Our Vision
The Leadership
Rachel Laiserin | Executive Director
Rachel B. Laiserin became Executive Director of the White Roof Project in March 2013. Rachel believes in the power of individuals working together to make a difference for their community. Rachel was drawn to how the White Roof Project is using a simple, tangible idea to educate citizens about global climate change while providing opportunities to take action. She believes that these experiences empower individuals to take even on even greater efforts for the betterment of our community and our world.
Rachel has extensive administrative experience working for New York City government agencies (Department of Design and Construction, Housing Preservation and Development, and the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications) in the areas of budgeting, project management, and intergovernmental affairs. She also worked for many years as an education activist to improve the state of public education for New York City students and has many ties the NYC grassroots advocacy community that is critical to WRP’s work.
In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations and has a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Rachel is excited to be part of a strong team of activists on their journey to make White Roof Project a global advocate for simple, tangible change.
You can reach Rachel at rlaiserin [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.
Juan Carlos | Founder
Juan Carlos works at the intersection between storytelling and strategy. Currently at Participant Media in the Social Action department, he analyzes impact and develops campaign strategies. In 2013 Juan Carlos directed his second motion picture "Know How", a musical written and acted by foster care youth about their real lives. A few years earlier he founded White Roof Project. He directed and edited the award-winning documentary "Second Skin", and produced short documentaries for Vice Magazine. As an activist Juan Carlos has been involved with non-profits Streetwise Partners and the Manhattan Young Democrats since 2009.
You can reach Juan Carlos at jcpe [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.
Board of Directors
Heather B. James | Board Member, Secretary
Heather B. James served as Executive Director of the White Roof Project from its founding in 2010 until 2012. Heather has an MA from the CUNY Graduate Center and is currently completing her Ph.D. at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She holds two fellowships at Rutgers, including a prestigious award from the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Heather has nonprofit experience in the areas of grant evaluation, research, and writing. Heather has also served as a board member for various community-based organizations. In this capacity, she organized many large volunteer events and has extensive experience in volunteer recruitment, management, and project planning. Heather brings this skill set to the White Roof Project and is proud to manage the New York City chapter’s building sponsorship and volunteer painting programs.
You can reach Heather at hjames [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.
Jacqueline Lyoussi | Board Member
Jacqueline Lyoussi is an artist and real estate agent in New York City. She has a passion for the environment, and background in film production and the apparel industry. She has been volunteering in the green space for the last eight years.
You can reach Jacqueline at jlyoussi [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.
Paul Davis | Board Member, Treasurer
Paul is an attorney with a long-standing commitment to harnessing modern means to develop sustainable ways of living in harmony with our natural surroundings. He graduated from Clark University in Worcester, MA, in 2003 with a B.A. in Government & International Relations. While at Clark Paul worked on a sustainability project with the Marsh Institute to identify the development priorities of the Main South neighborhood and interned with the Regional Environmental Council of Central Massachusetts. He earned his Juris Doctorate from New England School of Law in Boston, MA, in 2008. While earning his J.D. Paul concentrated part of his study on climate change law & policy, completed a clinical externship with the Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection Office of General Counsel, and was a quarter-finalist in the 2007 National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition. He currently works in the area of real estate law while pursuing an L.L.M. in Tax from New York Law School. Paul is thrilled to further his passion for developing more sustainable ways to live by working with the White Roof Project.
Volunteers
Lynn Meyer | Communications Coordinator
You can reach Lynn at lmeyer [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.
Pablo Munoz Hernandez | Environmental Policy Coordinator
You can reach Pablo at pmunoz [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.
John Kolp | Buildings Coordinator
You can reach John at jkolp [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.
Diomedes ‘Dio’ Tsitouras | General Counsel
You can reach Dio at dtsitourus [at] whiteroofproject [dot] org.