Executive Director
Jeff has served as Executive Director of the New Lynn Coalition since he, Maria Carrasco, Pete Capano and others founded the organization in 2010. He worked at GE as a machinist and local union official for 33 years, including President. He was also President of the North Shore Labor Council until 2020. Building alliances with community groups of color was part of his focus during his labor organizing. Jeff learned the machinist trade at the old Boston Trade School, and has continued his education at the Harvard Trade Union Program and University of Massachusetts where he earned a Masters Degree in labor studies in 2010.
Organizing Director
Jonathon began working with the New Lynn Coalition as a volunteer and later as a researcher while studying community controlled development for a Master’s Degree from Tufts University in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. Since moving to Lynn in 2011, he has been a member of Neighbor to Neighbor, the Highlands Coalition, and the North Shore Labor Council. Jonathon has also worked for Neighbor to Neighbor on the 2015-16 Raise Up Massachusetts campaign, and for IUE/CWA Local 201 as an internal organizer. He was honored to serve as the volunteer campaign director for Marven Hyppolite for Ward 5 City Council in the 2017 municipal elections, a campaign that lost by less than 100 votes but contributed to a rising progressive wave in local politics. Jonathon is a homeowner and landlord in Lynn, and is a musician with a Lynn-based rock and roll band with some regional acclaim. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College, a Certificate in Environmental Policy from UMass Dartmouth, and a Masters of Arts in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University. He was also a fellow of the Jewish Organizing Institute and Network. Jonathon was hired by NLC as a part-time organizer in 2016 and promoted to Organizing Director in late 2017.
Spanish Engagement Organizer
Michelle Guzman is a community organizer in Lynn. She grew as a leader during her years working at the Lynn Community Health Center as a member of 1199SEIU. There, she got politically involved and participated in several social movements around issues like immigration, health, and workers’ rights. At the health center, Michelle worked for 7 years in several positions but her passion was to inform and engage other union members. She also advocated with patients around language barriers, resulting in effective changes in processes at the health center. In 2015, Michelle quit her full time job to become a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), part-time, to take care of her mother. Since then, she has participated in the Massachusetts Workforce Council for PCA and Labor Management and in community organizations to empower and open opportunities for the Spanish-speaking community in Lynn. Michelle came to New Lynn Coalition when she was looking for more classes in Spanish for the Latino community at the Lynn Community Enrichment Program. Michelle was hired as a Bilingual Community Organizer and assistant to the night school. Michelle grew up in Guatemala and has lived in Lynn for 23 years. She is also a mom to a 10 year old boy. She has two Associates Degree from North Shore Community College and a Certificate for Medical and Community Interpretation. She plans to get a Certificate in Labor Studies from the University of Massachusetts in the near future.
President of New Lynn Coalition/Highlands Coalition Co-Chair
Tish Mukala works as a Family Nurse Practitioner who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tish arrived in the U.S. in 1993 to pursue her dream of getting her education. Tish got her GED from Operation Bootstrap, now known as Pathway. She would go on to receive her Associate’s Degree from Roxbury Community College. Tish then went on to Salem State University where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She would then attend the University of New Hampshire where she received her Masters of Science in Nursing. Along with her achievements and passion for nursing, Tish became more active in her community. In 2014, she joined the Highlands Coalition as a board member and would become co-chair of the Coalition in 2016. She would also join the American Refugee Council in 2015.
Vice President of New Lynn Coalition
Jacquelyn was born in Camp Lejune, North Carolina into a military family. She was one of seven. Her family was stationed in Hawaii, California, South Carolina and Virginia. Boston became her home in 1972 when she arrived to attend Bentley College. Later she met her Husband Earl Fitzhugh, a southern boy who attended Harvard. They married and raised four wonderful children. In her own words, Jacquelyn describes herself: "I feel I have always been an activist. Protesting unjust selection of representatives during my high school years to advocating for more teachers of color in the Cambridge school system. I have served as the Educational chair of the Cambridge NAACP as well as working for Medford Citizens for Diversity to address the lack of understanding and representation of people of color in their public school system." Jacquelyn moved to Lynn in 1998. Finding very little representation of people of color in the school system, she chose to homeschool her children except for the eldest. Those who were homeschooled went on to college. She has also been an entrepreneur most of her adult life. Ms Cellaneous Speciality Foods Inc was a business she owned for ten years. Specializing in all natural salad dressings and marinades. One of her products won best new product at the Boston Food show.
Treasurer
Paul Coombs, a lifelong resident of Lynn, has been involved in local, political and civic activities since his youth. Volunteering for political candidates throughout his life, he has continued to be politically involved in environmental and social justice issues through several local organizations. Graduating from Nasson College in Springvale Maine with a B.S. in Biology, Paul soon joined the staff of the Greenpeace Boston office and later began working for the local chapter of the Clean Water Project. During these years he was involved as a fundraiser and campaigner while assuming progressive management roles. From 1991 until 2001, Paul worked for the School for Field Studies in Beverly, MA as a manager specializing in Information Technology.
Recording Secretary of New Lynn Coalition
I am proud to be a part of an organization that has campaigned for and supported the initiatives that seek to transform Lynn into a city that welcomes all new immigrants and improves the lives of all its residents.
Former President of the New Lynn Coalition
Maria Carrasco a native born Dominican with a Bachelor Degree in Education from UAS and an Associate Degree from North Shore Community College with a Major in Drug and Alcohol Substance Abuse. In 2007 she became the first Latina ever elected to office in the city of Lynn. On September 2012 Maria was appointed by the Governor of Mass to be a Member of the Trustees of North Shore Community College. She is also a former president of the Lynn Hispanic Scholarship Fund where she held the position for more than 15 years. Currently, Maria is the Vice-president of Lynn Latino Leadership Coalition
At-Large Executive Officer
Quendia is a Guatemalan immigrant who came to the US in 2004, alone, in search of a better economic future for herself and her family in Guatemala. Her first years in this country were difficult due to language barriers. She was unable to defend herself following workplace harassment at her first job. This motivated her to study English and understand her rights in this country. Quendia works as a Career Coach at MassHire Career Center, and is a member of the Lynn Latino Leadership Coalition.