The recording of a recent interview session is now available for viewing.

There are four seats to be determined 

Steering Committee Candidates

Arshia Papari

Arshia Papari is a second-generation Iranian-American organizer, strategist, and Green Party candidate for Texas State Representative in House District 49. A proud member of the Green Party and a former Vice-President and Spokesman of Austin Students for a Democratic Society, Arshia is running for the GPUS Steering Committee to help build a party that is bold, uncompromising, and grounded in justice for people and planet alike.

Arshia has been organizing since high school, on immigrant rights, climate justice, education access, anti-war resistance, and youth power. In recent years, he has led or co-led dozens of campaigns and actions, including student protests for Palestine, protests and walkouts for Immigrants rights and against ICE detention centers, lobbying efforts on immigration, education, free speech, and pro-Palestine legislation, and campaigns for ceasefire and sanctuary resolutions in Texas cities. He has served as a legislative aide in the Texas House of Representatives twice, written and advised on progressive legislation, managed several electoral campaigns, and worked with local coalitions on policy related to the death penalty, public health, migrant defense, and divestment efforts.

Arshia helped spearhead organizing for the 2024 Stein/Ware campaign in Austin Texas, managing campus-wide outreach, hosting educational forums, and organizing Professor Ware’s visit to the University of Texas at Austin. His testimony and advocacy in city councils and the state capitol have uplifted the Green Party as a principled alternative to the violence of the status quo.

He also has mentored and trained youth organizers across the country, has directed national civic education programs, and helped build the leadership pipelines necessary for sustaining a long-term political movement. His organizing experience includes work on county and state electoral campaigns, climate coalition strategy, campus political engagement, and national legislative tracking for youth-led organizations.

Arshia is running for Steering Committee to help sharpen the strategic direction of the Green Party and grow it into a viable, visible, and action-oriented political force. His priorities include:

• Youth Power: Bringing forth a green youth focused media and engagement strategy and establishing national training, mentorship, and organizing infrastructure for new Green leaders.


  
  
• Ballot Access & Visibility: Supporting the party’s fight for ballot access across all states while growing Green presence in city halls, capitols, and media ecosystems.


  
  
• Political Identity: Sharpening the Party’s public messaging to position it clearly as the independent left opposition to war, ecological destruction, capitalist exploitation, and police and border violence.


  
  
• National Cohesion: Improving internal communication and national strategic planning so that states, candidates, and caucuses can work in unison instead of in silos, with a greater ease of communication, and access.



Arshia believes the Green Party must become the political home for those disillusioned by both corporate parties, especially youth, immigrants, workers, and the climate generation. He brings discipline, policy fluency, and the grounded perspective of someone who has organized from the classroom to the Capitol.

Arshia is running to help prepare the Green Party to lead in an era that demands nothing less than transformation.

Craig Cayetano

My name is Craig Cayetano. I am currently a national co-chair and am Communications Chair for the Green Party of New Jersey. I am seeking your vote for national co-chair of the Green Party of the United States once again.

I have been a registered Green since 2016 and have volunteered for numerous campaigns in NJ; Kaper-Dale for Governor 2017, Hoffman for Senate 2018, Hoffman for Senate 2020, Hoffman for Governor 2021, Faison for LD 11 in 2021 and myself have run for Hawthorne Town council, which I earned 33.4% of the vote in 2023.

I am currently the Communications Chair for the Green Party of New Jersey. I have served as a national delegate for GPNJ, served as GPNJ State Co-Chair for 3 terms and a member of the LatinX Caucus. New Jersey has run numerous candidates for office and has consistently beaten the Libertarian Party since 2017. During my races for town council I was the first Green to secure endorsements from the Sierra Club and League of Conservation voters.

I continue to serve as a Green Team member in the town of Hawthorne since 2018, a Passaic County SPCA member/board member since 2019 and am a co-founding member of Voter Choice NJ along with other Green Party of New Jersey members. VCNJ is a non-partisan group working to help pass RCV trigger ordinances throughout the state of New Jersey. For a few months during the pandemic I was able to feed and assist families with Mutual Passaic County, a mutual aid organization I started in Passaic County.

