Suzanne Carlson has been committed to nonviolent activism since 1983, including various acts of “divine resistance” to weapons of mass destruction, militarism, racism, and materialism. Living in Greenfield since 1997, Suzanne has been part of the Peace Vigil on the Common for most of 20 years, since October 2023 focusing on “Ceasefire” toward ending the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and expanding in the West Bank, all with the deep complicity of our US Government. Suzanne continues with Kairos for Free Palestine and witnessing for peace. Suzanne is also a board member of Visioning BEAR Circle Intertribal Coalition, and a co-trainer for the curriculum “Walking in Balance with All My Relations.”
Anna Gyorgy Active in western Mass. and beyond in the antinuclear-safe energy movement, Anna was based in Germany from 1985-2013, where she coordinated the Women and Life on Earth internet project. She was Traprock’s communications coordinator from 2019 to 2025, and is active with Traprock’s related Climate & Democracy project.
Heather Hutchinson is a coordinator of AFWMA (Apartheid-Free Western MA) a coalition of community groups, businesses, faith organizations and individuals in Western MA working to end Israel’s apartheid regime. She is passionate about engaging the public through educational events and outreach that centers the voices of the oppressed to uproot the systems of inequality, war, and racism. Currently, she is also working to support building resilient communities by first growing skills at home- medicinal plant use and cultivation, seed saving, sustainable flock maintenance, small scale agriculture, and sustainable home power generation.
Pat Hynes, a committed feminist, anti-war and environmental justice activist, was a Professor of Environmental Health at Boston University School of Public Health. She writes a monthly column on all the progressive issues of our times for The Greenfield Recorder and numerous other progressive publications. Pat has won numerous awards for her writing, teaching, and applied research, and has authored and edited 7 books, most recently Hope, but Demand Justice. Traprock director from 2010-2020, Pat continues to help build Traprock as an educational center in peacemaking.
Rich Karsten brings over 30 years of business management and experience in building affordable net-zero residential homes to the Traprock team, transitioning from a successful career as a business owner to advocate for community building and social justice. After retiring his for-profit construction work in 2022, to focus on building community resilience and social justice, he is cultivating the shift from sustainable home systems to sustainable community coalition building, with the same attention to system development and long-term payback. From the self-sufficient homesteading to the cooperative community network, Rich is now a key coordinator of Apartheid-Free Western Massachusetts and serving social and environmental justice work with Traprock as acting treasurer.
Liam O’Shea, Traprock’s new executive director, is a filmmaker and communications professional with a passion for activism. Since 2016, Liam has been active politically, canvassing for Bernie Sanders and attending acts of civil resistance, both locally and in other areas of the country. He also works on social media and website management for Traprock, and has filmed a number of programs about peace and social justice for Greenfield Community Television.
Sarah Pirtle, Traprock Peace Education Coordinator, founded the Common Threads Program in 2015. In that role she launched A Long Line of Women Leaders for Racial Justice program for teens and has developed collaboration with Sierra Leone WILPF teens on The Respect Girls Project. Sarah authored Traprock booklets on sexism and ageism (free downloads), and since 1994 directs Journey Camp for young people on peacebuilding. Find her five peace education books and songs at https://sarahpirtle.com/
Dr. Martin Schotz is a retired physician living in Cummington, Mass. He has long been active in the peace movement. Marty convenes Traprock’s Franklin County for Peace, and is co-chair of the No Cold War working group of Massachusetts Peace Action.
Kim Wolcott is a local activist focused on racial justice advocacy and is committed to promoting equity in our local communities. She has been involved with Racial Justice Rising, has a background in fiscal grants management, and has supported efforts to organize and amplify marginalized voices as well as fight against structures of oppression in her immediate community. Her work is centered on education, outreach, and empowering communities to understand and resist systemic systems of racism.