Molly Burns-Hansen is a Programs Coordinator at Move Minnesota. Through initiatives along the METRO C Line and METRO Green Line, Molly works with local residents and other key stakeholders to advance and promote sustainable transportation in the Twin Cities. Molly holds a B.A. in Social Science from Metropolitan State University, where they focused on Disability Justice. In their free time, Molly enjoys watching workplace comedies, looking for cool animals on the chain of lakes, and hanging out with their husband Nate, and their two cats, Sean Patrick and Sebastian.

MJ Carpio is a Campaign Manager at Move Minnesota focusing on VMT (vehicle miles traveled) reduction and transit expansion through grassroots and political organizing. MJ is a lifelong public transportation user—from jeepneys and tricycles, to the NYC Subway, and Metro Transit—and sees the expansion and reimagining of multimodal transportation systems as integral to combating climate change and improving everyday lives. MJ enjoys biking, exploring state parks, and sharing food with people.

Elizabeth Garvey manages general office operations and provides administrative support for the advocacy, programming, and community engagement underway at Move Minnesota. Elizabeth brings a background in both corporate and nonprofit administration to her role as Office Manager, and has worked in multiple industries, including higher education, construction, commodities, and the arts. She holds a B.A. in Journalism-Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota. Elizabeth is a visual artist and when she is not in the office she can often be found in the studio. She loves that her home, work, and studio are all conveniently located along the Green Line.

Jennifer Harmening Thiede, Director of Communications and Organizing, is passionate about creating a just and sustainable future. Jennifer leads our strategic communications, marketing, and narrative change work at Move Minnesota. She also works collaboratively to plan and advance organizing strategies that build people power and further Move Minnesota’s advocacy goals. Jennifer brings a decade of nonprofit experience in multi-channel communications, editing, writing, advocacy campaigns, media outreach, website management, design, social media, and event planning. Previously, Jennifer worked in marketing, publicity, and sales for Milkweed Editions, and served as an editor and writer for Do It Green! Minnesota. Jennifer holds a B.A. in English from the University of St. Thomas. She loves her bike commute and her walkable neighborhood, and always looks forward to reading a good book on the bus.

Julie, a Senior Community Organizer at Move Minnesota, is excited to work with a team so focused on the essential intersectionality of the environmental movement. As a lifelong biker and runner, she is passionate about improving the accessibility and efficiency of multi-modal transportation in the Twin Cities. Before coming to Move Minnesota, Julie organized in Arizona, South Carolina, and Iowa around protecting the National Wildlife Refuge and promoting clean energy legislation. She also worked with MN350’s Communications team during the 2020 election season. She is a Green Corps graduate and holds a B.A. in Psychology and Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College. When she isn’t organizing, she enjoys running, biking, and spending time with friends and family.

Heejin Kim is a fundraising coordinator at Move Minnesota who has loved biking and bussing around the Twin Cities for over twenty-five years and counting. With a background in education, art, and organizing, Heejin has a lot of experience in development and event planning. She knows that dynamic and affordable transit options are an essential component in the bigger picture of ‘what justice can look like’ for our communities. For fun Heejin prioritizes chill times with her family and raucous game nights with her friends. She’s currently writing her first picture book on climate change.

Theresa Nelson, Program Director, specializes in Employer Partnerships and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programming at Move Minnesota. Theresa has over fifteen years of experience with community engagement, coalition building, and pedestrian and bicycle program implementation. She served as a program manager for the Midtown Greenway Coalition for twelve years where she led numerous community engagement programs, projects, and events. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and African Studies from the University of Minnesota and began her career in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis as a community organizer and youth program manager. Most recently, she assisted Community Design Group, a local urban planning consulting firm, with community engagement focused on bicycle, pedestrian, and transit projects. Theresa is dedicated to planning and programming that leads to healthy, active, and livable communities. She enjoys daily walks, biking, yoga, and gardening in the summer.

Abdinasir Nourkadi, Community Organizer, is particularly dedicated to public service; he has spent a few years on efforts to provide and care for people experiencing homeless and poverty. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Nas’ first post-grad work has found him with Move Minnesota continuing his passion for the community around him. Outside of work, he finds himself binging horror movies with his friends or expressing himself through his camera lens.

Theresa Thompson Nix, Program Manager, specializes in community engagement programming at Move Minnesota. Her current focus includes building relationships with transit riders, residents, and community partners to create change along the METRO C Line corridor in the Twin Cities. Theresa brings several years of advocacy, planning, community organizing, and campaign management experience to her role. She is active in community conversations about equity, organizational change, and pedestrian safety.

Born and raised in Crystal, MN, Theresa is a member of Black Girls Run Twin Cities and loves going on walks with the crew.

Sam Rockwell, Executive Director of Move Minnesota, is a long-time advocate for our climate and for social justice. His background in transportation and land use spans organizing and policy and includes work with the University of Minnesota Foundation Real Estate Advisors, the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the New York City Council, Columbia University’s Earth Institute, the World Wildlife Fund, Transportation Alternatives, and the Environmental Tax Policy Institute. He has also worked as a musician, handyman, and delivery tricycle driver. Sam holds a JD, magna cum laude, from Vermont Law School and is former president of the Minneapolis Planning Commission. He lives in the Twin Cities metro with his wife Molly and their three very energetic kids.

Elissa Y. Schufman, Director of Strategic Partnerships, is focused building relationships and gathering resources that can make our vision of a more just transportation system into reality. She enjoys building authentic connections, creating community among advocates, and organizing with donors to create even bigger opportunities for change.

Elissa has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector in a broad array of areas, including project management, communications, donor organizing, and foundation relations. She brings her commitment to transportation justice to her volunteer service as the chair of the Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee and on the board of Our Streets Minneapolis.

Elissa is a multimodal commuter who enjoys exploring Minneapolis and Saint Paul on bike, bus, train, and foot. She loves to expand her imagination through reading. When not bicycling or reading, she ferments whatever foods are in season (sometimes with mixed results).

Max Singer is a Transportation Demand Management Coordinator at Move Minnesota. Through his work with local employers and other key stakeholders, Max promotes transit, telework, carshare, biking, and walking in the City of Saint Paul. He practices what he promotes and is proud to be described by his friends as “a person about town.”

Leah Sweet, Associate Director, comes to Move Minnesota after 13 years as a nonprofit consultant leading and managing professional and trade associations representing a diversity of industries. Prior to her work with associations, Leah spent more than 15 years serving nonprofit sectors in Colorado, Arizona, and in her home state of Minnesota in program development and management, advocacy, education, and policy. As a previous executive director, Leah is thrilled to apply her experience, collaborative approach, organizational acumen, and strategic thinking to the Move Minnesota team.

Leah lives in Minneapolis with her family and enjoys teaching POUND classes at various venues around the Twin Cities. She is a Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassador who enjoys volunteering at Fixit Clinics and helping communities improve their waste reduction and recycling practices. Leah received her BA, summa cum laude from the College of St. Benedict and her MA from St. Mary’s University.