Navigating Federal Shifts: Building Community Power in Uncertain Times
Reserve your spot in our 3-part Fall 2025 webinar series!
Hosted by: Emerald Cities Collaborative In partnership with: Resonant Energy and Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE)
Date & Time
October 7, 2025 – October 29, 2025
Webinar 1
Theme: Federal Shifts and the Impact on Community Programming
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 12:00–1:15 PM ET
Webinar 2
Theme: Building Local Strategies to Strengthen Infrastructure & Support Systems
Monday, October 20, 2025, 12:00–1:15 PM ET
Webinar 3
Theme: Aligning Funding, Advocacy, and Partnerships for Equitable Outcomes
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 12:00–1:15 PM ET
* (All sessions will be hosted virtually via Zoom.)
Each session will feature expert speakers, grounded community
perspectives, and opportunities for discussion with participants. Whether you
represent a nonprofit organization, advocacy group, municipality, or
philanthropic partner, this series is designed to provide practical insights and
foster stronger networks of support.
Series Overview
| Date | Time | Topic |
|---|---|---|
|
Oct 7,
2025 |
12:00–1:15 PM
ET |
Federal Shifts & Impact on Community
Programming |
|
Oct 20,
2025 |
12:00–1:15 PM
ET |
Spotlight on Community Resilience |
|
Oct 29,
2025 |
12:00–1:15 PM
ET |
From Dialogue to Action |
Register today to join one, two, or all three sessions! Space is limited.
Featured Speakers
Hosts
Esmeralda Bisono
Esmeralda Bisono is the Community Engagement & Policy Manager at Emerald Cities Collaborative’s Northeast Region. With 5+ years in program management and environmental justice, Esmeralda leads climate action planning, facilitates multi-stakeholder initiatives, and builds capacity for community-based partners—centering frontline and marginalized communities in policy and program design. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and Sustainability from UMass Dartmouth.
Joanna da Cunha-Semedo
Joanna da Cunha Semedo serves as Environmental Justice Senior Program Manager for Resonant Energy. In this role, she collaborates with nonprofits and community organizations to install solar panels and make renewable energy accessible to underinvested communities. She also builds partnerships with nonprofits exploring solar solutions and leads education and outreach efforts to expand awareness. Her background has primarily focused on access and equity.
Tristan Thomas
Tristan Thomas serves as Director of Policy at Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE). A seasoned policy professional, Tristan bridges the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to advance environmental justice and community well-being. Before ACE, he supported strategic programming, advocacy, and partnerships at the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts and advised cross-industry clients at Tremont Strategies Group. He holds a B.S. in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from Northeastern University.
Panelists by Session
David Cash
Dr. David W. Cash is the former U.S. EPA New England Regional Administrator (Biden Administration). A career public servant and policy leader, he blends science, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration to advance climate action and environmental justice. He previously served as dean at UMass Boston and held senior roles in Massachusetts state government. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard Kennedy School.
Ardath Griffin
Ardath “Ardie” Griffin is Policy Director at Emerald Cities Collaborative. A licensed attorney and former Legislative Director/Committee Executive Director in the Pennsylvania Senate, she advances equitable policy and provides technical assistance that makes federal, state, and local funding more accessible and accountable to low-income communities and communities of color.
John Walkey
John Walkey is the Director of Climate Justice & Waterfront Initiatives at GreenRoots. Long an East Boston activist in Environmental Justice and immigrant rights, since 2017 John has led GreenRoots’ efforts to ensure a resilient and equitable Boston Harbor waterfront in Chelsea and the neighborhood of East Boston. He recently served on Governor Maura Healey’s Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting and currently serves on the Commonwealth’s Energy Transformation Advisory Board.
Jacynda Espenshade
Jacynda Espenshade is the Environmental Justice Specialist at Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation in Dorchester, MA. She has worked at CSNDC for the past three years and leads their Climate Justice Alliance and Energy Ambassador programs. She works closely with the community to support sustainable solutions to address local environmental justice concerns.
Kate Machet
Kate Machet is Vice President of Systems Initiatives & Government Relations at the Essex County Community Foundation. She leads cross-sector collaboration and community leadership efforts to address countywide challenges—such as the digital divide—revealed and exacerbated by COVID-19. Previously, she spent six years in U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey’s office, convening partners to advance policy, relationships, and economic opportunity.
Chelsea McGrath
Chelsea is the Vice President of Operations and Finance at Revitalize CDC in Springfield, MA, which performs critical repairs on the homes of low-income families. They improve the health and wellbeing of community members by addressing poor housing conditions; performing assessments and interventions for those with asthma; and offering a Nutrition Rx to address food insecurity and chronic health conditions. She is the former Executive Director and current Board Treasurer of the WillPower Foundation, a nonprofit that awards grants to children with special needs.
Andrea Nyamekye
Andrea Nyamekye is an Organizing Consultant at Community Labor United, where she convenes the Green Justice Coalition, a statewide alliance of labor and community organizations advancing transit, energy, and environmental justice. With eight years bridging grassroots power-building and systems strategy, she previously co-led Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts and supported climate resilience and gender-focused programs at DAI Global. Andrea holds an MA from Tufts’ Fletcher School.
Beth Griffith
Beth Griffith is the founder of Renewable Renegades and a licensed green-infrastructure professional. She delivers culturally competent workforce training, technical assistance, and business development to grow clean-energy careers and inclusive enterprises—especially in BIPOC communities. A certified Building Analyst Professional and Home Improvement Contractor, Beth has trained 147+ participants and mentored 1,000+ people, opening pathways to sustainability and economic mobility. Beth is a partner and advisor for the Boston Community Solar Coop.
Hessann Farooqi
Hessann Farooqi is the Executive Director of the Boston Climate Action Network (BCAN), where he leads operations, policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. He co-coordinates the Boston Green New Deal Coalition and serves on the Green Justice Coalition Steering Committee. He has advised the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Justice 40 Advisory Group and contributed to the White House’s Opportunity Project Sprint.
Participation Assistance
Please contact us if you:
- Have a disability and need a communication aid or service
- Have limited English proficiency and require interpretation or translation
- Would like to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint
For assistance, please email northeast@emeraldcities.org. Requests for accommodation should be made at least two weeks prior to each webinar.Accessibility Needs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend this webinar series?
What topics will be covered?
- Federal policy changes and their community-level impact
- Strategies for resilience and nonprofit capacity building
- Opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and advocacy