GreenRoots actively leads and implements campaigns and projects to reduce air, land and water pollutants to improve public health outcomes and quality of life of our communities.  We also work to break down health disparities and to advance health equity with a focus on the communities of Chelsea and East Boston.  

Ready to Fight for Clean Air?

Got 5 minutes? GreenRoots wants to know how you want to jump into our air quality work.

Whether you're fired up about attending community events, ready to write letters supporting clean air legislation, willing to testify at hearings, or have your own ideas for making change happen, we want to hear from you.

This quick survey helps us match you with opportunities that actually fit what you want to do.

Fill Out the Form

5 minutes. Real impact. Let's clean up our air together.

  • A map of Chelsea and the different points where residents have described the air quality to be very poor.

    Air Quality Monitoring

    Through a partnership with Northeastern University, GreenRoots successfully established a network of hyperlocal air quality monitors in Chelsea and developed a dashboard to display the data. Check out our dashboard here.

    Learn More

  • A mother and her young son wearing masks.

    Air quality legislation

    In partnership with the EJ table, we continue to advocate for clean air in Chelsea, Eastie, and other EJ communities in the state. Check out our indoor and outdoor air quality bills.

    Learn more

  • Laboratory assistant putting test tubes into the holder; this is a close-up view focused on the tubes.

    Leading on Lead

    GreenRoots is working on several initiatives to combat lead poisoning, in collaboration with the City of Chelsea and other community partners. 

    Learn More

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    Emissions Reduction

    Implementing major diesel emissions reduction work at the New England Produce Center, private businesses and City of Chelsea

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    Community Health Ambassadors

    Launched a Health Equity Corps and Community Health Ambassadors to address the major health disparities facing Chelsea residents. This team together with other Chelsea partners worked to get Chelsea residents to achieve vaccine equity rates of upwards of 97%  and published “COVID19 in Chelsea: A Glance Into One of the Hardest Hit Cities and the Role of Intersecting Social Determinants of Health”

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    Pandemic Response Team

    For 65 consecutive days during the start of the pandemic, GreenRoots established 10 working groups and engaged over 150 stakeholders. Also, co-founded the One Chelsea Fund, which raised and distributed $1.4M in COVID relief for Chelsea families; established and supported the City of Chelsea’s emergency food hub, co-founded and supported the Eastie Mutual Aid Network, established neighborhood wellness pods, and much more.

A grandma with her two grand children on her lap taking a photo outside of her backyard.

I started out as a community member who joined GreenRoots. With the passage of time I worked on various projects as an employee. I have been an organizer, a health ambassador with the Covid vaccines as well as with general environmental campaigns.

 I love working with GreenRoots and hope to continue my efforts with this group of beloved activists.

Neris Amaya

Contact Us

  • A woman with a yellow sweater and short grey hair standing against a tan wall.

    Mitikei Chengerei

    Community Engagement Organizer

    she, her, hers

    MitikeiC@greenrootsej.org

    Read Bio

    Mitikei Chengerei (she, her, hers)

    Mitikei was born and raised in Ethiopia and came to the US in 2016. She majored in mathematics and minored in physics at Addis Ababa University. She has worked as a math tutor, clerk, accountant and translator. She loves to learn foreign languages and has taught English, French, German and Amharic (the national language of Ethiopia).

    Mitikei was a founding member, finance officer and volunteer at a local organization called Empower Youth Ethiopia, where she worked on youth HIV awareness. She is passionate about making an impact on young people’s futures, public health, housing equity and environmental justice. She now works to support her Chelsea neighbors as a GreenRoots community health worker and supports the transit justice team. 

    Mitikei enjoys writing poems in Amharic, listening to church hymns and reading. She likes to share her life experience to benefit others, especially young people, in order to motivate and inspire them. 

  • A woman in a beige tank top and white pants standing in front of a light background.

    Mónica Elias-Orellana

    Director of Health Equity and Mobility

    she, her, hers

    MonicaEO@greenrootsej.org

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    Mónica Elias-Orellana (she, her, hers)

    Mónica, a lifelong resident of Chelsea, brings a community-focused approach to policy development, advocacy, and organizing. With a robust background in DEI awareness, social justice strategy, and non-profit administration, she is dedicated to leading transformative campaigns in health equity, transit justice, and anti-displacement.

    In her previous roles, she ensured equitable access to services for Multilingual Learners at Boston Public Schools. Transitioning to The Neighborhood Developers as the Chelsea Community Building Manager, she adeptly identified community needs, oversaw impactful programs to bolster housing and economic self-sufficiency, and played a role in fostering community leaders. She now works as the Director of Health Equity and Mobility of GreenRoots.

    Mónica's dedication extends to her volunteer work, including event planning for Concert of Hope and serving on boards such as the City of Chelsea Board of Library Trustees. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2016, with a minor in Asian American Studies.

    Mónica's leadership and commitment have earned her prestigious accolades, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Young Adult Dreamers and Achievers Award. With her expertise and passion, Mónica continues to drive positive change, making a tangible difference in her community and beyond. 

  • A woman in a blue shirt and necklace standing against a light wall.

    Barbara Espinosa Barrera

    Environmental Justice & Health Equity Organizer

    she, her, hers

    BarbaraE@greenrootsej.org

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    Barbara Espinosa Barrera (she, her, hers)

    Barbara is passionate about community building, storytelling, and working together to create an environment that supports everyone’s health. She also believes in making health and science information accessible to all. She holds a master's degree in environmental health from Boston University School of Public Health, which has supported her work in lead remediation, air quality, extreme heat, and community health initiatives. She is a proud writer and spends her free time freelancing as a writer. 

    In 2024, she was funded by the Pulitzer Center to travel to Ecuador, her home, where she reported on an active volcano threatening nearby towns. She published this story in a national newspaper. In 2025, she was funded by the Center for Media Innovation and Social Impact at Boston University to write an op-ed about the climate movement and faith. If she is not at GreenRoots or writing on her couch, she is usually playing soccer with her friends and her husband, video-calling her mom, or reading mystery books. She lives in Chelsea and loves it, and appreciates the warm welcome and kindness from the residents.

Program Events

  • 16
    Sep

    Harvest and Health

    11:00am - 12:30pm

    GreenRoots Teaching Kitchen (63 Pearl Street, Chelsea, MA)

    Pick up fresh veggies and connect with health professionals. Join us for the weekly harvest and stop by to meet MGH's health specialists, get your blood pressure checked, ask questions, and get resources to support your health! Fresh vegetables available while supplies last.

  • 17
    Sep

    Walking for Health

    9:00 - 10:00am

    Starting point: Chelsea Public Library 

    To help us stay healthy, strong, and connected, we have organized a wonderful program to support our physical and social well-being. We will walk together, get to know one another, and build stronger bonds. While our work focuses primarily on Chelsea and East Boston, this walk is open to anyone who wants to join!

  • 17
    Sep

    Get the Lead Out Community Meeting

    5:30 - 7:00pm

    Chelsea Senior Center, 10 Riley Way

    Get updated on efforts to replace toxic lead water pipes across Chelsea.

News

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Your support is crucial in ensuring our work continues.

For 30 years, GreenRoots has restored acres of urban salt marsh, created new parks, increased public access to the waterfront and improved the water quality of Chelsea Creek.

Our organizing model is rooted in base-building and community, and your help makes us a stronger force. A contribution to GreenRoots means an investment in the futures of Chelsea and East Boston!

Donate Now

A kid receiving a zip lock bag with health supplies.