David Cohen is a retired union organizer who has worked building militant democratic unions here in Western Mass. and around the country. He got his start as an activist during the Vietnam War and was involved in campaigns to free Angela Davis and around school desegregation in Springfield. Politically he’s a socialist. Dave was involved with the attempt to build a Labor Party in the 1980s and 90s and spent a lot of that time working on single-payer health care. Retirement years have been spent teaching at UMass Labor Center, doing union trainings around the country, trying to get Bernie elected, building a boat, carving a carousel horse, and building a wooden teardrop camper. Dave is part of the Single Payer Healthcare Task Force and the Labor Task Force. Dave’s term expires November 2026.
David Greenberg has been active in progressive politics since his college days. He’s done union organizing in Boston and Amherst and co-founded WiredWest to bring high-speed connectivity to Western Mass. He also co-founded Pioneer Valley for Bernie, which has since morphed into FCCPR. “With Trump in the White House, we clearly have our work cut out for us. I am heartened by the wonderful folks who have joined FCCPR, and I am convinced that we will make a difference.” David is part of the Climate Action Task Force and liaison to MPAOC and Indivisible-MA. David’s term expires November 2025.
Doug Selwyn is a retired K-12 and college teacher who moved to Greenfield three years ago. He’s been involved with FCCPR for two years, a member of the education task force, involved with the Democracy Here video series, and around the edges of other task forces. He was involved with the city socialism conference, the global climate strike and rally, and other actions related to the environment. He is most interested in FCCPR continuing the work we have been doing, but also finding ways to coordinate what our various task forces are doing, as many of these issues overlap (for example education and single payer). Doug’s term expires November 2025.
Ferd Wulkan is a long-time labor activist whose passion has been linking the labor movement with other progressive movements for social justice. Before retiring, he worked for the Professional Staff Union and the faculty/librarian union at UMass Amherst, mentoring younger activists. He is actively involved with the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) Climate Action Network and Educators for a Democratic Union, the progressive caucus in the MTA. He has lived in Montague for more than 20 years and tries to find time for travel, the outdoors and tiddlywinks. Ferd is on FCCPR’s Climate Crisis Task Force. Ferd’s term expires in November 2026.
Pixie Holbrook comes from a family of political activists and is happy to carry on that tradition. In her adult life, her focus has been on education reform, closing nuke plants, changing high school mascots that had been represented by Indigenous People, stopping wars, halting the use of the MCAS, and prohibiting a pipeline through Western MA. She leads FCCPR’s Immigration Task Force. She has been a special education teacher/consultant, still working part-time in area schools. She and her family have lived in Conway for 38 years, enjoying pet goats, house construction, gardening and traveling to National Parks. Pixie’s term expires November 2026.
Susan Triolo worked on the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, and is a founding member of FCCPR. She is a retired elementary & ESL teacher. Susan is a member of the FCCPR Reproductive Justice Task Force which has helped lead a coalition of local and state-wide abortion rights groups & planned several successful mass events in Greenfield since the Supreme Court decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. Susan is also active in W.Mass CodePink & Sunderland town politics. Susan’s term expires November 2026.
Sharon Tracy has been a member of FCCPR since its inception, and currently is on the Reproductive Justice, Medicare for All, and Immigration Task Forces. She also is part of the FCCPR-supported effort to change the racist MA state flag and seal. As staff for the Clamshell Alliance, she was among those who, using a train the trainers model, taught nonviolent direct action to tens of thousands throughout New England in half a year. She founded and led a nonprofit organization that served the region through mediation for 35 years and created two unique programs with nationwide reach: Veterans Mediation in which veterans, Guard and Reserves and active military teach mediation to their peers, and Training Active Bystanders. She finds these words of Martin Luther King particularly resonant now: “My conviction is that social change comes most meaningfully from nonviolent action. We must move past indecision to action, [responding to] the fierce urgency of now. Sharon’s term expires November 2026.
Description of the Coordinating Committee:
- The Coordinating Committee, which can have up to 11 members, is elected by the General Assembly, with staggered two-year terms.
- The membership and/or the Coordinating Committee can establish and/or approve short-term and standing committees to carry out the work of the organization. The Coordinating Committee selects, from within the Committee, representatives to the various standing committees.
- The Coordinating Committee will set agendas for General Assembly meetings, coordinate the work of the organization, and make necessary short-term decisions for Franklin County CPR in between General Assembly meetings.
- The Coordinating Committee will select from among its members a Convener, Co-Convener, Recorder, and Treasurer.
- The Convener will convene the meetings. The Co-Convener will assist the Convener and convene meetings when the Convener is unavailable. The Recorder will record meeting minutes, and ensure that minutes and agendas are posted on the FCCPR website. The Treasurer will be responsible for the checking account, will oversee the collection of dues, ensure the organization is in compliance with applicable laws, and prepare financial reports for the membership.
Last updated: 3/25, DG