusetts Association and contributes to statewide efforts to strengthen connections between agriculture, healthcare, and community organizations.
Joshua lives in Easthampton, with his partner and two young children. Outside of work, he's usually tending the garden, fixing something broken, working on small stone masonry projects, or adding another old book to his collection.
Education
M.A., Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, Alaska Pacific University
Certificate in Ecological Horticulture, University of California, Santa Cruz
B.A., History, University of California, Santa Cruz
Dr. Jada J. Waters, EdD
Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club Family Center, Inc.
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Dr. Waters is an accomplished educational and nonprofit executive dedicated to expanding opportunity for young people and strengthening their communities. She oversees six departments, from Preschool through Board Development, while leading youth programming. In year one, she pursued $1.2 million in grants, securing $220,000 with $499,000 pending, and launched first-ever partnerships with ConvenientMD and Community Music School. She rechartered the Keystone Club after inactivity, logging 588 hours, hosted monthly cultural events celebrating heritage, and took youth to MetLife Stadium for the Howard-Morehouse Classic and World Cup.
Previously, as the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and Title IX Coordinator for Middletown Public Schools, Dr. Waters wrote the district's first Equity Policy and presented it at the AASPA National Conference. She grew voluntary staff participation in DEIB learning from 0% to 81% and secured funding for the district's first HBCU tour, earning the 2024 NAACP Innovative Educators Award. Early in her career with Holyoke Community College's Gateway to College program, she presented nationally on best practices for re-engaging out-of-school youth and, on the heels of her doctoral research, led the program to its first national Excellence Award in 2016, again in 2017, and four more times since. Her systems keep thriving long after she moves on.
Dr. Waters is a licensed Principal (5-12) and Superintendent in Massachusetts. Her doctoral research produced the Your Presence Is Your Power framework: wherever she leads, her presence gives others permission to show up fully, and becomes the catalyst for the change that follows.
Dr. Waters lives in Springfield, MA, with her daughter, London, a 10th-grade scholar-athlete in basketball and track. A proud TRIO alum, she is grateful for her family and village, whose love empowers her to pursue every goal with purpose. She enjoys cooking, hosting family at home, and traveling, especially cruising.
Education
Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Supervision, Master of Nonprofit Management, and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology, all from American International College.
Jamilla Deria
Executive Director, UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center
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Jamilla Deria is a nationally recognized arts leader, producer, and cultural strategist with more than two decades of experience advancing innovative artistic programming, institutional growth, and community-centered cultural initiatives. She currently serves as Executive Director of the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, one of the region’s premier university-based arts presenters.
At UMass Amherst, Deria oversees a multidisciplinary arts complex that includes the Frederick C. Tillis Performance Hall, Bowker Auditorium, the University Museum of Contemporary Art, and multiple gallery spaces. Under her leadership, the Fine Arts Center has expanded its education and engagement initiatives, launched new arts and wellbeing programming, strengthened statewide cultural partnerships, and advanced significant capital and strategic planning efforts. Her accomplishments include securing a $19.2 million institutional commitment for major theater renovations, expanding student and community engagement initiatives, increasing institutional reserves, and helping position the Fine Arts Center as a leading convener around the intersections of arts, health, education, and civic life.
Before joining UMass Amherst, Deria served in senior leadership roles at the Apollo Theater Foundation, where she developed large-scale festivals, artist partnerships, and interdisciplinary cultural programming, including the internationally recognized WOW – Women of the World Festival and the Apollo’s Africa Now Festival. Earlier in her career, she led national marketing and promotional campaigns for Madison Square Garden and Blue Man Productions.
Deria holds an M.A. in Media, Culture and Communications from New York University and a B.A. in Political Science and Theatre from Williams College.
