About ROSC
ROSC (Resources for Organizing and Social Change formerly INVERT) was founded in 1977 by people who wanted an organization to promote nonviolence and social change through mechanisms of education, training, and organizing. We believe the most effective way to make change is to focus on root causes of injustice, and to organize with and encourage leadership in people who are impacted by the issues they are trying to change.
In all of the work ROSC does, we first and foremost prioritize relationship building and human connection. We are not only wanting to dismantle oppressive systems, we are wanting to replace them with systems that nurture, create joy and laughter, and that hold people as whole human beings. We believe community building is just as important as strategic planning because without strong, vibrant, trusting communities who can rely on each other, what have we got?
ROSC Staff & Board
Sass Borodkin, Executive Director
Sass Borodkin (they/them) is a late-blooming, nonbinary, queer grandparent who is having a love affair with working as the Executive Director of Resources for Organizing and Social Change. On their own in the world since age 16, and a veteran of chronic homelessness who lives with several disabilities, Sass is no stranger to what it means to struggle and try to thrive in a world where the deck is stacked against those with the least. As a result, though Sass much enjoys engaging in various types of direct-relief volunteer work, what they most enjoy is organizing around root causes of injustice to create a world that values human connection, joy, and community care, and helps to dismantle structures of white supremacy, classism, and other forms of oppression that devalue the beauty in what it means to simply be existing.
ROSC Board of Directors
We’ve never successfully captured a picture with the whole board in one place, but we’re working on it! Above is a picture of a handful of our board members along with Sass (our E.D.) at our 2024 staff/board retreat (top image from left to right top row: Tink Zall, Kimberly Hammill, Sass Borodkin, Negina Lawler-Naluai, Iggy River/bottom row: Sett Vincent and Deb Paredes). You can see a full list of our board members at the bottom of this page. ROSC has been around since 1977 and our board has shifted and changed throughout the decades. The people leading the org today are all seasoned activists, organizers, and advocates who work on issues ranging from racial justice, to harm reduction, to anti-militarism, to mutual aid and anti-capitalist culture building, to environmental justice, and more.
In addition to the work ROSC’s staff and board does, ROSC also functions because of the invaluable work of other consultants, and a large handful of indispensable volunteers.
Mike Reynolds, Content Creator
Mike Reynolds (he/him) has been a web wrangler and writer for Ability Maine since 2009. Currently, Mike creates content for Ability Maine’s website and social media pages. Mike’s interests and the scope of his writing are wide-ranging. He profiles members of Maine’s disability community, covers news items of relevance to people with disabilities, and reports on his own or others’ activism for social justice in Maine or around the country. Recently, Mike’s exposé on UCP of Maine sparked outrage and was likely the impetus for important changes in the organization. Have a story idea, news tip, or interest in being profiled on AM? Mike can be reached at uppitycrip@gmail.com.
Ivy Quigley, Web Manager & Editor
Ivy Quigley (they/them) is a queer Disordered transfemme with a junk spine and a wild brain. They have organized queer safe spaces, done outreach for LGBTQ+ and homeless youth, and participated in local education reform. They’re often seen raising a sign; some of their many protests include school funding cuts, LGBTQ+ discrimination, gender essentialism, and economic inequality. Their passions include creating queer media, destigmatizing and normalizing mental illness, nonfiction studies, intersectional feminism, and board games. They are the Web Manager for Ability Maine and the Editor-in-Chief of Breath & Shadow.
Kat Kofton, Resource Administrator
Katryna (Kat) Kofton (she/they) is an avid adaptive sit-skier, a PSIA-certified ski instructor, and a volunteer for adaptive sports organizations across the Northeast. She dreams of establishing her own non-profit, The Misfits Foundation, to provide equipment grants for individuals struggling to find funding for adaptive sports. When she’s not skiing, Kat enjoys music, car camping, traveling, and adaptive mountain biking with her local adaptive sports organization. She currently works as a Resource Administrator for Ability Maine, where she researches and compiles resources to support individuals with various diagnoses and disabilities. She is passionate about connecting people with resources that can improve their lives.
ROSC Board of Directors
Winona Christnot-Peters – Presque Isle, ME
Tink Zall – Portland, ME
Sett Vincent – Augusta, ME
Negina Lawler-Naluai – Orono, ME
Matryo Welch – Augusta, ME
Kimberly Hammill – Levant, ME
Iggy River – Machias, ME
Heide Lester – Paris, ME
Deb Paredes – Unity, ME
Andrea Berry – Yarmouth, ME
Please Note: We are currently not in search of new board members but if you identify as an activist or grassroots organizer and would like to see if you’d be a good fit as a board member of ROSC in the future, contact Sass at sass.rosc@gmail.com with the subject heading: Future Board Opening.