Lisa Tyson, Director

Lisa Tyson is a powerful, and passionate, advocate for progressive change on Long Island. For almost 15 years, Tyson has won important victories around a policy agenda aimed at promoting sustainable development, revitalizing local communities, creating effective democracy, enhancing human dignity, and achieving economic, racial and social justice on Long Island. As Director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition (LIPC), Tyson formulates policy, raises funds, and manages a full time staff of eight, in support of that ambitious program.

Her successes are legendary: Passing a $3 million affordable housing bond in the Town of East Hampton; Writing and passing Nassau Counties Living Wage Law; Demanding fair elections by lobbying successfully for optical scanners in voting; And anchoring a statewide campaign to change the statewide education formula to be based on students’ needs. Tyson is a founding member of the Working Families Party who sits on the Executive Committee and is a Steering Committee member of the Long Island Regional Council where she plays a crucial role in endorsements.

A life long resident of Long Island, Tyson was graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing/Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1993. She continued her studies in the Masters of Science program in Urban and Environmental Studies at Renssealear Polytechnic Institute in 1994.

Lisa can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext.11 or ltyson@lipc.org.

Marriele Robinson, Power Up Communities Lead Organizer

Marriele Robinson grew up in Mechanicville, N.Y. and moved to Long Island to attend Hofstra University. She graduated with honors, receiving her Bachelors in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy.  Marriele’s experience reflects a wide-ranging social consciousness. During high school she headed a children’s after-school program, and studied the implications of parliamentary governance at the American University in Richmond, England. As a college student, she interned at Refugees International in Washington D.C., where she wrote her seminar thesis on how climate change is creating a new era of environmental refugees. After returning from Washington, Marriele studied at the United Nations in New York City and travelled to Europe to study philosophy and Spanish at the Don Quixote language school in Salamanca, Spain. She is a long time animal rights activist, protesting cosmetic testing on animals and volunteering at the East Harlem Animal Shelter. Marriele joined the Long Island Progressive Coalition as a canvasser on Representative Tim Bishop’s re-election campaign and is now the Energy Organizer helping create comfortable and efficient green homes in the town of Babylon.

Marriele can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext. 14 or marriele@lipc.org.

John Delaney, LIPC Office Administrator

John Delaney comes to the Long Island Progressive Coalition after working for Chicago Public Relations firm Zapwater Communications, where he served distinctly at the award winning agency as office manager. Previously, he held various positions at another Long Island non-profit, the Long Island Library Resources Council. At LIPC, John serves as office administrator providing the office flows forward and calmly, coining the phrase “The Long Island Progressive Coalition: Moving Long Island Forward.” He is a 1996 graduate of Stony Brook University with a degree in History and his favorite American patriot is Benjamin Franklin.

John can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext. 10 or at john@lipc.org.

Rashad Mitchell, Power Up Communities Organizer

Rashad Mitchell is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in his native home of Long Island.  Originally, Rashad had attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD with the intention of leaving with a degree in Business Administration.  As time progressed, however, his passion for business practices became diluted while his desire for community development strengthened.

Rashad began working with the LIPC in 2011 as a canvasser for their redestricting campaign.  After taking on more responsibility with that campaign, he was offered an opportunity to work with Edgard Laborde and Marriele Robinson with the Power Up Communities program.  Rashad now serves as an Energy Organizer with Power Up.

Rashad can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext. 13 or rashad@powerupcommunities.com

Raheim Smith, Education Organizer

Raheim is a native of Amityville, NY and a veteran of the US Army . His background in organizing and activism dates back to 2001. He has worked with groups such as Citizens Campaign for the Environment, SEIU, and Obama For America.

Raheim can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext. 15 or at rsmith@lipc.org.

Board Members

Richard Berkenfeld, Elaine Calos (Treasurer), Diana Coleman (Co-Chair), Lauren Corcoran-Doolin, Michael Crowell, John Delaney (Staff), Ken Feifer (Co-Chair), Sue Feifer, Jeffrey Friedman, Carol Gordon, Claudia Hanover, Barbara LoMoriello, Michelle Lynch, Rashad Mitchell (Staff), Marriele Robinson (Staff), Ruth Silverman (Officer), Raheim Smith (Staff) David Sprintzen (Secretary), and Lisa Tyson (Director).