Kristin DeBoer
Executive Director, Kestrel Land Trust
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​Kristin DeBoer serves as the Executive Director of Kestrel Land Trust, leading conservation efforts across the forests, farms, wetlands, and trails of western Massachusetts' Connecticut River Valley. Since stepping into the role in 2006, Kristin has guided the organization through a powerful evolution, transitioning Kestrel from a volunteer-led group into a professionally staffed regional land trust. Under her leadership, the trust has dramatically scaled up its conservation capacity and forged vital community partnerships to protect critical regional lands across the Valley.
Deeply committed to the broader conservation movement, Kristin serves on the Land Trust Alliance National Leadership Council and recently concluded a nine-year term on the board of the Northeast Wilderness Trust. Her extensive background in advocacy spans non-profit work in recycling, toxics-use reduction, endangered species recovery, and wilderness restoration.
Kristin lives in Pelham alongside Amethyst Brook and a 1,200+ acre forest protected by Kestrel and partners. She has been happily married for 31 years, raising two children, now in their early twenties. When she isn't protecting land, Kristin can be found hiking, paddling, practicing yoga, or watercolor painting.
She holds a BA in Economics and Environmental Science from Bucknell University and an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch University.
Kristen Joyce
Program Director of the Bridge to Prosperity Cliff Effect Pilot at Springfield WORKS
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Kristen Joyce is the Program Director of the Bridge to Prosperity Cliff Effect Pilot at Springfield WORKS, an initiative of the Western Mass Economic Development Council. Bridge to Prosperity is a statewide initiative designed to address benefits cliffs—a barrier that penalizes income growth by abruptly reducing public assistance. Kristen oversees all aspects of the pilot program, including partnerships with several non-profit organizations and employers, a third-party evaluation, and policy and system change efforts. Before joining Springfield WORKS, Kristen was a researcher at Mathematica for ten years, building the evidence about what works to help families achieve economic success. At Mathematica, she was the lead evaluator for the Western Mass MOMS PartnershipSM, a program designed to reduce depressive symptoms and improve the social connections and labor market success of caregivers with low incomes in Holyoke and Springfield. She has also held positions at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC working to improve public benefits programs.
Kristen lives in Longmeadow with her partner Dan. She enjoys spending time with their dog, Harvey, playing tennis, and expanding her gardening skills.
She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Kisha D. Morgan, Ed.S.
Co-Executive Director, Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership
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​Kisha D. Morgan is Co-Executive Director of the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP), a nonprofit partnering with Springfield Public Schools and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to transform outcomes across a network of secondary schools. In this role, she provides executive oversight of SEZP schools and principals, with a strong focus on teacher and administrator development.
Kisha is passionate about developing educators and leaders and currently leads this work across the Zone, serving as Adjunct Professor and Program Director for the Elms College/SEZP MAT Program, where she teaches educators pursuing licensure and a master's degree in Moderate Disabilities. She develops graduate-level coursework in inclusive education grounded in a Liberation Lens framework that centers equity and anti-racism in teaching and learning.
She previously served as SEZP's Chief of Teaching and Learning and Chief of Student Support and Services, where she designed and built the Zone's special education model, systems, and programming from the ground up while also providing executive oversight of MTSS, Multilingual Learners, Family Empowerment, Anti-Racism/Equity, and Discipline. Prior to joining the Zone, Kisha brought more than 20 years of experience in historically under-resourced urban school districts in Atlanta, Georgia, and Rochester, New York, serving in roles including Special Education Teacher, Principal, Special Education Director, Executive Director of Special Education, and Chief of Special Education and Alternative Programs, with a track record of strengthening systems, turning around challenged programs, and closing opportunity gaps for students.
Kisha believes that lasting school improvement is built by investing in people, developing leaders, strengthening systems, and creating equitable opportunities for every student to thrive. She holds professional licensure as a Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent and Special Education Administrator in Massachusetts and is expected to graduate with a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership in December 2026.
Born and raised in New York, Kisha enjoys spending her free time with family and friends. Whether she's watching a great movie, hosting a game night, or taking walks with her dogs, she values the moments that help her recharge.
