Leadership

Jonathon joined the Jewish Labor Committee in January, 2023, continuing a career in building collective power for positive change. Before becoming Executive Director of the New England Jewish Labor Committee, Jonathon spent 8 years at the New Lynn Coalition in his home of Lynn, MA, where he developed and ran a successful grant writing program, led campaigns on housing, immigration, and job training, organized annual May Day events, and grew the organization’s board and impact in the community. He served as the Director of Organizing and Development from 2018-2022.

His first experience with union organizing came as an internal organizer for IUE-CWA Local 201, working to organize young workers to action against the TransPacific Partnership. As a warehouse worker at Guitar Center in Danvers, MA, Jonathon helped lead a successful multi-year campaign to organize the shop into the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union (RWDSU). He served as Campaign Director for Marven Hyppolite’s 2017 run for Lynn City Council, and co-directed the Lynn office of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential race. Jonathon has also worked in the Boston Area Jewish Community as a field liaison for Interfaith Family Boston. He was a fellow in the JOIN for Justice organizer training program in 2014, a PresenTense Social Justice Entrepreneurship Fellow in 2010, and a Bronfman Youth Fellow in 2003. Jonathon graduated from Oberlin College in 2008, and later received an MA from Tufts University’s department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning in 2014.

Jonathon can be reached at NewEnglandJLC@JewishLabor.org

My name is Emily Nylen, and I'm the new Organizer for the NEJLC! I'm a lifelong MA resident, from a working-class background. My father was a member of Local 103 and worked on the Big Dig in Boston. I've done work in the non-profit sector for quite some time, and am a firm believer in the power that individuals have when we come together for a shared cause. I've also experienced first-hand the impact that labor organization can have, and I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to help others in the same way!

I look forward to meeting you all over the coming months, please feel free to reach out at

OUR BOARD

Co-Chairs
Ashley Adams, Massachusetts Teachers Association
Ora Gladstone, retired Massachusetts Teachers Association

Rabbinic Advisor
Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Temple Hillel B'nai Torah

Board Members
Marya Axner
Dick Bauer, Greater Boston Legal Services, UAW Local 2320
Dave Borrus, New England Regional Council of Carpenters, and Pile Drivers Local 56
Aaron Dockser, Massachusetts Teachers Association
Mark Erlich, Labor and Worklife Progam, Harvard Law School
Joanne Goldstein, New England Regional Council of Carpenters
Nathan Goldstein
Monica Halas, Greater Boston Legal Services
Don Siegel, Segal Roitman LLP