I am pro-labor and anti all wars. I have advocated for some modernization to the Green Party platform by supporting a "Fifth Pillar -Labor" and even would support expanding our SC to include organizations in alignment with our ideals and values. I have been a committee liaison to Media, Merchandise, the PCSC and was recently added as liaison to oversee and help restructure the Outreach Committee. I am a proud supporter of the Abandon Biden/Harris faction that has joined our party which has brought new energy and perspectives across the state party chapters. I have supported the NJ chapter of the recently formed A&M Caucus of GPNJ, which is one of the early chapters ratified in our state party bylaws this year. I also plan to support and expand on the work needed to establish an Indigenous and Disability caucus. I still consider caucuses as entry points for those marginalized to know they have representation in our always growing party.

I always work with anyone and try to find a path forward, sometimes we have people join the party and in the end leave for their reasons but we need to call out those that spend more time bringing us down than elevating us all up. I still believe for us to grow we need to put aside petty differences and offer a vision and direction while maintaining structure, decorum and mutual respect. I work in sales which focuses on customer relations, negotiating and problem solving. All skills that have served me well in my role as a national co-chair and I am ready to take on another term with even more commitment and enthusiasm. I have supported coalition work with Workers Strike Back, PSL and this term will double-down on my focus to outreach and have us lead in actions across the country.

I was proud to serve as one of your last Presidential Nominating Convention Co-Chairs and have appeared as a national spokesperson on several podcasts during my first term as a co-chair. I also served on the hiring committee for the temporary fundraiser and played a role in ensuring all the party's social media platforms are active. In my second term my goal is to
initiate and support more live events to showcase the work of our committees, highlight our candidates and fundraise for new projects.

I kindly ask you to rank me as your first choice for national co-chair and look forward to serving everyone and helping us expand the party nationally.

Laura Potts

Laura lived globally in her youth and registered Green in 1992, in Southern California. She moved to Southwest Missouri in the very late '90s. Laura founded/led a Kids for Peace chapter (4 years), modeling youth empowerment with grassroots local and international peacebuilding. She was active with her local Green Party affiliate and sustains connections across state chapters. She later became a Presidential Nominator for Missouri at the 2020 Green National PNC. Now rooted in Florida, as Co-Chair, Laura fights to deepen local affiliates, strengthen national ties, and build a future where people and planet thrive. She bridges justice work through international committees and national caucuses. Laura has previously been a GPUS National Committee Observer (2022-2024) and is now an Elected Delegate (2024, re-elected 2025). Laura operates two socially conscious micro-businesses: ESL tutoring- advancing equity in education; and fiber arts and crafting - modeling community based economics and ecological wisdom.

Laura champions decentralized power and cultivating the wisdom of practitioners throughout the Green Party.

Tamar Yager

When many people talk about the Steering Committee of an organization, they often think of a group of leaders that determine overall policy and strategy, set goals, initiate projects, and govern the organization. But here is the definition of our Steering Committee’s charge:

The GPUS Steering Committee (SC), along with the party’s staff, oversees and helps execute the day-to-day administration and operations of the party.

Thus, the Steering Committee Co-Chairs for the Green Party are responsible for administrative tasks including monitoring finances, overseeing office and staffing, participating in bi-weekly Steering Committee calls and assisting in other operational undertakings. Each Co-Chair is a liaison responsible for communicating regularly with several committees. This often means providing assistance in re-invigorating committees and assisting in their work. Unlike many organizations, in our party, the Steering Committee doesn’t necessarily “steer” or make policy. The National Committee makes policy and the committees implement with the SC and staff overseeing.

Because I have served in many leadership positions in the Green Party in my local and state and on several national committees, I am well-suited to fulfill the duties of a SC Co-Chair. Having been on staff as Fundraising Manager (2009-2010) and later serving as staff supervisor, I have extensive knowledge of most of the inner workings of the party operations, financial systems, NationBuilder database, merchandise issues, and more. When we did not have a treasurer for several months, I did the FEC reports and handled other financial duties. When we laid off staff a few years ago, I served as the volunteer Office Manager. Currently, I am most involved on the Fundraising and Annual Meeting Committees but I have served on others in past years. In the last term I served as staff Supervisor as well as liaison to the Media, Finance and Merchandise Committees.   I have much-needed institutional memory on most administrative matters.

Some people have been critical of SC candidates because they seem so busy, often with committee work. Many people say that if you want to get something done, ask a busy person. Well, I am always busy – some would call me a professional volunteer. I am lucky to be able to devote a significant amount of time to the Green Party. In my time(s) on the SC, I regularly put in 20 or more hours each week including committee work. 