Lindsay Barron LaBonte
Branch Manager, Applied Mortgage Team at HMA Mortgage
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Lindsay Barron LaBonte is Branch Manager of the Applied Mortgage Team, the Massachusetts branch of HMA Mortgage. With more than 20 years in residential lending, she leads a team dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve homeownership through education, personalized guidance, and creative financing solutions. Under her leadership, the Applied Mortgage Team has become known for combining high-level mortgage expertise with an unwavering commitment to customer service and community engagement.
Consistently ranked among the top mortgage originators in Western Massachusetts, Lindsay has helped thousands of buyers, homeowners, investors, and real estate professionals navigate the home financing process. She is a nationally recognized Scotsman Guide Top Women Originator, a Banker & Tradesman Top Loan Originator, and was named one of the Mortgage Banker Association of Massachusetts Loan Originators of the Year in 2026.
Beyond lending, Lindsay is passionate about strengthening her community. She most recently served on the Board of Directors for United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region and actively supports many local nonprofit organizations through the Applied Mortgage Team's community initiatives. She is also the creator and host of the Real People, Real Estate podcast, which highlights the people, businesses, and organizations making a positive impact across Western Massachusetts while providing practical education about housing and homeownership.
Lindsay lives in Southampton, Massachusetts with her husband, Sam, and their two daughters, Charlie and Penny. Outside of work, she enjoys strength training, traveling with her family, supporting local businesses, and finding new ways to bring people together through community events.
Education
B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst.
M.B.A., Western New England University
Liz O’Gilvie
Convenor/Director of the Springfield Food Policy Council
Interim Director of Springfield based Gardening the Community (GTC)
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Liz serves as the convenor/director of the Springfield Food Policy Council and the interim director of Springfield based Gardening the Community (GTC), GTC is a food access organization centered in urban agriculture and youth development with one owned farm site, several leased sites and the only farm store in Massachusetts’ 3rd largest city. The GTC farm store is a social enterprise.
The Springfield Food Policy Council serves as a partner, advisor and driving force behind efforts to build a healthier food system in Springfield, Hampden County and statewide.
A produce farmer in her own right, Liz works with an advisory committee to further develop and manage 40 Acres and a Mule Farm which began operating on scattered ¼ acre sites across Springfield and was recently awarded a land licensing contract by the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture for 16 Acres of farmland located on land owned by the State’s carceral system for the development of an incubator farm for immigrant, refugee farmers and new farmers who were formerly justice involved.
Liz was appointed to Governor Healey’s Anti-Hunger Task force and is a staunch advocate for marginalized families and children. In the local collaboration and policy world, liz serves on the Statewide Advisory Boards of the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, and as a member of the Transformative Farm Bill Campaign Committee and formerly the White House Conference on Nutrition Subcommittee and Massachusetts Farm to School Advisory Board.
Matt Abramovitz
President of NEPM
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Matt Abramovitz joined New England Public Media as president in 2022, building on a long career in broadcasting and leading the NPR and PBS affiliate at a critical moment.
Under his leadership, the station moved into its new Springfield headquarters, launched separate news and music radio services, and focused on elevating the unique voices and stories of the region with shows like The Fabulous 413 and The Rundown with Carrie Saldo.
Most recently, he helped lead NEPM through federal defunding and a merger with GBH in Boston, protecting and strengthening access to trusted local news, music, and community storytelling for western Mass. and building a network that serves the entire Commonwealth.
His more than three decades in media started at the renowned jazz station WBGO in Newark, New Jersey. He later joined Sirius Satellite Radio, where he was a member of the original music team that launched the service. He spent more than 12 years with New York Public Radio, helping to establish WQXR as a public classical station and serving as its head of programming.
