Meet the Team
Ruth Zakarin
Executive Director
Ruth spent over 20 years working with youth and adults impacted by domestic and sexual violence before becoming the inaugural Executive Director of the Coalition in May of 2019. Ruth has her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania and is also trained as a community organizer. She is particularly interested in creating models of trauma informed advocacy and policy making. Outside of her Coalition work, Ruth is very involved in local interfaith organizing, is an avid knitter and foodie, and is the proud mom of two incredible young adults.
Angelica Fontes
Community Organizer
Angelica is a first-generation Cape Verdean-American who grew up in Brockton, MA. She developed an interest in civic engagement during early adolescence, and has since been driven by the pursuit of social justice and equity for BIPOC communities. As a Community Organizer for the Coalition, Angelica Fontes is dedicated to supporting and uplifting communities across the Commonwealth. Her work focuses on centering, supporting and empowering community voices that have been doing the work and living in the realities for decades Angelica received her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Bridgewater State University in 2020.
Emily Popky
Policy & Communications
Emily first joined the Coalition in 2018 while in grad school as a part-time fellow working on ERPO implementation and awareness. Emily was thrilled to rejoin the Coalition in a full-time role in 2020, bringing her public health background to our work. Emily has an MPH with a focus in public policy from the Boston University School of Public Health, and previously worked as the Legislative Director for a state representative before joining the Coalition in her current role. When not at work, Emily can be found knitting, baking, or reading.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
President: Mark Scott
Boston Public Health Commission
Vice President: Cindy Diggs
MGH + Peace Boston
Clerk: Donald M. Osgood Sr.
Boston Public Health Commission
Treasurer: Amelia S Koch
President Emerita: Janet Goldenberg
Brianna Butterworth
Our Moment PAC
Greg Gibson
Survivor Advocate
Mike Gildesgame
Temple Emunah
Zoe Grover
Stop Handgun Violence
Molly Malloy
Community Activist
Ellie Miller
First Church Boston
Carl Miranda
ROCA Inc.
Edward Notis-McConarty
Episcopal Diocese of MA
Aminah Pilgrim
UMass Boston
Madeline Ranalli
Community Organizer and Student
Cindy Rowe
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Nichelle Sadler
UTEC
Stephanie Shapiro-Berkson
Temple Israel
Rob Stegman
Emerson College
Community Council
Co-Chair:Tamia Jordan
Emerson College
Co-Chair: Lawrence Stevenson
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
Mark Beckwith
The Episcopal Diocese/Bishops Against Gun Violence
Toy Burton
DeeDee's Cry, Roxbury Unity Parade
Tina Cardoso
Cape Verdean Women United/Brockton City Councilor
Shondell Davis
Roxbury Presbyterian Church Social Impact Center
Cindy Diggs
Massachusetts General Hospital and Peace Boston
Sana Fadel
Citizens For Juvenile Justice
Lavell Fulks
Boston Public Health Commission
Masika Gadson
Boston Medical Center VIAP
Nan Garrett-Logan
Grandmothers Against Gun Violence
Peter T. Greenspan, M.D.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Ann Haaser
Moms Demand Action
Tania Mireles
Boston Public Health Commission
Kaveesh Pathak
Community Organizer
Jarix Santiago
New North Citizens' Council