2023 GPPA Leaders

Steering Committee

Co-Chair

Jeremy R. Griffin (Philadelphia County)

Jeremy R. Griffin (he/him) is a podcaster, public speaker, educator, researcher, geographer and Kutztown University Alum. He played a paramount role in gathering petitions for Paul Glover for Governor (2014) and Glenn C. Davis for State Rep (2014). Griffin also played an outreach role for Kearni Warren for Chester City Council (2021).

Jeremy has been part of many environmental groups/initiatives/actions from small grassroots groups to larger NGOs. Most of his work in environmental activism was with 350 philly, EDGE Philly and Food & Water Watch (TBTT). He is also producer and host of World Of Controversy Podcast and Germ Griffin Recordings Archive.

CONTACT JEREMY AT: [email protected]

Co-Chair

Jay Ting Walker (Allegheny County) 

Jay Ting Walker (he/him) is a Community Organizer at Pennsylvania environmental non-profit Clean Air Council. Jay is a member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Bike Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh DSA. He's also the Neighborhood Groups coordinator of the Green Party of Allegheny County and the Secretary of the Allegheny County Transit Council. Jay studied Biology and Economics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he was active in environmental activism. In his free time, Jay is passionate about ultimate frisbee, board games, Starcraft, and watching soccer.

Jay has experience as an alternate National Committee member for the Young Eco-Socialists national youth caucus, and he also has relationships with Greens across the country.

CONTACT JAY AT: [email protected]

Secretary

Joseph E. Murray (Berks County) 

Joe Murray (he/him) is a retired vocational rehabilitation counselor, former union steward, and community organizer. He has been active with the Green Party of Pennsylvania for the past four year,s helping with petitioning for national, state and local campaigns; tabling; and he also participated in the June 2022 Climate Convergence March in Harrisburg, PA.

Joe is married with three now adult children, and he obtained both undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology and vocational rehabilitation counseling. A life long science fiction fan, Joe loves libraries and long walks in the forests and hills of Berks County.

CONTACT JOSEPH AT: [email protected]

Treasurer

Tre Schumacher (Philadelphia County)

Tre (he/him) has worked on Olivia Faison's campaign for Philadelphia City Council, served as a GPPA steering committee member and communications team member, and served on the GPoP's city committee. He is currently studying philosophy and economics where skills such as writing, critical thinking, and mathematical reasoning are integral.

Tre is currently studying philosophy and economics where skills such as writing, critical thinking, and mathematical reasoning are integral. He has held positions in the Green Party of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia and am currently applying for the city of Philadelphia's new participatory budgeting scheme where I will bring Green values to Philadelphia's government. Being an elected GPPA officer is how he grows in his experience as a Green functionary.

CONTACT TRE AT: [email protected]

At-Large Members

James Rasmussen (Beaver County) 

James (he/him) was born in central Washington state and has an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Biology.  He has lived in Beaver County since 2016 and before that Texas and Philadelphia.
A lifelong Democrat, he switched to the Green Party in the wake of the second Bernie Sanders campaign. He believes progressive politics requires a forum no longer available within the traditional two party system. James believes the Green Party and GPPA in particular affords us this voice and he is eager to help build the Green Party into a force for democratic governance.
James has really enjoyed working with Green Party of Allegheny County and looks forward to working together with other local and state greens as an at-large member of the GPPA Steering Committee.

CONTACT JAMES AT: [email protected]

Jubalyn ExWilliams (Dauphin County) 

Jubalyn ExWilliams (she/her) is affiliated with the Capital Area Greens (CAG). In 2020, she began petitioning door-to-door after the state rejected a COVID exemption for the Green Party of Pennsylvania.          

In summer 2022, she petitioned again to help statewide Green candidates get on the ballot. The last day of petitioning was with Howie Hawkins, national Green Party co-founder and presidential candidate removed from the 2020 PA ballot. 

In regard to CAG, her respective input and contributions have resulted in:                                                       

  • Meetings committed to the same date and time each month since 2021
  • A landing page with notification signup launched in Jan. 2023
  • Virtual Q&As with 2022 Green candidates for Governor, Lieut. Governor, and Attorney General
  • Correspondence with OSCE observers on small-party, electoral participation and reception in Dauphin County ('20) and in PA ('22)
  • Email and verbal objections to Dauphin County Elections over 2020 Green and independent write-in candidates misspelled in the official tally

She lives in Harrisburg, PA.

