Morgan Monaco

Executive Director

Morgan Monaco has over 13 years of government experience at the intersection of environmental sustainability and social justice. Prior to joining the Red Hook Initiative as the Executive Director, she served as the Deputy Director at the Mayor’s Office of Operations, the City’s performance measurement and management office. At Operations, she helped to ensure that City government remained accountable to its residents by increasing operational efficiency, and by managing broad-reaching equity initiatives. She also helped to create OneNYC, which combines sustainability, equity and resiliency policy into one plan for NYC’s future. During her tenure at NYC Parks, she oversaw environmental sustainability initiatives and directed the MillionTreesNYC campaign to plant and care for one million new trees across the five boroughs. Morgan began her career on the Development team at StoryCorps, a national oral history project.

Morgan has a Master’s in Public Administration and Non-Profit Management from NYU Wagner, as well as a B.A. in International Studies from Vassar College. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, a fellow public servant, their son, an avid user of our city’s parks and playgrounds, and two cats, Raymour and Flannigan.

Gregg Bishop

Board Member

Gregg Bishop is the Executive Director of the Social Justice Fund, Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation. Previously Gregg served as the Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Gregg was charged with running a dynamic City agency focused on equity of opportunity that leads to economic self-sufficiency and mobility for New York City’s diverse communities. SBS actively connects New Yorkers to good jobs, creates stronger businesses, and builds a thriving economy in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. From 2015-2020, he oversaw the opening of new Workforce1 Career Centers, certified a record number of minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs) to compete for government contracts, helped businesses to open nearly three months faster, and expanded services to women and immigrant entrepreneurs.

Born in Grenada and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Gregg formerly served as Deputy Commissioner of SBS’ Business Development Division from 2012 to 2015. He began his tenure at the agency in 2008, and was responsible for a suite of programs designed to make it easier for businesses to start, operate, and grow, and to recover from emergencies. Prior to his career in government, Gregg served as the Senior Manager of Workforce Development at NPower.

Gregg received a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing and Management Communication from Florida State University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida A&M University. He studied International Management and Marketing in Tokyo, Japan, and is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, and the Coro Foundation’s Leadership New York. He is an adjunct professor at Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs and serves as a board member of Red Hook Initiative.

Michel’le Thomas

Community Relations Manager

Michel’le Thomas was born and raised in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Michel’le is in her mid 20’s trying to live her best life the only way she knows how. In between living her life, she is also trying to break barriers for women. When Michel’le says barriers, she means all the things people don’t expect from women. Her accomplishments become that inspiration for other women in the community. Michel’le works to create the type of environments where women can walk in the room and light it up, talk that talk, and be comfortable.

Michel’le has a dream: a dream to empower and inspire women all over the world. To come together and create safe spaces where they can be themselves, gain self-love to accept themselves in every possible way, build confidence wherever they may lack it and create and share opportunities that can benefit all women. While doing these things for themselves individually, Michel’le challenges us to do it for each other. It wouldn’t be her dream if she was not making it a reality! It can’t happen without you. Michel’le needs you and we all need each other. So on that note let’s get to it #whatyoufeelinglike

Danny Rivera

Danny Rivera is a New York City native award-winning composer and performer of Jazz and Electronic Music. As a member of the Bobby Sanabria Big Band, he has been featured as a Baritone Saxophonist and arranger on multiple Grammy-nominated recordings and toured the United States and Europe. Recent recordings include Kelly Clarkson’s “When Christmas Comes Around…”. Under the moniker LUNATiC, Danny has DJ’d various clubs, weddings, art events, and corporate parties, and has produced his debut album “Begin At Midnight”.