Staff
Chris Mancini, Executive Director
(Chris@groundworksomerville.org)
Chris joined Groundwork Somerville in June 2011. He began his environmental career working on board the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater teaching environmental sustainability and marine ecology. After some time working on boats and at an environmental field station in Manhattan, he became Program Manager for Sailors for the Sea, a nonprofit organization based in Newport, RI that educates and engages boaters in the worldwide protection of the oceans. He has volunteered and been engaged with Groundwork Somerville in some way since 2006, at one point running the Maple Syrup Project prior to turning it over to Groundwork Somerville. For fun, he plays guitar and banjo in a band, and snowboards with his wife.
Tai Dinnan, Gardens Coordinator
(tai@groundworksomerville.org)
Tai joined Groundwork in 2008. She coordinates GWS’ gardens programming, Garden Youth Crew, and the Maple Syrup Project. She also assists with farm-to-school initiatives and consults with community groups hoping to start gardens in their neighborhoods, churches, and backyards. Tai is a board member at the Somerville Community Growing Center and a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program. Her interests in urban agriculture, community health, and child development match perfectly with GWS’ active school-yard gardens programs.
Adam Machson-Carter, Green Team Coordinator (adam@groundworksomerville.org)
Adam is the Green Team Coordinator at Groundwork Somerville. He began at Groundwork in January of 2011. Adam comes from a background in outdoor education, youth development, and environmental justice. Adam believes in the power of young people to be catalysts for change in their environment and the world. He has been a Massachusetts Promise Fellow at GED Plus as well as a youth worker and member leader at an environmental justice organization in Boston. Adam is excited about carrying this work forward (and having fun!) with the Green Team at GWS!
Ronald Leaks, Community Organizer
(ronald@groundworksomerville.org)
Ronald is a past participant of the National Park Perservers, GWS’ job training program. Inspired by the community service projects that he volunteered in with GWS’, he is now focused on raising community awareness throughout somerville and pursuing sustainable community development. Ronald now serves as a community organizer with GWS’ Community Corridor Planning program (CCP).
LeighAnna Dwyer (aka Lee Lettuce), Lead Gardens Educator
(LADwyer@groundworksomerville.org)
LeighAnna is excited to join Groundwork Somerville in 2012 as the Lead Gardens Educator, coordinating after-school garden programs and Eco-Explorer clubs and developing curricula. With a background in urban planning, public education, community organizing, and gardening, LeighAnna is passionate about building more sustainable communities and finding creative ways to get kids learning and active. Her previous experience working in MIT’s SENSEable City Lab and advocating for homeless students in the Chicago Public Schools complements her interests in garden-based learning and the outdoors. In her free time, LeighAnna hikes, cooks, and writes spoken word poetry.
Jonathan Reis, Mystic River Projects Manager
(jonathan@groundworksomerville.org)
Jonathan is a jack of all trades and is excited to begin his tenure on the Mystic River. He has been with GWS since 2009, starting as a member of the NPP team. He is a Somerville native and is driven by his desire to give back to the community. Motivating people and helping them to see their self-worth is something Jonathan feels strongly about. Refurbishing some of the community’s priceless historical heritage to its original state has become a passion for him. He strives to educate the community about the importance of saving our heritage. His endless ideas and enthusiasm are a plus for GWS.
Green Team
Anthony Lorenzo, Enxhi Popa, Sheina Joseph, Kaylynn Florio, Alex Chisholm, Shelia Harris, Santiago Rosas, Richard Jewers, Livi Huval
Interns and Weekly Volunteers
Anna Linck, Kim Entigoff, Lia Weintraub, Momoko Hirose, Hilary Dennis, Maria King, Becca Schofield, Jonathan Petkun, Lynne Sabourin, Margreta York, Rachel Dranoff