My professional work background is in development, meeting planning and non-profit marketing/administration. I’ve had some great jobs over the past 30 years – I was a community organizer for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. I worked for many years at Actors Theatre in the marketing department. I was a federal grants writer for the Louisville Metro Government and most recently I was the Community Manager for my housing cooperative until it was bought out by a developer. Currently I am the Associate Director of Call to Action (CTA-USA.org). In my role I oversee all fundraising, finances and human resources.

My work, volunteer and political experience is broad. I was chosen by our town council to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals (ended in 2021), which is a constitutional office. I recently termed out on the board of our local United Way where I successfully chaired several events that raised over $50,000. I have served in roles on various candidate and issue campaigns since I joined the party in 2006.

I feel I can bring a balanced view to the Steering Committee and as a liaison to other GPUS committees. Some have said I am a voice of reason because I listen to all sides and try to compromise on difficult issues. I try to find common ground on issues while still maintaining the letter and spirit of our rules.

Vision, hopes, dreams, priorities for the Party:

• Encourage every Green be a donor at some level.
• Make ballot access a priority so that we can be on the ballot everywhere in 2028.
• Strengthen affiliated parties in all states and revive dormant state parties.
• Elect more Greens to office at all levels by building state parties.
• Work with others to develop a long-term plan to become an anti-racist organization.
• Help empower Committees so they can do their work without micromanaging.

I think these priorities are achievable with standing committees, the National Committee and the Steering Committee working together.

On a personal level, in 2006 I married into the Green Party and moved to Virginia from Kentucky.  My husband, Tom, was very involved on the local, state and national level.  I first became involved nationally when I attended the 2007 meeting in Reading and then helped plan the 2008 Convention in Chicago.  In my spare time I love to cook, watch reruns of Law and Order and play with our two “kids”, RipleyCat and KaceyCat.

It has been an honor to serve on the Steering Committee in previous years and I look forward to doing that for another term. I hope I can count on your #1 vote.

Tamar Yager
[email protected]

Wissam Charafeddine

Wissam Charafeddine is an Arab American thinker, activist, author, entrepreneur, educator, and engineer. He holds a Master’s Degree in Software Engineering from the University of Michigan–Dearborn and serves as an Optimization Expert at W Design and Development, as well as the Family and Community Engagement Liaison at a local School District.

A prolific writer and published poet, Wissam is the author of The Opposite Swings, Climbing Leaves,  Pains, and the Book of Paris. His published works also include The Awaited Arab State, a visionary proposal for Arab confederation; Universal Declaration of Human Values, a bold philosophical treatise on shared ethics across civilizations; and كون من عدم (A Universe from Nothing), an eloquent Arabic exploration of metaphysical and humanist ideas.  He is also the author of the W Planner, on how to become the Super You, and IRSHADIYAT, 12 formulas for the renewal of Islamic thought.

Wissam is the founder of the nascent Arab American and Muslim American Green Party Caucus, advocating for political engagement of the Arab and Muslim American Communties, and their empowerment through running for office via the platform of the Green Party, which aligns with their values closely. He is also the cofounder of the Arab American Center for Culture and Arts and the PanIslamic Alliance. A hyper-entrepreneur, Wissam has launched several businesses and nonprofit organizations and remains deeply engaged in Islamic studies, reformist thought, and issues of Arab identity and historical renewal.

Secretary Candidates

Esmée Silverman

Hey everyone! Much appreciation to those of you who have expressed excitement and asked questions regarding my secretary campaign.

Firstly, I am honored to be sharing the floor with such passionate and committed delegates. Some of you have been here longer than I’ve been alive (2002) and it’s truly an honor to work with people who are dedicated to the Green Party Values.

One question I feel most important to address is whether or not my goals are compatible with the Secretary position.

After reading over section 2-2 of our bylaws to understand what the GPUS Secretary position entailed specifically, I envisioned how I could improve upon already existing structures. In particular, it was 2-2.4, 2-2.6, and 2-2.7 that motivated me to run for this position. I am a web designer, graphic designer, community organizer, but in my heart, I am a Green Party member that stands for progress and optimism. If there is an area I can improve, I will get right to work and support others around me. Maybe onex-bbedit-document:///untitled%20text%2016?34 day we can have an 11th pillar that emphasizes community care.

As a recent college graduate who wants to make a dent in this universe, I felt eager to comment the ways in which I could enrich GPUS and the Steering Committee should I be elected to the Secretary position. It’s why I love our future focus pillar so dearly. I want to support my friends, colleagues, and the Green Party for the future as much as I can.

