Board Chair

Jack Gilroy is a decades-long justice organizer, educator, author, and playwright with a lifelong history of exposing the lies and cruelty of US militarism. A US military veteran, Jack co-founded Frutas!, a nonprofit supporting education, sustainable farming, and infrastructure in impoverished communities in Mexico. He has served as a creative register for the School of the Americas Watch, Veterans for Peace, Peace Action, Broome County, NY Council of Churches, and Pax Christi. As an educator in the US and Australia, Jack guided students in activism for nuclear disarmament, environmental protection, and anti-apartheid efforts, with his students influencing policies and earning media recognition. Jack explores themes of conscience, war, and resistance in his novels and widely published essays. He has been honored with the 2024 Pax Christi Metro New York Award, the 2025 Veterans For Peace Howard Zinn Award, the 2025 Peace Action NYS Teach Truth Educator Award, and is a candidate for the 2026 Pax Christi Teacher of the Year.

Board Secretary

Nydia Leaf is a passionate advocate for social justice, sustainability, and the arts, with a rich background in education, community organizing, and theater. A graduate of Hunter College with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Theater, she also earned a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College. Her career includes work in progressive education, grassroots advocacy on issues like environmental sustainability and civil rights, and contributions to theater and film. In the 1950s and 1960s, she worked with renowned Broadway producers and directors, gaining invaluable insight into the creative process. Nydia continues to champion equity and access through her involvement in community-based organizations and tireless efforts for peace and justice.

Board Treasurer

Pat Elder has dedicated his career to addressing environmental, social, and educational issues. As Director of Military Poisons, he has led global efforts to expose and combat military-related environmental contamination, empowering marginalized communities to seek justice. He founded the National Coalition to Protect Student Privacy, advancing laws to protect students’ rights, and his advocacy influenced the United Nations on child protection in armed conflict. Pat has held leadership roles with organizations such as World BEYOND War and the Fort Ord Contamination Working Group. He also taught history and government for 12 years, emphasizing civic engagement and critical thinking. His work reflects a deep commitment to confronting militarism, environmental harm, and social injustice.

Advisory Board Member

Martin Sheen is an acclaimed actor and lifelong activist deeply committed to peace, social justice, and civic engagement. He is best known for starring in “Apocalypse Now” and “The West Wing”. Nonetheless, his artistic work is intertwined with his activism, using storytelling to foster awareness and drive change across issues such as social justice, education, and the environment. Martin and Board Chair Jack Gilroy have collaborated on various peace initiatives, including marches, demonstrations, and acts of civil disobedience. A celebrated member of the Catholic Worker movement and Pax Christi, Martin has received numerous honors for his contributions to the arts and activism, including the Laetare Medal, the Thomas Merton Award, the Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Award, and the inaugural Cesar E. Chavez Spirit Award.

Artistic Director

zool is an artist, activist, and producer whose work spans theater, film, and community engagement. A retired member of the Directors Guild of America, he has worked on more than 100 “Hollywood-on-Hudson” movies, television shows and videos in every production capacity. zool has spearheaded notable projects such as the “Do the Right Thing!” festival and the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade’s “Mother Earth vs. The War Machine,” blending activism with artistry to address social and ecological issues. He serves on Manhattan’s Community Board Five and coordinates tenant advocacy initiatives. zool’s work is rooted in building creative and activist networks that promote justice and equity.

Business Manager

Jaymie Bellous is an arts administrator, producer, playwright, and performer. Before joining the Rising Together Theatre Company, he worked at the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national labor union representing stage directors and choreographers. As a producer, Jaymie has developed community-centered events and fundraisers, including a partnership with Astoria's 31st Ave Open Street program benefiting Lambda Legal and Stand Up for Drag, a fundraiser supporting Drag Story Hour. His plays include Coming & Going, produced by the Fresh Fruit Festival and Long Beach Shakespeare Company, and Moonlight Becomes You, presented by the International Human Rights Art Festival and the Queens Short Play Festival, where it was a semifinalist for Best Play. He lives in Washington Heights with his two cats, Bertolt Brecht and Gwen Verdon.

Assistant Stage Manager & Digital Services Assistant

Ryan is a CUNY undergraduate currently pursuing topics in information technology, as well as arts and multimedia. Despite that, he is shown to have a keen interest in learning about and understanding some of the major issues in society, be they past or present. Having grown up in the Bronx, he is passionate in video game development, graphic design, and photography, and often does these things in his free time.

Stage Manager

Sam is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Drama department and an NYC based actor and director. As an actor and performer, he’s been involved in a half dozen new works here in the city, including Off Broadway’s Brighter Than the Sun, traveled the country for regional productions, and performed as a vocalist in Europe with Regent Seven Seas. His directing includes theatrical projects in Syracuse and here in the city, as well as a few independent short films. Sam is committed to creating art that reflects the nuance and complexity of our communities.