We have big news from our leadership team here at Green America!
We’re celebrating our beloved Fran Teplitz, Green America’s Co-Executive Director of Business, Investing & Policy, and her 23 years of remarkable service here at Green America, as she moves into “rewirement,” as Fran calls it, not exactly retirement!
“Fran cares hard – about justice, the environment and the well-being of people everywhere,” said Alisa Gravitz, Green America’s CEO. “She’s been a driving force at Green America for all these years. My colleague, my friend, Fran always brought love and magic to this work. We’ll miss her every day – and are so happy that she’ll have more time for family, friends, her faith congregation, community activism and projects of all kinds, including attending more protests!”
During her time at Green America, Fran shaped the organizational culture at Green America, including our organization’s focus on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) across all of our programs, advanced social investing and better banking practices for individuals and organizations, steered our organization’s Green Business Network and led organization-wide collaboration on planning, development and budgeting. She earned the respect and admiration of everyone she worked with – our staff team, our board, our individual and business members and our green economy allies – always listening deeply and bringing out the best in all of us.
“It’s been a great pleasure and gift to work with Fran over the past 23 years,” said Todd Larsen, Green America’s Executive Co-Director, Consumer & Corporate Engagement. “Fran advanced Green America’s work on so many fronts and brought compassion and commitment to everything she does.”
And we’re welcoming Dr. LaKeisha (Keisha) Thorpe as our new Executive Co-director for Culture, Planning & Green Business Development. Keisha brings a wealth of experience that promises to help take Green America’s operations and green economy programs to the next level. “Keisha’s brilliant strategic thinking, heart-centered organizing and deep experience in justice, equity and inclusion creates continuity from Fran’s work and a bridge to our future,” said Alisa. “We can’t wait for our members to meet her!”
Keisha’s doctoral dissertation focused on food, transculturalism, and cultural humility, she’s served on the board of her local food cooperative, and she’s always made justice and equity a major focus in her work. In her academic career, Keisha advanced justice, equity, diversity & inclusion (JEDI) initiatives, creating better campus experiences for students, faculty and staff. She served in leadership roles for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion or conducted research at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, PA; Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA; Princeton University in Princeton, NJ; and at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA.
Keisha also brings passion for healthy food and food access, and experience in grassroots organizing. Her work with the Bethlehem Food Co-op allowed her to educate members and build bridges in the community to involve more people. “Green America’s work on food and agriculture has grown substantially, and Keisha’s insights on food equity and supporting local green businesses will help advance our regenerative agriculture, Climate Victory Gardens programs, and support our Green Business Network members,” said Todd.
Dr. Thorpe shared, “The gratitude and excitement I feel at joining Green America are immeasurable. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work in tandem with folks who consider JEDI work not only a necessity, but a norm. I cherish the work surrounding sustainability, social justice, and honoring foodways; I am looking forward to continuing the work I believe in so deeply within the mission of Green America and the bedrock of all the wonder that Fran has done. I’m wishing her all the best, all the joys of life, on her “rewirement.” I know we will all miss her, and I know that we are all thrilled about what’s to come”.
Fran added, “It has been my honor and joy to work with the Green America staff team, board, our individual consumer and investor members, the members of our Green Business Network, and our allies to propel the green economy forward, always interwoven with both social justice and environmental sustainability. I am deeply grateful to have shared this journey with all of you and will forever remain a Green American! And I’m thrilled to pass the baton to Keisha, as we expand our next generation of leadership.”
Our entire leadership team, staff team, and board members extend a warm welcome to Keisha and deep thanks to Fran.