I am eager to contribute to the growth of our party and look forward to participating in a candidate forum to address any further questions and discuss my motivations for the position. :)

Esmée Silverman
Pronouns: they/she
Queer Youth Assemble co-president
On stolen Multnomah land

Holly Hart

I believe all of the above, while not always particularly exciting, can go a long way toward helping to create a more civil and efficient communications system, regardless of whatever platform the NC eventually uses.

I am also running because I have enjoyed the type of work involved. I am familiar with the make-up of the GPUS and its various policy documents and am able to help steer newcomers to helpful information and resources. I am willing to be available at times delegates may be most apt to seek information or assistance, and help them (even if it’s something with which I  would disagree with them as a delegate).

I am an advocate for open meetings and have encouraged members to observe calls.

I reinforce my interest in having more individuals learn more about the tasks required.  It is advisable for more folks to have a familiarity with the way GPUS operates, including the “back end.”

To give delegates an idea of some of the other work I’ve been involved with, here are some of my recent activities: I am a past member of Coordinated Campaign Committee; current member of Media, Platform and Ballot Access Committees, and the National Women’s Caucus. I assist with organizing and electoral work in my local chapter and state party.

Past work (included here to give an idea of the work involved): Created a list and calendar of secretarial duties, updated and edited a Welcome/Information Message that goes to all new delegates and alternates, and an Info-sheet about the Voting Page.

Local/State Experience: Leafletting, tabling, petitioning, envelope-stuffing, event planning, media (press releases, appearances on Public Access TV, network television and radio), letter-writing, grabbing the mic. at public hearing sessions at city council meeting, etc… Sought and gained bi-partisan legislative support for an expanded ballot status option bill in 2001-2003; 2006-07, was a consultant in a related Green/Libertarian lawsuit successfully settled out of court. Coordinated ballot access petitioning in my state for Green presidential candidates since the early 2000’s. Oversaw ballot filing paperwork nationally for Cobb/LaMarche in 2004; McKinney/Clemente in 2008; some of the Stein/Baraka 2016 campaign. IAGP candidate for Lt Gov in 2002. (Slate was endorsed by the statewide Latinx weekly.) Volunteer with several local campaigns, including campaign treasurer. Panelist on women in electoral politics program, presented by the University of Iowa Women's Resource and Action Center. Current or past member of boards of directors for Extend the Dream Foundation, Emergency Housing Project (Shelter House), Citizens for Public Power, appointment to the city Housing and Community Development Commission.

Philena Farley

I am Philena Farley, a lifelong organizer, technologist, and advocate for justice, transparency, and collective action. My journey with the Green Party began at the grassroots—first as a volunteer, then as a candidate, and now as a leader at the local, state, and national levels.

I currently serve as Co-Chair of both the Ohio Green Party and the National Black Caucus, where I work every day to amplify the voices of those too often left out of politics. In 2018, I ran for U.S. Senate from Ohio as a Green, and I’ve held roles as state party treasurer, campaign treasurer for our 2018 governor’s race, and National Committee delegate. These experiences have taught me the value of transparency, accountability, and building power from the ground up.

Professionally, I am a High-Impact Legal Operations Specialist at Ricoh USA, Inc., where I implement new services, document processes, and drive collaboration using agile and scrum methodologies. My background in technical writing and project management helps me bring clarity and structure to everything I do—skills I believe are essential for the role of National Secretary.

Beyond elections, I am passionate about racial and economic justice, reproductive rights, and digital democracy. As a media co-chair and frequent presenter at Green Party events, I’ve trained candidates and activists in effective communication, campaign strategy, and community organizing. I believe in the SEED framework—centering structural equity, transparency, and the common good in all our work.

Locally, I have volunteered my time to host booths and support community outreach for organizations such as the Free Software Foundation, Rank the Vote Ohio, Move to Amend, and the Community Bill of Rights in Columbus, Ohio. These experiences have deepened my commitment to grassroots democracy, digital rights, and people-powered movements.

The Green Party’s Four Pillars—Peace and Non-Violence, Ecological Wisdom, Grassroots Democracy, and Social Justice—guide me every day. I am running for National Secretary because I want to help build a transparent, inclusive, and resilient Green Party that truly reflects our values and lifts up every voice.

