Team
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Desa Van Laarhoven
Executive Director Read Bio >Desa VanLaarhoven joined the Marion Institute in 2006 after volunteering to organize the first Connecting for Change: A Bioneers by the Bay conference. She has been the Executive Director since 2007, and works assiduously to oversee and develop the programs and Serendipity projects of the Marion Institute. Desa has her B.A. in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science from Stonehill College. Before her work at the Marion Institute, Desa spent time volunteering for both the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC*) where she was awarded the total commitment award from the southeast campus and the California Conservation Corps (where she lived in the woods for a few months bathing in a stream— seriously;). She firmly believes in the work she does, this passion was recognized in 2009 when she was awarded the Massachusetts SouthCoast Woman of the Year along side the late Senator Edward Kennedy. In addition, Desa spends a few weeks every year in Costa Rica at Rancho Mastatal, a sustainable education center, working to empower the community to live in a more restorative manner. |
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Barbara Christian
Biological Medicine Network [BMN] Director Read Bio >Barbara Christian is Director of the Biological Medicine Network and has been since 2001 when she joined the Marion Institute. Barbara has a BA in Education. She graduated from Colby Sawyer College in NH and the University of Denver. After spending a number of years in Colorado, she gravitated back to the coast of New England. Barbara spent most of her time teaching young children and focused her curriculum on the outdoors and nature. She became Director of a Child Care Center in Marion and started a successful organic gardening program. Her travels took her on some Sacred Journeys to England, France and Scotland and a special trip to the Isle of Iona. This trip into self-discovery forever changed her life. She has studied many forms of energy healing and is strongly drawn to nature and gardening. In her free time, she loves to attend yoga classes, walk the beach, spend time with her daughter and laugh with new and old friends. |
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Lena Grima
Bookkeeping and Human Resources |
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Zoe Hansen-DiBello
Sustainable Education and Youth Coordinator Read Bio >Zoe started working for the Marion Institute in 2009. She was raised and currently resides in Providence, RI. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Maritime Studies. While in college, Zoe served as an environmental policy intern for the University for two years. She also served as an Americorps member in New London, CT creating environmental focused summer camps for two housing projects. She spent a summer working with the Ocean Project out of Providence as well. Along with a passion for environmental justice, Zoe enjoys exploring new music, spoken word and dance. She does her best to connect them whenever possible. |
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Pam Ellis
Data Management Specialist |
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Joanna Harcourt-Smith
Future Primitive Program Leader |
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Krystyna Jurzykowski
Innovative Frontiers Co-Director |
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Glenn Oliveira
Events and Membership Director Read Bio >Glenn is a native Southcoaster, born and raised in Marion, MA. After attending college at Shepherd University in West Virginia and traveling around the United States, Glenn returned to the Southcoast. He began working for the Marion Institute in 2007 and is currently the Connecting for Change Conference Director. In his free time he likes to garden, participate in anything that involves running, jumping, throwing and catching, read, homebrew and generally enjoy life. |
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Claude Pepin
Innovative Frontiers Co-Director and MI Senior Advisor |
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Lucas RibeiroBiological Medicine Network [BMN] Administrative Assistant
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Brooke SyvertsenExecutive Assistant Read Bio >Brooke is a life-long SouthCoast resident, growing up in Fairhaven and Acushnet and now resides in New Bedford. She began her studies at Massachusetts College of Art and later transfered to UMass Dartmouth. With some encouragement from a professor, she pursued a BA in Women’s Studies and Sociology, graduating in 2006. In attempts to get more involved in her community, Brooke joined AmeriCorps VISTA and served at the Community Economic Development Center in New Bedford for one year. Shortly thereafter she joined the Marion Institute team in 2010. Brooke still creates pottery in her studio in one of New Bedford’s historic mills and distributes her art to local galleries and giftshops. She strongly believes in the phrase “think global, act local” and advocates to those around her to give it a try! |
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Angela Venezia
Office Manager |
Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative Team
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Kalia Lydgate
Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative Co-Director Read Bio >Kalia is the Director of the New Bedford Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative (GJGEI), a program of the Marion Institute developed in collaboration with the Greater New Bedford Economic Development Council and the Mayor of New Bedford. Previous to the GJGEI, Kalia was the Youth Coordinator for the Marion Institute and was responsible for organizing the Youth Initiative of Connecting for Change: A Bioneers by the Bay conference. Her work with youth has focused on developing alternative education curricula and strategies to show the interconnection of social justice and sustainability and make environmentalism relevant to urban communities. Kalia has also co-founded the Massachusetts Green Jobs Coalition (MAGJC), a statewide, cross-sector alliance that advocates for and actively creates a just and inclusive Green Economy. MAGJC and its collaborators created a green jobs proposal for the State House and Senate, which, in conjunction with the strong grassroots support, helped move the MA Green Jobs Act into law in July 2008 making it the first Act in the nation to specifically address and fund the creation of “Pathways out of Poverty” for individuals with barriers to employment. In 2005 and 2006, Kalia studied ecology and conservation in Madagascar and Guyana. Kalia received a BA in Social Ecology from Wesleyan University in 2007. |
