The Long Island Progressive Coalition (LIPC) is a grassroots community-based organization founded in 1979, dedicated to promoting sustainable development, revitalizing local communities, enhancing human dignity, creating effective democracy, and achieving economic, social & racial justice.
Board and Staff
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.
Danielle Asher, Lead Organizer
Danielle Asher is the Lead Organizer for the Long Island Progressive Coalition and the Statewide Early Childhood Education Campaign Coordinator for the Alliance for Quality Education, Citizen Action of New York and the Public Policy and Education Fund of New York. Danielle began her career in social justice in January 2007 participating in the final organizing efforts to win a more equitable education funding formula for New York State.
Ms. Asher created the Long Island Progressive Coalition’s first ever youth committee in Spring 2007 teaching high school students the benefits and skills needed to be an activist and organizer.
When she began she led the education campaign to a focus in the Wyandanch community. After working with leaders in the community to create the Community Education Platform, she spearheaded the committee’s partnership with Hofstra University Law Clinic. Together the groups creating policies for Anti-Nepotism and Conflict of Interest. In September 2009, after a yearlong fight of community leaders lobbying school board members and generating support from the community, the policies were passed into school board policy. This was recognized by members of the State Education Department and the Board of Regents as a historical act for a Long Island school, with the hopes that others will follow Wyandanch’s lead.
Danielle’s love for early childhood education began in her college years when she assisted several families in caring for their children ranging from ages 5 to 10 years. She followed her passion by working as an Assistant Montessori Teacher at the West Hills Montessori school. Ms. Asher also was a full time youth minister for 7 years prior to becoming an organizer where she learned organizing and fundraising skills and expanded her worldview working with the homeless and less fortunate population.
Danielle represents LIPC on several steering committees including, The Working Families Party Long Island Regional Council and State Board, The Advisory Council for the Early Years Institute, and the Campaign for Excellent Public Schools
Danielle can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext.12 or danielle@lipc.org.
Serena Liguori, Project Coordinator for the Government Efficiency Project
Serena Liguori is the Project Coordinator for the Government Efficiency Project. Prior to this Serena was Associate Director of Policy for the Correctional Association of New York's Women in Prison Project where she spearheaded legislative and policy advocacy and assisted in managing all aspects of the Project, including coordinating the Coalition for Women Prisoners, as well as organizing prison visits and events. Before becoming Associate Director of Policy, Serena held the position of Project Associate for the CA's Women in Prison Project. Prior to this Serena was the Fundraising Coordinator and Office Manager for LIPC. Serena has also previously worked in the fundraising department of Hope House Ministries and St. Joseph's College. Serena is a consultant for the Herstory Writers Workshop and a board member for Prison Families Anonymous on Long Island. In 2003, Serena obtained a Bachelor's degree from Adelphi University and graduated with honors.
Serena can be reached at 516-541-1006 x.13 or serena@lipc.org.
Melanie Lawrence, Education Organizer
Melanie Lawrence is a native Long Islander who traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to obtain her Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communications at Clark Atlanta University. During her time there she was a News Anchor and Television Show Host for CNN’s affiliate station, CAU TV which broadcasted to over 80,000 viewers. She covered national issues such as Hurricane Katrina as well as local community and political issues. Melanie has also worked as a Production Assistant for BET from April 2007 to December 2010 in several departments, including the News Department. She has helped with cast recruitment, promotional materials and set design while there. Melanie started doing work for the LIPC in August, 2010 for Congressman Timothy Bishop’s re-election campaign. She canvassed and later helped to train incoming canvassers. She joined the staff as an Education Organizer in January 2011 and will help to make an improvement in early childhood education programs.
Melanie enjoys doing new and challenging volunteer work every year. In recent years she has raised $1,000 through the Red Cross for Haiti and has helped to build a house for a family much in need with Habitat for Humanity. She also rose over $2,000 for Tools for School, a charity that helps provide school supplies for the children of parents that can not afford it.
Melanie can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext. 20 or melanie@lipc.org
Marriele Robinson, Power Up Communities Lead
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
Garrett Armwood, Communications/Organizer
Garrett Armwood was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Merrick, New York. He received his Bachelors degree in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from Stony Brook University. Garrett credits his world outlook to his family. His grandfather, a poet and activist of the Civil Rights movement, and his great-uncle, who founded the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, helped shape his sense of civic duty. In high school Garrett was a founding chapter member of World of Difference, and was selected by his teachers as a Peer Mentor. During college, Garrett volunteered at a soup kitchen in South Miami, a food distribution center for struggling families, and with a relief program for impoverished areas badly affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also helped educate North Miami residents about ending human trafficking in the Haitian community within southern Florida. Working at a law firm in downtown Brooklyn helped to further instill in him a sense of ethical responsibility to his community. Garrett began work with the Long Island Progressive Coalition on Representative Tim Bishop’s re-eection campaign. He now handles the communication duties in the office as well as organizing around health care initiatives and participating in political campaign work.
Garrett can be reached at 516-541-1006 ext. 15 or garrett@lipc.org
Board Members
Serena Liguori (Staff), Garrett Armwood (Staff), Danielle Asher (Staff), Edgard Laborde (Staff), Richard Berkenfeld, Barbara Blue, Elaine Calos (Treasurer), Diana Coleman (Co-Chair), Lauren Corcoran-Doolin, Michael Crowell, John Delaney (Staff), Ken Feifer (Co-Chair), Sue Feifer, Carol Gordon, Claudia Hanover, Melanie Lawrence (Staff), Mark Manas, Marriele Robinson (Staff), Frank Scott, Ruth Silverman (Officer), David Sprintzen (Secretary), Robert Summerville, and Lisa Tyson (Director).
