Meet Francesca Reznik, Program Manager at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and committed climate activist based in Boston. Influenced by both her Jewish values and her own non-theistic spiritual practice, Francesca recently completed her Master of Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School and is focused on creating climate transition solutions that benefit everyone. Fun facts: Francesca is half Mexican and fluent in Spanish and co-founded an ecotheology fellowship while at Harvard Divinity. She is also an innoFaith Contributing Editor.
What faith(s), if any, do you practice? How does your tradition and/or spiritual practice inspire or influence you as an innovator?
I grew up Jewish, but currently identify as a non-theistic religious naturalist. This means that although I do not believe in a creator, I believe deeply that creation is worthy of veneration and respect. This grounds me in my work as a climate professional. Though non-practicing, I am pretty involved in Jewish community life, specifically the kind that is activist oriented, which to me is a deeply held Jewish value.
What are you currently working on?
I work for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, a quasi state agency focused on economic development and accelerating an equitable energy transition. I am a program manager for employer engagement in the workforce development department. I have many years of experience in energy equity and energy policy, but this role is much more focused on policy implementation and, as I like to say, actually “moving the money.” We primarily do this through awarding grants to various organizations, companies, and educational institutions doing workforce development programs. The idea is to train, up-skill, and place the workers we need to transition the Commonwealth to a clean energy economy. These are often good, family sustaining jobs, and so we try to focus on minority and often overlooked communities, like returning citizens, when engaging in this work, so that everyone can benefit from this transition! A rising tide lifts all ships, etc.
What can we find you doing when you’re not working?
Running, baking, reading...
What is piquing your curiosity these days?
I just read a nonfiction book about the War of the Roses, and I can't stop thinking about it. History is better than fiction! The amount of characters and accidents and scheming involved in the story is like something out of Game of Thrones, but it was real life, real people, and real war. People in power will always act with their own interests first, and this was an example that almost tore Great Britain apart before it even had the chance to become the empire it would later be.
What is something you’d like help on?
I'd like to know more about what activists in other faith traditions are passionate about and working on. In the spring I went to an interfaith organizing event around Easter and it was so beautiful and special. I want to be a part of more things like that.
What is something you can offer others in the innoFaith network?
I think what I most bring to the table is my climate expertise! I love talking and teaching about everything from energy policy to ecotheology.
You can find Francesca on X (formerly Twitter).
Meet an innoFaither is our series to introduce the inspiring optimists in the innoFaith world and what they’re working on and thinking about. We hope it helps you find and engage with each other across the network to advance faith-rooted social innovation and interfaith collaboration for social impact. Or just meet some cool people. Find the full series at www.innofaith.org/meet-an-innofaither.