Abramovitz currently lives with wife, children, dog and gecko in a cohousing community in western Massachusetts. He enjoys cooking, birding, woodworking and playing guitar. He holds degrees from Wesleyan University and Cornell University.
Megan Burke
President and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
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As President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Megan Burke leads the organization in its philanthropic and community impact services – to help enrich the quality of life of people living in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. Megan became the Foundation’s fifth President and CEO in January of 2023 and has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, strategic planning, and philanthropy.
Megan began her career working on international peace and security issues at the Ford Foundation and through the United Nations. She also lived in Nicaragua for several years, where her work supported the emerging LGBTQ+ movement and the development of a nation-wide campaign to advance human rights. Prior to her most recent position at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Burke led the Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines, an international network of nonprofits engaged in advancing a ban on antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions worldwide. She served as the director of community impact grantmaking at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving where she oversaw a $25 million annual foundation-directed grantmaking budget and lead a transition to trust-based grantmaking.
Megan earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wellesley College and a master’s degree in International Relations from Yale University. She serves on the board of the Western MA Economic Development Council, the Springfield Regional Chamber and Philanthropy MA, the Commonwealth’s statewide philanthropy association. Currently, she resides in Wilbraham, MA with her family.
Nayroby Rosa
Executive Director, OneHolyoke Community Development Corporation
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Nayroby Rosa serves as the Executive Director of OneHolyoke Community Development Corporation in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She provides strategic leadership for the organization's operations, finance, fundraising, housing initiatives, community engagement, and neighborhood revitalization efforts. Over the past two decades, Nayroby has built a career dedicated to strengthening communities through resident leadership, collaborative partnerships, and equitable community development.
Prior to becoming Executive Director, she served as OneHolyoke's Chief Operating Officer and Director of Community Engagement & Resident Services, where she led neighborhood engagement strategies, grant development, volunteer leadership, and resident services. Her previous experience includes leadership and management positions with Beacon Communities, Wayfinder’s formally HAP Inc., the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, and other human service organizations. She currently serves on the Holyoke Community College Board of Trustees and the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Board and has served on numerous local advisory committees focused on health, education, housing, and community development.
Nayroby lives in Holyoke, Massachusetts. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, dancing, and giving back to her community through volunteerism and civic engagement.
Nayroby holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership & Negotiation from Bay Path University, a bachelor's degree in Child & Youth Services from UMass Amherst, and an associate degree in Human Services from Holyoke Community College.
Patricia Duffy
Massachusetts’ Fifth Hampden District
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​Patricia Duffy represents Massachusetts’ Fifth Hampden District (which consists of Holyoke and Chicopee Ward 3B) in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. She currently serves on the Committees of Ways & Means and Veterans Affairs, and as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Cannabis Policy. Her priorities include equitable access to healthcare, healthy food, and excellent public education.
She was born in San Pedro, California, the youngest of five children of Air Force officer Robert Duffy and his wife Elizabeth. The family followed her father’s assignments until he retired as Brigadier General and they settled in Concord, Massachusetts.
After working in publishing in Boston for several years, Pat went back to school and received a Masters in Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She settled in the Oakdale neighborhood of Holyoke and immersed herself in community organizing. She’s served on the board of Nueva Esperanza (which serves the neighborhood of South Holyoke), was Governor Deval Patrick’s appointee to the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, and has managed and volunteered for many local electoral campaigns.
In 2014, then State Rep. Aaron Vega hired Pat as his legislative aide and, upon his announcement that he would not run for re-election in early 2020, Pat decided to run for the seat, winning the election in the Fall of 2020. She lives in her 100+ year-old bungalow with her husband Joe and their dogs JoJo and Milo. They enjoy long walks, travel, and Pat is learning to play golf.