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Khepe-ra Maat-Het-Heru
Green Jobs, Green Economy Initiative Co-Director Read Bio >Khepe-Ra Maat-Het Heru is one of the original members of The The E.S.H.U.² Collective, a grassroots transformational leadership system based in Spiritual Warriorship established in 1997. Through her work with ESHU she has consulted with various programs such as The Marion Institute, The Massachusetts Commission for National and Community Service, YouthBuild USA, NeighborWorks America, Youth Recreation Counsel of Bermuda, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate youth program of The Lake Traverse Reservation, Global Passageways first international rites of passage Hilo, Hawaii and many more. In 2010 ESHU and Green Jobs of The Marion Institute created POWER as an eco-warrior training model. Khepe-Ra is a skilled and passionate educator, artist, visionary and spiritual warrior. She has been a keynote speaker for The Bioneers Conference, a presenter/performer at YouthBuild USA's 20th and 30th national anniversary days of action in D.C., and facilitated National Youth Symposiums and Community Leadership Institutes and others over the last fifteen years. She is an active member and supporter of the Decolonize/Occupy movements. |
P.O.W.E.R. - People Organizing for Wealth and Ecological Restoration
Community Mobilization Leaders
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TreSean Branco
tbranco.power@gmail.com Read Bio >TreSean is an 18 year old who is trying to find his path in life. The POWER project appealed to him because he wants to become a leader in his community in New Bedford and he overall wants to grow from this experience. TreSean also seeks to have a stronger connection with the Earth, especially when he feels that many people around him feel a disconnect between themselves and the environment. He hopes to educate the people in his community about ecological restoration in order to bring back a healthier and safer environment for us all to live in. |
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Jordan Casteel
jcasteel.power@gmail.com |
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Elvis Contreras
econtreras.power@gmail.com |
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Norman Rebeiro
nrebeiro.power@gmail.com Read Bio >Norman, also known as “Stormin D”, was born in South Carolina but moved to New Bedford at an early age and has been a New Bedford resident ever since. After making drastic changes in the last three years, his life has taken a dramatic turn around. He is extremely excited to be a part of the POWER Project as a Community Mobilization Leader. As the proud father of two, he often worries about the future of generations to come and that is what prompted him to seek a job that creates direct positive change. Working along side the ESHU² Collective, NSTAR, YouthBuild, and the City of New Bedford, he is certain that the pilot program will grow and benefit our communities. He states that “you simply need to find the love and compassion for your local community, in a global way, with global sense, for global reasons”. |
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Lamar WilsonManagement and Leadership Consultant Read Bio >Kermit Lamar Wilson, also known as, Lamar is a New Bedford implant from Indianapolis, Indiana. He has been living in New England for 8 years and in New Bedford for the last 4 years. He is a retired Navy veteran of 20 years. He has traveled the world and shared many cross cultural experiences. He believes that love for all mankind and scholarship are important tools to help lift humanity to new heights. He has valuable experience and training in teaching, public speaking, public relations and community organization. He looks forward to working with POWER, ESHU, the Marion Institute, and all the other partners in achieving our set goals for our communities, country, and the throughout the world. |
Cambodian Living Arts Team
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Arn Chorn-PondFounder and Spokesperson Read Bio >Arn Chorn Pond grew up in Phnom Penh during the Khmer Rouge’s reign. As a child, he worked in forced labor camps and later was forced to become a soldier. As a teenager Arn was adpoted by Revernd Peter Pond and moved to Vermont. After attending Brown University and graduating from Providence College, Arn returned to Cambodia on a mission to find the legacy of his family who were involved in the Cambodian Opera, his music teacher from the time of the Khmer Rouge and the stars of his early childhood. On this trip the Cambodian Masters Performers Project (CMPP), now CLA, was born. Now Arn lives outside of Phnom Penh and continues to work part-time on projects for Cambodian Living Arts. |
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Phloeun Prim
Director Read Bio >Phloeun was born in Cambodia and raised in Canada since the age of three. He returned to Cambodia in 1998 and joined a European Union Program that later became a self sustainable company, which is now Artisans d’Angkor. From his debut, the group of 50 artisans has now turned into a company employing over a 1000 artisans and staff that distribute high quality crafts in Cambodia and around the world. Pursuing his interest on social entrepreneurship, he was appointed as the first Director of Cambodian Living Arts in 2010. |
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Seng Song
Program Manager Read Bio >Seng grew up in Cambodia’s Kandal Province. He earned an accounting degree from the National University of Management. Prior to joining CLA in 2003, Seng was Project Director of English and Computer Training at Cambodian Volunteers for Community Development (CVCD), a local NGO. A year after Seng started working with Cambodian Living Arts as the Assistant Project Coordinator, he was promoted Project Coordinator and then later to his current position, Program Manager. In his free time Seng likes reading books and visiting his parents in his hometown. |
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Michelle Prevost
