WHO WE ARE
EDWARD L. COOPER COMMUNITY GARDENING & EDUCATION CENTER, INC. (ELCC)
Located in one of Boston’s oldest neighborhoods, the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center, Inc. (ELCC) is one of Boston’s oldest community gardening initiatives. Under the leadership of Edward L. Cooper the “Seeds of Hope” were planted by the senior citizens of Roxbury in an effort to both utilize and beautify unattended vacant lots in their neighborhood. Our goal is to become an Environmental Learning
Oasis in the heart of Roxbury.
Today the Cooper Center includes the Teddy Pomare Rose Garden, the Edward Cooper Gardens on Linwood Street, the Alan Crite Garden on Cedar Street and an adjoining orchard – a total of approximately fifty gardens in all. Two garages have been renovated into a facility that houses office space, a community meeting room, full kitchen, and emergency food pantry.
MISSION
The mission of the Edward L. Cooper Community Garden & Education Center is to promote the social, economic and educational development of community residents by providing facilities and supportive services emphasizing community empowerment and environmental sustainability. In addition the Center seeks to offer environmental science enrichment programming that promotes collegiate and career advancement in STEAM.
EDWARD L. COOPER
His name is legendary in the Highland Park Community. Mr. Cooper provided over sixty years of service empowering and uplifting neighborhood residents. He started in 1932 at the First National Stores franchise in Roxbury as the first and only black employee.
Working with the Urban League to demand that the chain hire black managers for stores in Black neighborhoods, he applied for the job. The store offered to hire him as a bagger at $5.13/ per week. The store closed soon after, but Mr. Cooper organized support for a petition to re-open the store with him as manager.
Through hard work and ingenuity, he made the store successful. When he left the company in 1942, he had been a respected manager for a decade.
His courage and unwavering commitment to public service and equality spanned over six decades:
1940s
Industrial Director of the Urban League of Boston
1950s
Executive Director of the Boston Branch of the NAACP
1960s
Boston Redevelopment Specialist with the BRA
1970s
President of the Boston Urban Gardens
1980s – 1990s
President of the Highland 400 which became the Edward L. Cooper
Gardening and Education Center Present Board
PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS
Kern L Tyler
President
Kern Tyler is a passionate and self-reliant professional with over 20 years of progressive experience assessing and responding to business needs of clients. A CRM specialist who has worked on three different continents and runs a local property Management company that services the community. Kern Tyler is currently the President of the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center and serves on other local boards.
Carol Shearer-Best
Vice President
Carol Shearer-Best is a community-oriented wellness professional with 40+ years of experience in Tai Chi, Physical Therapy, Massage and Women’s Health. As a child, she watched her Mother and Grandmother garden, but did not develop a passion for it until later when she had children of her own. Her children both spent countless hours learning about environmental justice and the benefits of healthy eating from their time at the Cooper Gardens. She has a BA in Sociology from UMass, Boston, an Associates of Science from Bay State College, a Massage Certificate from The Massage School and a Manual Lymphatic Drainage Certificate from the Academy of Lymphatic Studies. Carol and her husband, Joseph, reside in Roxbury, and they have two adult children.
Shimika Callender
Clerk
Shimika Callender is the great-granddaughter of Edward and Thelma Cooper and proudly carries forward their legacy of community, learning, and environmental stewardship. She currently works at Roxbury Community College, where she helps create pathways for students and community members to grow both professionally and personally. Shimika holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Springfield College. Her passion for education is shaped by her own journey - having to drop out of college as a first-generation and low-income student, then returning as a full-time employee and mother determined to complete her degree. That experience fuels her commitment to expanding access and opportunity for learners of all backgrounds. As a board member of the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center, Shimika is honored to support a space she describes as magical, where community, connection, and intergenerational learning flourish.
Steve J. Rada
Treasurer
Steve Rada is the son of the late Victor Pomare, who, alongside Mr. Edward Cooper, played an instrumental role in the early development and growth of the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center. Years later, Steve is proud to continue that legacy, serving his community as Treasurer, the same role his father once held. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and is currently the founder of a startup focused on self-care and helping people take meaningful, manageable steps toward improving their everyday lives. As founder, Steve leads the company's vision and strategy while remaining actively involved in product development, user experience, and operations as the company prepares for launch. As Treasurer, Steve hopes to follow in Mr. Pomare's footsteps and is honored to help carry forward the work of those who came before him.
