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 second-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. Her work focuses on centering, supporting and empowering community voices that have been doing the work and living in the realities for decades. Outside of work Angelica can be found listening to music and utilizing creative mediums to express herself.
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
Aminah Pilgrim
UMass Boston
Briana Butterworth
New England Aquarium
Cindy Rowe
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Edward Notis-McConarty
Episcopal Diocese of MA
Ellie Miller
First Church Boston
Greg Gibson
Survivor Advocate
Jack McDevitt
Northeastern
Madeline Ranalli
Community Organizer
Mike Gildesgame
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Molly Malloy
Community Activist
Nichelle Sadler
UTEC
Rob Stegman
Emerson College
Stephanie Shapiro-Berkson
The University of Illinois at Chicago
Zoe Grover
Stop Handgun Violence
Community Council
Co-Chair: Tamia Jordan
Emerson College
Co-Chair: Tania Mireles
Boston Public Health Commission
Ann Haaser
UU Church of Newburyport, Moms Demand Action
Cindy Diggs
Massachusetts General Hospital, Peace Boston, Peace Commissioner
Jamal Spencer
Evol
Jarix Santiago
New North Citizens’ Council
Juanita Batchelor
Darrell Lee Jenkins Jr. Resource Center
Kaveesh Pathak
Community Organizer
Lavell Fulks
Boston Public Health Commission
Lawrence Stevenson
Survivor Advocate
Mark Beckwith
Bishops Against Gun Violence
Masika Gadson
Violence Intervention Advocacy Program at Boston Medical Center
Nan Garrett-Logan
Grandmothers Against Gun Violence, Falmouth Gun Safety Coalition
Peter Greenspan, MD
MGH Hospital for Children, MGH GVP Coalition
Sana Fadel
Citizens for Juvenile Justice
Shondell Davis
Roxbury Presbyterian Social Impact Center
Tina Cardoso
Cape Verdean Women United, Boston Medical Center
Toy Burton
DeeDee’s Cry, Light Up Boston Against Violence, Roxbury Unity Parade