Rod Motamedi
Assistant Director, Economic and Public Policy Research, UMass Amherst Donahue Institute (UMDI)
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Rod Motamedi helps lead the two-dozen staff of the Economic and Public Policy Research group (EPPR) at UMDI. The institute carries out its public service mission through applied research and evaluation, education and training, capacity building, and direct services to strengthen our impact. As one of nine units within the institute, EPPR provides unbiased analyses on the economic, demographic, workforce, and other public policy issues in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond. Prior to joining the Donahue Institute, Rod was a senior economic associate at Regional Economic Models, Inc. in Amherst where, for over seven years, he led client training and support, business development, and consulting efforts. Examples of his previous work include the economic impact of casinos, immigration, energy and environmental policy, housing, economic and workforce development, and fiscal policy. Rod was a board member of the Association for University Business and Economic Research and is now the president-elect.
Originally from Lawrence, KS, Rod has lived in western Massachusetts since 2004 after stints in Tehran, Phoenix, and Cambridge, MA. He and his partner Tonya have lived in Easthampton since 2020. In his free time, Rod enjoys riding his motorcycle, listening to music, and working with his hands.
Rod received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a focus in business analytics and a Bachelor of Arts in economics also from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Sarah Barr
Advisor to the Provost on Campus Initiatives and Director of Community Engagement, Amherst College
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Sarah Barr is the Advisor to the Provost on Campus Initiatives and Director of Community Engagement at Amherst College, where she works with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to link learning inside and outside of the classroom. Her work sits at the intersection of community engagement, town-gown relations, and institutional strategy. In recent years, she has helped strengthen Amherst College’s relationship with the Town of Amherst, supported the negotiation and implementation of a strategic partnership agreement, worked on emerging issues related to workforce housing, and led cross-divisional efforts to redesign summer programs to better support students pursuing internships and research opportunities.
Sarah is deeply involved in the local community. She currently serves as Vice President of the Amherst Business Improvement District and Secretary of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. She previously served as board president of the Amherst Survival Center, a nonprofit organization working to reduce food insecurity and social isolation in the region, and as campaign manager for Mindy Domb, who was elected State Representative for the 3rd Hampshire District. She also serves on the Mead Art Museum Advisory Board.
Sarah lives in Northampton, Massachusetts with her husband and stepson. In her free time, she enjoys bringing friends, family, and the occasional stranger to the Mead Art Museum, knitting, running, and spending time with her family, especially her dog, Violet.
Sarah received a B.A. in Global Policy Studies from Chatham University and an M.A. in Theology and Ethics from Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.
Solomon Baymon
Director of Western Massachusetts for Roca, Inc.
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Solomon Baymon is the Director of Western Massachusetts for Roca, Inc., where he oversees operations in Springfield and Holyoke, leading violence intervention, workforce development, reentry, behavioral health partnerships, and community engagement initiatives for young adults at the highest risk of violence. He works closely with law enforcement, courts, healthcare providers, schools, employers, and community organizations to strengthen public safety and improve outcomes for youth and young adults.
Solomon brings more than 18 years of leadership experience in public safety, criminal justice, nonprofit leadership, and youth development. Before joining Roca, he served with the Connecticut Department of Correction, where he rose through the ranks to Deputy Warden, leading complex operations, supervising multidisciplinary teams, and managing public safety initiatives.
Outside of Roca, Solomon has owned Elite Nation Fitness, a sports performance training business, for more than 15 years. He also serves as a high school football coach and Head Coach of the Neighborhood Generals Youth Football Program, where he mentors young athletes and promotes leadership, discipline, and character on and off the field.
Solomon lives in Springfield, Massachusetts, with his wife, Amanda, and their children. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching football, training athletes, spending time with family, and giving back to his community through mentorship.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, with continued executive leadership and professional development in public safety, violence intervention, and nonprofit leadership.
Shannon Martineau
Director of Finance & Administration, Franklin County Community Development Corporation
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Shannon Martineau is the Director of Finance & Administration at the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, where she supports the organization’s finance, human resources, operations, and compliance functions. She works closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to oversee a $3 million annual operating budget, manage more than $10 million in organizational assets, and strengthen the financial and operational systems that support FCCDC’s mission of advancing small businesses and fostering a more vital rural economy.
