Our Team
FRANCES MOORE LAPPÉ
Cofounder,
Director
Frances Moore Lappé is a writer, speaker, and activist. She has authored or co-authored 20 books and is a recipient of 20 honorary doctorates. Her first book, Diet for a Small Planet, has sold over 3 million copies. Lappé has been a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and MIT and taught at various universities and colleges. She frequently appears in media and contributes to publications like Yes! Magazine and Common Dreams. Her works have been translated into 15 languages and are used in university courses. Lappé has won awards for her work and has been featured on Today Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Fox & Friends, NPR, and the BBC, among others.
"A small number of people in every generation are forerunners, in thought, action, spirit, who swerve past the barriers of greed and power to hold a torch high for the rest of us. Lappé is one of those."
—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States
Anna Blythe Lappé is the Executive Director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food and, along with the Small Planet Institute, co-founder of the SmallPlanet Fund and Real Food Media. From 2017 to 2023, she developed and ran the Food Sovereignty Fund of the Panta Rhea Foundation. A national bestselling author, Anna has written or co-written three books and contributed to or been featured in 19 others, including Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do About It and Hope’s Edge. A James Beard Foundation Leadership Awardee, Anna was named one of TIME's "eco" Who's-Who and is a respected advocate for sustainability and justice along the food chain.
ANNA BLYTHE LAPPÉ
Cofounder
LEWIS d'AVIGDOR
Managing Director and Senior Writer
Lewis d’Avigdor (he/him) is a writer and educator, with a passion for understanding democratic movements. Before joining Small Planet Institute, he taught American history, African American studies and Indigenous studies at Cornell University, Wheaton College and Harvard University. He received a PhD from Cornell University in 2023. Prior to that he worked as a lawyer in Sydney Australia, while also volunteering in community legal centers. Outside of work he loves to read science fiction, watch horror films and cycle everywhere in all weather.
YVENARLY PIERRE-LOUIS
Democracy Intern
Yvenarly (she/her) is a junior at Tufts studying Economics and Environmental Studies. Prior to joining Small Planet Institute, she canvassed for Clean Water Action and worked as an intern at Environmental Voter Project. She believes that non-profit work is essential to bringing the systemic change necessary to address the climate crisis and put communities at the center of that change. In her free time, she enjoys running, learning about different cultures, and spending time with friends and family.
EPHRAIM BUTSON
Democracy Intern
Ephraim (he/him) is a third-year student at Clark University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English, with a concentration in Law and Society. He has strong interests in the law, public policy, and community service. He is passionate about protecting our local communities and the people that make them extraordinary. Currently, he also holds a fellowship with Team Impact, and works as a Student Ambassador at Clark. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, and reading mystery novels.
JESSICA FLEMMING
Democracy Intern
Jessica (she/her) recently graduated from Brandeis University where she majored in Politics, History, and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, with a minor in Sociology. Her interests lie at the intersection of history and politics, with a particular focus on the experiences of minority groups over time and how these histories inform contemporary social justice and policy efforts. In her free time, she likes to listen to music, craft, and watch various genres of documentaries.
MADDY DUBOIS
Democracy Intern
Maddy (she/her) recently earned her BA in Political Science, English, and Philosophy from Suffolk University. During her time at Suffolk, Maddy was involved in civic engagement and community service groups that sparked her passion for preserving democracy and connecting with her community. Currently, she works at 1369 Coffee House in Central Square as a shift runner and main organizer for UNITE HERE! New England Joint Board Local 325 union. She is interested in environmental policy, particularly surrounding natural disasters brought on by climate change, and her senior thesis was “Preserving the Pacific Coast: Forest Management as a Method to Combat Urban Wildfires in Southern California.” She likes to knit, spend time with loved ones, get outside, and read in her free time.