James Owens
President Emeritus
James Owens, President Emeritus of the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center, has over a fifty-year career in business where his roles ranged from corporate executive to entrepreneur. Throughout this period, he consistently served as a board member for various community organizations including Omega Psi Phi as well as the Action for Boston Community Development Inc (ABCD).
Andrew DeFranza
Board Member
Andrew DeFranza has served as the Executive Director of Harborlight Homes since 2007. Harborlight develops, manages, and advocates for high quality, service-enriched affordable homes for essential workers, fixed-income elderly, disabled individuals, and those who struggle with homelessness. Harborlight's mission is to collaborate with communities to cultivate just, equitable and sustainable housing opportunities. The current housing portfolio encompasses over 700 units, providing homes for nearly 1000 people on the North Shore. Harborlight currently has 374 units in its real estate active development pipeline across the region. Andrew is married with five children. He has been in nonprofit leadership roles for over 25 years, in both New England and the Midwest. Prior to leading Harborlight, Andrew was the Executive Director of Guest House, an organization serving the homeless in Milwaukee. He holds an M.A. in Theology (Social Ethics) and an M.S. in Community Economic Development.
Selassie N. Alleyne
Board Member
Selassie N. Alleyne is an education and arts leader, filmmaker, artist, and Apple-certified technology trainer whose career spans Boston Public Schools, independent schools, private boarding and college-preparatory schools, and higher education. He currently serves as Assistant Director at Paige Academy Nursery & Elementary School in Roxbury, bringing extensive experience in classroom teaching, educational leadership, technology, digital arts, film, and media. A Boston College graduate, Selassie earned a Master of Fine Arts in Film & Digital Technology from Chatham University, and is pursuing a PhD at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, where he was awarded the Dr. David Driskell Fellowship. He is also a filmmaker and longtime radio producer and host. For the past year, Selassie has served on the Board of Directors of the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center, connecting his commitment to education and community development with his interests in herbs, foraging, natural health, wellness, and the relationship between healthy food, education, and community well-being. Raised in Dorchester and deeply connected to Roxbury and the surrounding neighborhoods, Selassie considers himself a neighborhood educator, committed to bringing together education, technology, arts, health, and community engagement to expand opportunities for young people, families, and the communities he serves.
Pam Doiley
Board Member
Pam Doiley, born and raised in Roxbury, has fond memories of her neighbor across the street - Mr. Cooper! Her roots to the community and the Cooper Center run deep, as a child of one of the founding members of the Center. Mr. Cooper and other elders of the community, who’s legacy can be seen in the educational programs offered at the center, had a lasting impact on Pam.
A graduate of Boston Latin School, Pam has a B.A. in English and Political Science from Johnson C. Smith University, a M.Ed from Boston College, as well as a JD from Northeastern University School of Law.
Colin Redd
Board Member
Colin Redd is a Boston-based marketing, media, and business development professional with a passion for community engagement, youth empowerment, and creating opportunities for underserved communities. He currently serves as Director of Sales at the Bay State Banner, where he develops strategic partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations throughout Greater Boston. Colin is also the founder of Vineyard Legacy, a marketing and experiential events agency established in 2017, producing cultural experiences and community initiatives across the Northeast. Through the agency, he has worked with national brands and developed programs such as City to Sea, which introduces urban youth to sailing, mentorship, and new experiences. An active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Colin is dedicated to serve initiatives supporting youth, families, and underserved communities. As a board member of the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center, he is committed to preserving its legacy, expanding community partnerships, and creating opportunities for future generations.
Thomas Carroll
Board Member
Thomas Carroll, born and raised in Boston's South End neighborhood, is a finance professional with experience across wealth management, financial planning, and financial analysis. Throughout his career, he has developed a strong foundation in financial accuracy, attention to detail, and relationship management. He hold's a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and is committed to applying his professional skills and experience to support organizational growth and community development. He was introduced to the Edward L. Cooper Community Gardening & Education Center by his older cousin, Kern, who shares the same passion as himself for giving back to the community and supporting the Center's mission. Inspired by this shared commitment, Thomas has proudly served on the Center's Board of Directors for the past two years, contributing his time, professional expertise, and dedication to strengthening the community he has always called home.