Development Coordinator Read Bio >Michelle grew up in Southeastern Massachusetts. She has been the Development Coordinator for Cambodian Living Arts since 2009. Based at the Marion Institute office in Marion, MA, Michelle’s primary responsibilities are to support the program's development related activities and serve as on-site liaison for all administrative matters between Cambodian Living Arts and the Marion Institute. Before coming to the Marion Institute, Michelle taught English in Miyakaki, Japan with the JET Programme. She has her B.A. from Colorado College in Environmental Policy and Economics. Michelle is passionate about helping to transfrom Cambodia through the arts. Outside of the office she is a potter, martial artist, hiker, runner and enjoys cooking with fresh, local foods. |
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Rotanak Ros
Finance and Administrative Manager Read Bio >Rotanak was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She started working for Cambodian Living Arts (CLA) in 2005 as an Assistant Project Coordinator, working closely with masters and students in order to support CLA’s teaching and performing programs. In early 2008, she received financial management training through World Education and became CLA’s Finance and Administrative Manager in 2009. In her current role Rotanak oversees all financial and human resource needs for CLA in Cambodia. Before working for CLA Rotanak worked as a receptionist at the City Villa Hotel and Apartments and after this as an Assistant to the Human Resources Manager at the Phnom Penh Hotel. Ratanak grew up in a “foodie” family and loves to spend hours in the kitchen. |
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Marion Gommard
Communications and Marketing Manager, Executive Assistant Read Bio >Marion is from France and is working at the CLA office in Phnom Penh. She studied management in the French Audencia Business School, majoring in cultural management. Before arriving at CLA, she worked as a junior consultant for a French theater, a Paris jazz festival, and a regional institution for popular music. She started working with CLA 2011 as the first Communications and Marketing Manager to improve CLA’s communications and to help launch and grow new programs. During her free time Marion enjoys playing saxophone, traveling and walking in nature. |
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Manith Kuon
Finance and Administration Assistant Read Bio >Manith was born in Cambodia in 1985. She graduated with her bachelor degree in Accounting and Finance at Vanda Accounting Institute, after which she got her first job as a Finance and Administration assistant with the World Rehabilitation Fund and worked there for three years. She has also worked as an accountant for the Real Estate and Land Development Company. She started working with CLA in April 2010 as a Finance and Administration Assistant. |
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Sambor Om
Project Coordinator, Siem Reap Read Bio >Sambor grew up in Cambodia’s Takeo province. He graduated high school in 1997 and a year later went to pursue his studies at Phnom Penh’s Pagoda. While he was working at the upper-class hotel Raffle, he attended service excellence and English and computer classes provided by international participants. In 2002, he completed a two-year study program in English academic literature and in 2004 he completed his accounting and finance degree at the Build Bright University. He joined CLA in 2006 as a House manager and Student counselor, after that he was promoted to Project Coordinator for all of CLA’s Siem Reap activities. Sambor likes learning new things about computers, reading books and practicing sports. |
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Solinda Em
Program Coordinator Read Bio >Solinda is from Cambodia’s Kandal Province. She started working for CLA in 2011 as a Project Coordinator. She focuses on managing and developing the Arn Chorn- Pond Living Arts Scholarship, Capacity Building and Community Arts Outreach Program. Before working for CLA she taught English at the Methodist School of Cambodia. She has her Bachelors of Education from Institute of Foreign Languages and is pursuing her degree in Business Management at Norton University. In her free time she likes reading books, writing in a diary, listening to music, and playing sports. |
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Sineath Ket
Office Assistant Read Bio >Sineath was born in Cambodia’s Mondulkiri province. She graduated high school in 1997 and then worked in a garment company based in Phnom Penh. She was an Administrative clerk for the World Fund Program and the United Nations Development Program for four years. In 2007, she joined Cambodian Living Arts as Studio CLA’s cleaner and later was promoted to her current position. She is now working towards a Bachelor of Business administration at the National University of Management during the evenings. She particularly likes reading and cooking. |
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Sarin Chuon
Studio Manager Read Bio >Sarin Chhuon, was born in Cambodia on January 7, 1979, the day Phnom Penh was liberated from the Khmer Rouge. Sarin works for CLA as the Managing Sound Engineer of Studio CLA. Sarin started working for the Studio since it was founded by Scot Stafford in 2002. Before working for CLA, he studied Business Management for his degree at university, but found that his unexpected talent was in recording music, mixing sound and making documentaries. Over the past nine years working with CLA Sarin has recorded many hundred of Cambodian Traditional songs and many documentaries for Cambodian's younger generation. |
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Visal NeangIntern Read Bio >Visal was born in Phnom Penh and is living in the Bassac Building of the Tonel Bassac Community. Ha has been studying Khmer folk and classical dance since 2003 and is part of the Children of Bassac, a CLA troupe created by the recognized Artistic Director Ieng Sithul. CLA has provided Visal with English, computer, and living arts tour guiding training. He receives a small salary every month so he can help his family and support his studies. Before starting his internship, Visal graduated from high school and volunteer with CLA. Since May, 2010 he has been assisting the Masters Teaching Program. During free time, he likes reading, listening to music and meeting friends. |