David joined the FORJ Executive Board in 2024, and supports its communication and engagement efforts. In 2021, David served as the Bowen Elementary FORJ school leader. Dr. Stamps is an Assistant Professor at Bentley University, teaching courses in public relations, and researcher with over two dozen publications on race, media, and group dynamics. 

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Since joining a FORJ event in 2018, Roben connected 20 years facilitating professional and organizational development at five universities. At Bridgewater State University and Northeastern University, Roben organized anti-racist workshops and communities of practice. More recently, he applied his skills to deep canvassing in Pennsylvania, supported Deep Canvass Institute trainings, and began serving as facilitator for Loretta Ross (“genius grant” winner) in her Zoom-accessible course, “Calling In: Creating Change Without Cancel Culture.”

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Madeline McNeely has been part of FORJ since 2016, advising the Board of Directors and School Leaders on leadership and strategic initiatives. Her mission is to condition leaders and organizations to do meaningful work. She is a white, multi-sector, interdisciplinary leadership and BEIDJ (belonging, equity, inclusion, diversity, justice) coach, consultant, facilitator, trainer, founder of Conditioning Leaders, and instructor at Harvard Extension School. She is published in Nonprofit Quarterly, Forbes and co-authored Millennials in Wonderland. She is a passionate network weaver and cares deeply about cultivating a sense of belonging for all humans full stop. She supports leaders to address all forms of inequity and sustain culture change principles and practices in themselves, their institutions, networks and communities. She is most proud to be raising a white daughter who understands white supremacy and all the ways it dehumanizes us.​​​​​​​

Pria Sarma

Cindy Greene works to extend FORJ's reach to Newton residents whose children attend private schools and to residents otherwise not connected to the Newton Public Schools. She maintains relationships with organizations outside of Newton who share a similar mission. Cindy is a Newton Human Rights Commissioner and serves on the Board of Story Starters and on the Family Advisory Committee of Cradles to Crayons. Cindy is inspired by those making our world just and equitable and is committed to the fight.

Co-founder, Erica Streit-Kaplan enjoys doing the behind-the-scenes administrative work so critical to the success of any organization, and uniquely important for one that mobilizes grassroots social justice efforts. In 1999, as a student at the BU School of Social Work, she read the classic essay “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh, which opened her eyes and prompted her to take action. Erica is intentionally raising her white children to understand oppression and privilege, and to stand up for justice. Erica is powered by the Jewish value of healing the world, by laughter, and by feeling sand beneath her toes.

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Elisa Rodriguez joined the FORJ team in 2019 as the FORJ School Coordinator. Prior to that role, she served as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Newton Country Day School in Newton. She is a licensed social worker who provides independent clinical services to individuals, couples and families. Born in Venezuela, Elisa learned English in the Newton Public School system at the age of 6. Elisa is committed to helping individuals show up authentically and helping systems slow down to become intentional in acknowledging and responding to the needs of all.

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Amelia Oliver joined FORJ in 2019.  She is a freelance corporate controller with previous nonprofit Treasurer experience.  A licensed CPA, Amelia brings expertise in nonprofit accounting and tax, financial statement audit and review, internal controls, and other aspects of accounting and financial management.  Amelia has three children in Newton Public Schools.  She is inspired by the many people in Newton working to advance antiracism in our schools and city, and is committed to expanding her support of this work.

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Amy Behrens, M.Ed. served as the first FORJ School Coordinator from 2017 to 2019 and helped co-found FORJ teams at Zervas Elementary, Oak Hill Middle and Newton South High Schools, where her three children attended school. Amy's passion has always been supporting parents and families across the district and collaborating with NPS in antiracist initiatives. Amy began co-facilitating anti-racism workshops in college and later for teachers and students through IDEAS (Initiatives for Developing Equity and Achievement for Students). Amy now supports parents through her work as a parent coach and her blog “Strategies for Soulful Parents.” She remains a friend and supporter of FORJ.

Karen Carroll Bennett is an activist for racial justice and has been a vibrant member of the Newton community for many years and an early member since 2016. In addition to her work with FORJ, Karen is a founding member of the Newton Coalition of Black Residents (NCBR), a board member of Newton Schools Foundation (NSF), and is on the F.A. Day Middle School Council. Karen was a member of the Newton Police Chief Search Committee and has served on the Blue Ribbon Commission to review salaries of elected officials in Newton. She is a Senior Director of the teaching and learning center at Harvard Kennedy School of Government by day, a native Jamaican, and has three children in Newton public schools. She holds a BS in Marketing and Communications from Babson College and an MA in Management from Ohio University.

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