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Board

Susan Naimark, Co-Chair: On the board of directors of Community Change since 2001, Susan works at NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit community development intermediary, where she is the Director of National Community Building & Organizing Programs. She has also been involved on a volunteer basis with public education reform for many years, and is currently chair of the board of directors of Boston Parent Organizing Network. Susan has lived in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston since 1977. She has been a trainer, organizer, and program director in a number of organizations committed to racial equity and just distribution of resources. In her spare time, Susan enjoys running marathons. She has run the Boston Marathon as a fundraiser for Community Change every April since 2006.

Alexia Layne-Lomon: As an artist, activist, leader, and mother, Alexia is a revolutionary presence in the Greater Boston area. In addition to her role as a Lead Organizer at Reflect & Strengthen, many know Alexia for her work facilitating healing circles with groups like Project HIP-HOP’s Mom’s Group, as well as her time working with the Cambridge Youth Peace and Justice Corps and the El Salvador Sister Cities project. Alexia is constantly committed to increasing her capacity as a leader and community member, and has participated in the National Youth Organizing Training Institute and Undoing Racism. Because of this commitment, and Alexia’s tireless work to build strength, solidarity, and sisterhood in Boston and beyond, she is regularly called upon to facilitate groups, workshops, and perform her music and spoken word.

Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernandez: Yves was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Her family migrated to Boston when she was 12 years old. Her early experiences in Haiti and living in an impoverished neighborhood in Dorchester when her family first moved here greatly influenced her commitment to democracy, human rights (including women's rights), and sustainable global economic development. Yves is a staunch advocate for oppressed and disenfranchised populations. She is also a strong believer in using education as a vehicle for promoting social justice, peace, and for empowering the marginalized.

Mary Antes, Clerk: Mary has been on the board since 1990, starting as treasurer. She was on the fundraising committee for many years and now is on the governance committee. She also serves on the Leadership Awards Committee. She was employed by Education Development Center for about 25 years and remains a casual employee. Mary is also on the boards of the Wayland Housing Authority, Wayland Housing Partnership, Council on Aging, Friends of the Council on Aging, River Stewardship Council, and PILOT. She was a Selectman for 12 years and now represents the Selectmen at Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Metrowest Regional Consortium meetings. She is active in Habitat for Humanity and in the League of Women Voters.

Paul Madden: Raised in Braintree, Ma, Paul attended Boston College where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in 2007 and graduated from the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Program with a Masters Degree in Education in 2008. As an undergraduate at Boston College, Paul was a teaching assistant for History and Development of Racism and co-Director of FACES, an anti-racist student organization focused on educating the Boston College community about systemic racism. Paul currently teaches mathematics at Brook Farm Academy, a Boston Public High School, and at Boston College, part time, in their Options Through Education Transitional Summer Program. Also, he is a policy debate coach at his school, which competes within the Boston Debate League. In general, Paul is a passionate educator whose work and energy focuses on working towards systemic equity.

Chris Messinger: Executive Director of Boston Mobilization, a community-based organization that has worked against what Dr. King called 'the Triple Evils' (racism, materialism, militarism) for more than 30 years. Currently the home of the Sub/Urban Justice Program, Mobe works primarily with teens and young adults to support community organizing, social justice education, and regional anti-oppression networking. At other times, you can find Chris playing soccer or music, cooking, and building community. Chris has been a Board member since 2006, and is thrilled to support the critically important work of Community Change.

Meck Groot: Raised in a working class community of Dutch Calvinist immigrants in rural Canada, Meck has firsthand experience of ethnocentrism as well as the sense of belonging and connection living in community offers. This combination of perspectives is foundational to her understandings of race, racism and whiteness. Meck holds a Masters degree in feminist liberation theology and ethics. She acted as Co-Director for the Women’s Theological Center for many years and is currently Program and Social Justice Coordinator for the Clara Barton and Mass Bay Districts of Unitarian Universalist Congregations.

Jimi Two Feathers: Jimi first connected with Community Change, Inc. in 1992 during an action for the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus wherein he sought to educate people on the indigenous perspective of Columbus’s arrival. In 2005, Jimi joined the board of directors of CCI, and he later became co-chair. Though he has since stepped down as co-chair, Jimi still serves on the board and seeks to provide awareness of Native American history and oppression. His primary mode of activism is through African Drumming, and he serves as co-director of Earth Drum Council. Jimi also works as a computer technician at his company, Iguana Computers, in Concord.

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