Our Staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sasha Goodfriend is a community organizer, curating feminist & queer experiences through partnerships with statewide government, community organizations & creatives alike. She works to advance this mission through her roles as President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (Mass NOW), Chair with Our Bodies Ourselves Today and serves on the board of National NOW and the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts. Sasha graduated with a B.A. from the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University majoring in International Relations with a minor in Women, Gender & Sexuality studies and received her Masters in Public Policy from Simmons University.

sasha@massnow.org

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Kyla Speizer (she/her) is a recent grad from Brandeis University where she studied Sociology, Anthropology, and East Asian Studies. Her education in Sociology was integral for shaping the way she approaches feminism, activism, and advocacy. Although a life-long feminist, she first became involved in menstrual justice activism through her involvement with Period Activists at ‘Deis (PAD), a student-run menstrual justice club at Brandeis. It was there that she learned the importance of advocating for the needs of menstruators by expanding access to menstrual products and menstrual education. She is excited to learn from, and advocate for, Mass NOW’s feminist agenda as a Community Organizer.

kyla@massnow.org

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER CO-OP

Jem Manolios (they/them) is a third-year student at Northeastern University studying Political Science with a concentration in Law and Legal Studies. They are passionate about uplifting marginalized communities through solidarity and empowerment and hope to utilize the law to the same end.

Jem has previously worked in the Division of Public Records as a legal clerk and compliance assistant and has volunteered at nonprofits and with restorative justice efforts. They are excited to use their experiences to contribute to Mass NOW’s feminist advocacy, particularly in promoting economic and racial justice as well as uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. 

In their free time, Jem is an avid museum-goer and enjoys journaling, drawing, travelling, and making hyper-specific playlists. You can recognize them by the bright yellow camera they bring nearly everywhere!

jem@massnow.org

MENSTRUAL EQUITY ORGANIZER

Katherine Blasius is a first-generation Brazilian American from Lynn, MA, with a strong background in public policy and Portuguese studies. She is passionate about creating meaningful change in underserved communities, focusing on cross-cultural advocacy  and equitable policies.
Currently, she’s pursuing a law degree to further her mission of supporting her community and making a lasting impact. She has worked with nonprofits like ITD, and her experience includes advocating for health education and menstrual equity.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking Brazilian dishes to stay connected to her heritage, and gardening to find a sense of calm and accomplishment. She is fluent in Portuguese and working toward proficiency in Spanish, always seeking to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps in my work.

katherine.b@massnow.org