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
CORINNA (COCO) RHUM
Senior Writing Associate and Institute Manager
Corinna (Coco) Rhum (she/her) graduated with a BA in Critical Theory from Williams College. She is a passionate advocate for a more just world. Leading the fight to get Williams to publicly commit to divesting from fossil fuels, co-running a mutual aid group, and fighting for integrated public schools in New York City have been some of her most proud accomplishments. She also has a background in zero-waste policy and systems on college campuses. She loves to read and write about issues of politics and power. Outside of work, she loves to play ultimate frisbee, hike, cook, and make art!
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.
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.
FIONA HINRICHSEN
Democracy Intern
Fiona (she/her) is currently a student at Tufts University pursuing a Bachelor's degree in International Relations with a minor in Peace and Justice Studies. Her interests lie in how business and politics shape global policy, and she is dedicated to facilitatingl justice, she is involved with Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College, dedicated to providing transformative educational opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in response to problems of mass incarceration and racial injustice. In her free time, she enjoys vintage shopping in Boston, going to yoga classes, and cooking with friends.
UMA ZIERTEN-SINGLETON
Democracy Intern
Uma (she/her) is a second-year student at Tufts University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Economics. She has a strong interest in environmental policy and the law, and is passionate about the intersection of justice and sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, reading with her book club, and spending time outside hiking or biking.
