Laurie Leyshon, Co-Founder and Director

Laurie has had a life long passion for environmental issues. As a high school student, she helped organize the first Earth Day event on April 22nd 1970.  Working as a teacher and artist, she wrote and produced a play for children to raise awareness of the destruction of the rainforest.  In 1992, she began working with Tibet House and Eco-Tibet to fight genocide and preserve the Tibetan Plateau. In 1995, Hopi Elders invited her to work with other Elders from around the world who had participated in "The Cry of the Earth" conference at the UN. These relationships intensified her commitment to stop global warming and other forms of environmental destruction.

Inspired by the work of Van Jones, Laurie produced the "first in the Commonwealth" Green Jobs Forum---with Van as the Key note speaker--- in July, 2007. From the enthusiasm generated by that forum, she, and her daughter, Kalia Lydgate, co-founded of the Massachusetts Green Jobs Coalition (MAGJC), a statewide, cross-sector alliance that advocates for and actively creates a just and inclusive Green Economy. Just weeks after formation, MAGJC collaborators created a proposal in response to a request by state legislators, regarding green jobs needs and training. The content of this proposal, in conjunction with strong grassroots support, helped move the Green Jobs Act into law in July 2008.  This Act is the first in the nation to specifically address, and fund, the creation of “Pathways out of Poverty” for individuals with barriers to employment. Today, five Gateway Cities are currently training nearly 200 people for Green Jobs as a result of the grants created by this legislation.

Ms. Leyshon has an eclectic background with roles that include teacher, artist, parent, Gold Star daughter for Peace, business owner, workforce developer, board member, political campaigner and has been an environmental and social justice activist for over 30 years. Currently, she devotes all of her time to MAGJC as an organizer and leader in Massachusetts. She does this by campaigning for Green Collar Job Legislation and the establishment of a Just and Inclusive Green Economy that will provide career opportunities for people with barriers to employment, while healing the earth and those communities which have been devastated by racism and poverty.

Kalia Lydgate, Co-Founder, Board Member

Kalia co-founded the Massachusetts Green Jobs Coalition and has been involved in the Green Jobs movement at the local, state and national levels since 2007. Kalia is currently the Director of the New Bedford Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative (GJGEI). GJGEI is a program of the Marion Institute, developed in collaboration with the Greater New Bedford Economic Development Council and the Mayor of New Bedford. The objectives of the GJGEI are three fold: 1. to support the City of New Bedford in effectively accessing and leveraging funds for Green Jobs programs in the community, 2. to help ensure that these programs are holistic and effective, and 3. to design programs that benefit and are accessible to low income communities and communities of color in the city. The initiative aims to use the short-term federal stimulus projects to build long-term local leadership capacity and infrastructure. Previous to the GJGEI, Kalia was the Youth Coordinator for the Marion Institute and was responsible for organizing the Youth Initiative of Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change conference. Her work with youth has focused on developing alternative education curricula and strategies to show the interconnection of social justice and sustainability and make environmentalism relevant to urban communities. In 2005 and 2006 Kalia studied ecology and conservation in Madagascar and Guyana. Kalia received a BA in Social Ecology from Wesleyan University in 2007.

Tem Blessed, Board Member

Tem Blessed is a socially conscious Hip-Hop Artist that has been making music with a message for over ten years. recently releasing Blessed Energy with sustainable Hip-Hop music like the "Green Anthem" in collaboration with 3rd Eye Unlimited. Tem Blessed graduated from UMASS Amherst with a degree in Legal Studies and a minor in Sociology and African-American Studies. He went back to New Bedford and has been working with Youth for over 12 years,  using Hip-Hop as a tool to educate, empower and inspire. As a Green For All Fellow, and a father of two he has been active in "Greening" New Bedford by coordinating youth Energy Audits and retrofitting for YouthBuild New Bedford. PACE YouthBuild's Green Solutions Energy Corps prepares young people between the ages of 18 and 24  to perform energy audits and weatherize homes.  Saving the homeowner money, providing a green job and helping the environment. This is a working model of the "green economy" that is a win-win outcome for everyone.