CONTACT JUBALYN AT: [email protected]

Theron Gilliland, Jr. (Allegheny County) 

Theron (he/him) is a 43-year-old biomedical research scientist working in the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a gay nontheist Quaker, a dog-dad to Kylo, and a Green Party supporter for more than two decades.

Theron has previously been an organizer with several small social justice groups; his activism is currently focused on racial justice, supporting police and prison abolition, and fighting against military interventions/economic neo-imperialism. To those ends, he is involved with the GPoAC Anti-Racism working group, the Abolition and Anti-Imperialism Committee of the Pittsburgh DSA, the DSA Abolition national working group, the DSA International Committee, the Pittsburgh Human Rights City Alliance, the Pittsburgh Anti-War Committee, the Pittsburgh BDS Coalition, and CADBI-West. Theron is also active in March On Harrisburg--organizing in support of statewide ranked choice voting and a ban on legislative gifts--in alignment with the Green Party's ideals of Grassroots Democracy.

In addition to his career-oriented and political interests, Theron enjoys all the typical outdoors activities (biking, kayaking, camping, and hiking), reading about ancient Near East history, learning languages from around the world, enjoying foreign cuisine, and spending time with his boyfriend Rashod.

CONTACT THERON AT: [email protected]

 


Team Leaders

Teams are volunteers and the heart of our party. This is where our members and supporters have the opportunity to work together toward a stronger party and more peaceful, sustainable, and equitable future (and also have fun). Our volunteer activities are organized into four major Teams to promote collaboration and continuity.

To learn more about our teams, please visit https://www.gpofpa.org/teams

Communications Team Co-Leaders

The Communications Team includes the committees and workgroups that help to manage the communications and public image of the party. This team designs content for the website and manages the GPPA social media. Other activities include production of a newsletter, press releases and editorials, rapid mobilization for critical events, and creation of educational materials and programs. If you are interested in getting involved with the Communications Team, sign up HERE

Dave Ochmanowicz (Bucks County)

Dave Ochmanowicz (he/him) is a member of the Quakertown School Board. He is also a voting delegate to the Green Party of the United States and serves on several national committees. He has previously served both as Secretary of the Green Party of PA and chair of his Bucks County local. By profession Dave is a specialist in both group & individual insurance. He volunteers as Treasurer on the Board of Trustees of the Lotus School of Liberal Arts. A 10-year resident of Quakertown with a family, Dave is active with the Quakertown Neighborhood Association. He recognizes the need for open communication & flexible support of the dynamic needs of every student in his community. Dave is running with a reform cohort on a platform of fiscal responsibility, transparency, & science.

Chris Robinson (Philadelphia County)

Chris Robinson (he/him) has been Co-Leader of the Communications Team since January 2019, and he has been a Green Party of PA member since 2002. He really enjoys working with the other Communication Team members, and he also enjoys meeting new volunteers and introducing them to the Communication Team's mission of education, organization and agitation.

CONTACT THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AT: [email protected]

Core Team Leader

Theron Gilliland, Jr. (Allegheny County) - see above

The Core Team includes the critical committees and working groups that help to ensure the smooth functioning of the state party. This team establishes party rules, develops the platform, and manages the tools and systems that maintain the party and allow it grow. If you are interested in getting involved with the Core Team, sign up HERE.

CONTACT THE CORE TEAM AT: [email protected]

Finance Team Leader

Tre Schumacher (Philadelphia County) - see above

The Finance Team includes the volunteers and working groups that help to manage and plan the finances of the party. This team establishes a budget, aids in event planning and fundraising initiatives, promotes membership options, and manages merchandise. If you are interested in getting involved with the Finance Team, sign up HERE.

CONTACT THE FINANCE TEAM AT: [email protected]

GreenWave Team Leader

Joseph E. Murray (Berks County) - see above

The GreenWave Team's responsibility is two-fold: first the team is charged with identifying, recruiting, & supporting candidates for office who represent our Four Pillars and Ten Key Values;  second, the team utilizes the electoral process to energize & grown county locals. GreenWave is organized in a regional approach to coordinate and support efforts across the Commonwealth. If you are interested in getting involved with the GreenWave Team, sign up HERE

CONTACT THE GREENWAVE TEAM AT: [email protected]


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