If you share my vision for a party rooted in justice and accountability, I invite you to join me. Together, we can build the future we deserve.

Contact:
Philena Farley
Co-Chair, Ohio Green Party & National Black Caucus
[email protected]

Treasurer Candidates

Mark Elbounro

My name is Mauamar Elbourno, though most know me as Mark Elbourno. I am a Palestinian American from Gaza, a lifelong advocate for justice, and a movement-builder with deep roots in community, accountability, and freedom. Today, I humbly offer my experience, integrity, and service as I run for Treasurer of the Green Party.

First, relevant to the Treasurer position: I have spent decades building and managing a successful small family business from the ground up. I’ve led teams, navigated complex transactions, and overseen financial operations with discipline, transparency, and results. I understand the urgency of sound fiscal stewardship—because I’ve lived it. I’ve grown our business while maintaining full regulatory and tax compliance, ensuring our team thrived in both operations and vision. This foundation directly informs how I will serve as Treasurer.

But I don’t just organize numbers. I organize people. I help build coalitions and movements.

As the Vice Chair of the North Carolina Green Party, I’ve been at the forefront of strategic organizing and internal governance. I also proudly serve as an Alternate Delegate at the national level and as President of the Arab and Muslim American Caucus in North Carolina. Through this work, I’ve collaborated closely with our NC Black Caucus and other state caucuses to strengthen the Party through unity, equity, and principled struggle. We are proving every day that solidarity isn’t just a slogan—it’s a political tool for transformation.

In 2024, I was honored to be a core volunteer in Dr. Jill Stein’s presidential campaign, taking on responsibilities in operations, coalition development, and grassroots engagement. I know how critical it is to have an organized, dynamic, and financially sound structure to power our movement—not just during election cycles, but every single day.

Knowing exactly what our Green Party is hungry for—vision, truth, courage—I proudly nominated Professor Butch Ware to join Dr. Jill Stein on the presidential ticket. When he accepted, it wasn’t just a win for the campaign—it was a seismic moment for all of us who believe liberation must be rooted in historical truth, moral clarity, and spiritual resistance. I’ve worked alongside Dr. Stein and Professor Ware, and I know firsthand what strong, principled leadership looks like. Our Party needs it. Our communities deserve it.

As Treasurer, I will bring precision, reliability, and full transparency to our financial operations. I will protect our values with the same intensity that I protect every dollar and detail in my small business.

It would be an honor to earn your vote. Together, we will continue to build the Green Party into the unapologetic, unstoppable political force it was always meant to be—accountable to the people, aligned with justice, and powered from the grassroots up.

Because unity makes us stronger—and financial integrity keeps us moving.

Samantha Raye

I was born in February 1986 in Fort Pierce, Florida, and currently reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A lifelong activist, I began organizing in 2007, first taking on the Church of Scientology's abusive practices including blackmail, imprisonment, and forced family separation. That same year, I became active in the Palestinian liberation movement and began organizing marches across South Florida in support of Gaza and the West Bank.

By 2012, I expanded advocacy to include food sovereignty and corporate accountability, organizing with the March Against Monsanto. I have never voted for or registered with the Democratic or Republican Parties. From early adulthood, I believed the two parties functioned as a unified system of corruption and control.

I discovered the Green Party in 2016 and immediately registered Green, becoming a volunteer and county coordinator for the Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka campaign. That same year, My family and I were targeted by Canary Mission and alt-right extremists in Florida, enduring nearly a year of in-person threats, harassment, and coordinated attacks. With no protection from local law enforcement, my family fled to Colorado in search of safety.

I remained deeply committed to Green organizing and became an early supporter of the 2024 Stein/Ware campaign. My husband & I launched a nightly livestream to recruit volunteers and educate the public on the Green Party platform. In 2024, I was officially hired by the campaign as the Southwest Regional Coordinator.

I played a key role in organizing the major Phoenix rally with "Abandon Harris," and helped lead three successful events in Denver for Jill Stein. In 2024, I was appointed Treasurer of the GCCC, taking over during a time of serious dysfunction: the committee had no funds, no access to its bank account, and was multiple FEC filings behind. Under my direction, the GCCC is now current with all filings, holds a stable financial reserve, and is fully operational.

I also serve as Secretary of the Green Party of Colorado. I bring unmatched and an unshakable commitment to grassroots democracy, peace, and justice. As Treasurer, I hope to bring accountability, transparency, and strategic coordination to the national Green Party's financial operations.