With more than 20 years of experience spanning nonprofit leadership and financial services, Shannon has built her career around helping individuals, businesses, and organizations achieve greater financial stability and sustainability. Prior to FCCDC, she developed financial capability and tax assistance programs at Community Action Pioneer Valley, expanding access to financial coaching, community lending, and free tax preparation for hundreds of households.
Before transitioning to nonprofit leadership, Shannon built a successful career in credit union and retail banking. She supported individuals and small businesses through lending, financial analysis, and relationship-based banking while leading branch operations, developing teams, and designing regional onboarding and staff training programs. These experiences continue to shape her collaborative, people-centered approach to leadership and community impact.
Outside of work, Shannon serves as an elected Town Meeting Member where she lives in Montague, MA and enjoys supporting local businesses and community initiatives. She spends her free time enjoying New England’s four seasons outdoors with her husband and their two children.
Shannon graduated from Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, Shannon also completed the Accounting Transitions Program, including advanced coursework in taxation and financial accounting.
Tanisha Arena
Executive Director, ARISE for Social Justice
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Tanisha Arena serves as Executive Director of ARISE for Social Justice, a Springfield, Massachusetts-based nonprofit advancing racial, economic, environmental, housing, and civic justice. She leads the organization's strategic vision, fundraising, community partnerships, organizational development, and policy advocacy while overseeing programs that address the systemic causes of inequity and empower historically marginalized communities.
With more than 20 years of leadership across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, Tanisha is recognized for building cross-sector collaborations, facilitating difficult conversations, and designing strategies that drive organizational and community change. She is a consultant with Growing A New Heart, where she facilitates leadership development, anti-racism, compassionate accountability, and dialogue across differences for nonprofit, government, higher education, and corporate partners. She is also the award-winning host of the Unapologetic podcast, exploring the historical and contemporary intersections of race, power, identity, and justice.
Tanisha serves as Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, following previous service as Finance Chair after her appointment by the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators. She also serves on the Advisory Board of A Call for Change, an intimate partner abuse prevention helpline, and teaches with the Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership. Earlier in her career, she worked extensively in anti-violence advocacy and LGBTQ+ community organizing. She is a published author, keynote speaker, and facilitator committed to cultivating courageous leadership and lasting systems change.
Tanisha lives in Springfield, Massachusetts. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, photography, gardening, reading, and exploring the intersections of history, leadership, and social change. Her greatest joy is spending time with her three grandchildren—Penelope, Jaalan Jr., and Kyle Jr.
Education
M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy, Bay Path University; B.S. in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Health in Diverse Populations, Central Connecticut State University. Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University of South Florida.
Bill Hynes
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, Westfield State University
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Bill Hynes is the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at Westfield State University, as well as the Executive Director of the Westfield State University Foundation. Bill’s role at Westfield State and its Foundation is to foster meaningful donor and alumni connections, and create opportunities that enhance academic programs, student success, scholarships, and long-term institutional growth for current and future students. Prior to Westfield State, he has been in development and advancement work at Western New England University, Baystate Health, and the American Heart Association. He began his non-profit journey at an AmeriCorps Program in the City of Holyoke, eventually became the Executive Director of the Greater Holyoke Youth Service Corps.
Bill lives in Westfield and is the proud parent of two children in their 20’s, Mason and Sydney. Bill is an active community member serving as a board member and Treasurer at the Homework House of Holyoke and a volunteer for the Parlor Room Collective in Northampton. When not working or volunteering he can be found on the golf course or at a local concert venue.
Bill received a Bachelor’s Degree in History at UMass-Amherst in 1997 and holds a Master’s Degree from American International College in Non-Profit Management. Bill is a proud UMass alum and the parent of one UMass grad and one current UMass student.