Our Board
Liz Luc Clowes, ASLA
Board ChairLiz is Owner/Designer, Luc Clowes Landscape Design
Andrew Droste
Member & Chair of Nominating and Governance CommitteeAndrew is VP, ESG Engagement, Stewardship & Proxy Voting (Co-Head North America), Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Amanda Rich
Co-Founder, Clerk, & Board MemberAmanda is an independent sustainability consultant with a Master’s in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University.
Tracy Sopchak
Interim Treasurer and Chair of Finance CommitteeTracy Sopchak is Director of Development and Engagement at the Ipswich River Watershed Association.
Danielle Kaplan
Board MemberDanielle Kaplan is the Director of Operations & Finance at InnerCity Weightlifting and founder and maker of DaniJayne.
Grey Lee
Board MemberGrey Lee is a sustainability subject matter expert and manages S&P Global's ESG service offerings for the northeast US.
Christine Araujo
Board MemberChristine Araujo is a consultant at Zuaria Partners and is the former Executive Director of the American City Coalition in Roxbury.
Our Staff
David Meshoulam, PhD (he/him)
Co-Founder & Executive DirectorDavid (pronounced Dah-veed) co-founded Speak for the Trees in 2018. Since a young child, he has always been fascinated with nature, trees, and leaves. After a brief stint thinking about science and philosophy in college, he turned to teaching high-school science. In the classroom, he focused on ways to increase students' understanding of the connections between science, culture, and history as a way to empower them to be change agents and active participants in the politics of science. He is a Senior Fellow at the Environmental Leadership Program, a graduate of the Green Communities Leadership Institute, and just completed his term as co-chair of the Urban Ecology Collaborative. You can reach him at [email protected].
MarS McCormick (Li/They/All Pronouns)
Associate DirectorMarS was born-and-raised in Boston and spent half their life working with marginalized youths that are new immigrants, living in group homes, on the spectrum, or with visual impairments and other disabilities. Previously, they worked as Community Manager at Tech Goes Home building community in the fight against digital inequities and other systemic oppressions by co-creating spaces for healing and liberation. MarS has certifications in Social Justice Mediation from Vital Village Networks at Boston Medical Center, and in Community Leadership and Social Change from Tufts University and the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. They are also a Registered Behavioral Technician and have a BA in Management, Operations & Logistics from Southern New Hampshire University. MarS is also a co-circle-keeper for Come thru, Sis. They are a loving parent, partner, & community member. Their favorite things to-do include arcades, field games, joking, and being in community with their friends.
Jerel Ferguson (he/him)
Community Outreach ManagerJerel has a profound love of nature, trees, and the Great Outdoors. A true tree hugger, he encourages urban youth and families to participate in and experience an active life in the outdoors by hiking, camping, and more. Jerel is an herbalist, a forager, and an established outdoor leader. He has a passion for growing and cooking food, he's also an urban farmer and gardener. Jerel has three boys and a cat named Oscar.
Victoria Frothingham (she/her)
Development ManagerVictoria has made her career in the nonprofit sector in Boston, working in a range of positions from ESOL Teacher, to Volunteer Coordinator, to Associate Director of Grant Programs in human services and education organizations. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Paris III.
Claire Corcoran (she/her)
Community Tree SpecialistClaire is a Massachusetts Certified Arborist and has a Master of Forestry from Yale School of the Environment as well as an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Barnard College. She has worked for the MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program as a Plant Community Ecologist as well as at the Arnold Arboretum as a Horticulturalist. She has volunteered for the Gas Leaks Allies since their inception in 2015, and is on the Board of Directors of Eastie Farm. A lover of trees and cities, she has lived in Boston’s South End for the past twenty years with her husband, three kids, and two dogs.
Joshua Reed (he/him)
Education CoordinatorJoshua is interested in environmental and economic justice policy issues and passionate about volunteerism. He believes strongly in educating youth on environmental justice and sustainable development. He served in the Peace Corps in Comoros as a TEFL Volunteer where he also joined local Comorians in various sustainable environmental projects. In AmeriCorps he served as a Volunteer Manager for the nonprofit Opportunity Living. He is a lover of nature and explores new hiking and camping spots throughout New England. He is currently finishing his MA in Applied Politics at Suffolk University.
Jamila dePeiza-Kern (she/her)
TUTC Program CoordinatorJamila is an enthusiastic advocate of Boston's urban trees! Originally from Jamaica Plain, she grew up in and around many urban parks and community gardens. Today, she is passionate about creating and cultivating public green spaces and making them equitable, accessible, and healthy for all. Jamila began her work with Speak for the Trees after graduating from Smith College, where she studied Anthropology and Landscape Studies. Outside of work you can find her reading, cooking, playing a board game, or exploring new places to take walks.
Mekhi Edge Wallace (he/him)
Tree Care AssociateMekhi is a graduate of the first PowerCorps Boston cohort. He enjoys the outdoors whether it be working, walking, or hanging out. He believes working in the green industry is the most satisfying job because you get to watch the fruits of your labor blossom in real time. His hobbies include soccer, writing, and listening to music. He hopes to continue making an effort to fight climate change in the future.
Julia Rudolph (she/her)
TerraCorps Community Engagement CoordinatorJulia is originally from Upstate New York. Growing up, she spent much of her time skiing and hiking in the Adirondack mountains, which fueled her passion for the natural environment. This past May, she graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Environmental Analysis and Policy. Living in Boston inspired her interest in the urban environment, especially in terms of resiliency, sustainable development, and environmental justice. In her free time, you can find her at a concert, walking along the esplanade, or trying a new restaurant.
Pema Sherpa (she/her)
College for Social Innovation FellowPema is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Vermont. She is passionate about environmental education and community outreach. Originally from Queens, New York, Pema likes to enjoy her free time in local parks and community gardens throughout her city. She has a strong interest in engaging the youth living in urban spaces through working with them on environmental projects and workshops, and hopes to become a future educator herself.
Rowan Reilly (he/him)
College for Social Innovation FellowRaised in Louisiana, Rowan is currently a senior studying Economics at Tulane University. Born in Boston, he is excited to be back and contribute to its community in any way he can. Friend of trees, he prefers to spend his time outside as often as possible. Ideally playing Basketball with friends, on a skateboard with headphones in, or sitting and eating a mandarin.
Sam Scarfone (he/them)
MassCEC Fall InternSam is a student at Northeastern University pursuing a master's degree in environmental science and policy. While getting his bachelor's degree in environmental science and philosophy at Minerva University, Sam volunteered with urban forestry groups in San Francisco, sparking a love for urban trees and making sure everyone has access to their benefits. Since then, he has worked in conservation jobs documenting invasive species and protecting endangered shorebirds. In their free time, Sam loves to go birdwatching, play guitar, bake, and write cryptic crosswords.
