Program Manager,
P.S. 109
Originally from western Massachusetts, Asa moved to Brooklyn in summer 2022.
Asa has a background in environmental studies and coastal education, with a passion for place-based learning and environmental justice. When not leading classes at various schools across NYC, they can be found hanging in their local community garden, walking their elderly dog Ellis, or making breakfast for friends (their favorite meal).
Picnic in the park
Executive Director
Kristen brings two decades of nonprofit experience dedicated to educational equity, with a focus on leading in-school and out-of-school time programs that provide resources to public schools and historically marginalized communities. Kristen has led high-performing teams, programs, and partnerships at NYC-based high-impact organizations such as Prep for Prep, PowerMyLearning, and Teach For America. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Read Ahead (formerly Everybody Wins! New York) for nine years, helping to stabilize and scale the organization’s impact to support literacy and social-emotional learning outcomes for NYC public elementary school students.
Kristen holds a BA in political science and classical humanities from The George Washington University and an MSc in political theory from The London School of Economics and Political Science. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and twin daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, exercising, cooking and baking, tinkering in her garden, trying new restaurants, and staying on top of the latest pop culture trends.
Corn on the cob (tough and hardy but sweet, representing sunshine, my favorite color, my favorite season summer, and New Jersey – we have the best corn!)
Senior Manager of Institutional and Corporate Giving
Julia comes to Edible Schoolyard NYC after working in nonprofits dedicated to addressing social injustices. Julia is an advocate for supporting food access and equitable community development as she works to build connections across NYC. Outside of the office, she enjoys trying new restaurants, wandering throughout the city and exploring new places.
Cucumber
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Seasonal Gardener
Mattia “Tia” was born in Staten Island, NY. She has lived in Harlem, The Bronx and Westchester County. She attended Concordia College-NY for her Bachelor of Social Work. Afterward, she attended New York University for her Master’s in Social Work with a clinical concentration. In 2021, she transitioned to doing environmental stewardship work and hasn’t looked back. In her free time she is gardening, hiking, attending community events, spending time at a local Buddhist temple and facilitating Soundbath Meditation workshops.
Orchard Beach Trails, Bronx NY
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Director of Horticulture and Operations
Jason is a practicing horticulturist and educator. He is passionate about community gardens, garden education and making horticulture training programs more accessible. For over a decade he has worked with plants to engage diverse communities in NYC. He is on a mission to capture and share the spirit of the gardener and to reimagine what a garden can be. Jason graduated with an MFA from the University of Minnesota and in 2015 completed the Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens. In his spare time he likes to read and do almost nothing.
South Texas in February
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Director of Education and Quality
Liza comes to Edible Schoolyard NYC after many years as a classroom teacher of both children and adults, and trains our educators to become better teachers themselves. She is currently trying to perfect the kale pesto recipe she learned in a kitchen class at PS 216.
Marcella Hazan: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Director of School Programs
Dan comes to Edible Schoolyard NYC from the culinary world. Prior to 2012, Dan had a brief stint in the nonprofit development world before leaving to attend culinary school and cook professionally in New York City restaurants. Fortunately he found his way to Edible Schoolyard NYC at P.S. 216, where he happily remains to this very day.
Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking: A Cookbook
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Program Manager,
P.S./M.S. 7
Tessa approaches their work with curiosity, patience and humility. Their food knowledge is informed by years of cooking and growing food in different settings — such as treatment centers, schools and restaurants. They are grateful for all of the cooks, food growers and caregivers who resonate with their belief that food is a powerful tool for connection. When it’s their turn to teach, they strive to nurture their students’ curiosity and creativity in the kitchen and garden.
Dragon Carrot
Pronouns: They/She
Program Manager,
P.S. 216
Originally from Houston, TX, Hannah is new to New York City and is very excited to join the ESYNYC team. Hannah loves cooking, gardening, being outdoors, and eating dark chocolate chips by the handful. Prior to joining the P.S.216 team, Hannah attended college in Maine and taught workshops on urban farms in Brooklyn.
Sweet Potato
Pronouns: She/They/Them
Vice President, Development
and External Affairs
Ariel Grace is a strategic nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience spanning fundraising, communications, operations, and program management. She most recently led the Development & Communications team at Read Ahead, where she helped to significantly expand the organization’s revenue, build operational systems, and improve cross-team collaboration. Prior to joining Read Ahead, Ariel gained valuable fundraising, grant management, and program experience at nationally-recognized organizations including City Year and Jumpstart.
With a background in research and early childhood development, Ariel is passionate about advancing equity and access for young people through mission-driven work and sustainable organizational growth. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Oberlin College, and a Master’s degree in Cognitive Psychology from Northwestern University.
Veggie Alter Ego
Dinosaur Kale
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Garden Manager
Chloe has been growing food and flowers in NYC for nearly a decade. She is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, certified Citizen Pruner, with a certificate in Urban Farming and a Masters in Public Health. She is passionate about using the garden as a tool to explore topics such as social justice, mutual aid, and environmental stewardship – and of course, to grow and share plants with her community. In her free time, you may find her on her bicycle or tending to her container garden in her south Brooklyn backyard.
The Tassajara Bread Book
Pronouns: She/Her
Senior Manager of Finance and Operations
Shama Lakdawala (she/her/hers) is our Senior Manager of Finance and Operations. She has been working with startups, small businesses, and non-profits for over a decade. Shama has worked in various industries, such as private investigation, mental health, entertainment, publishing, production, education technology, podcasting, and commercial real estate. You can often find Shama learning a new hobby, watching Drag Race with her dogs, or convincing her friends to go to karaoke. Most importantly, she is passionate about creating spaces for people to feel included, heard, and confident.
8am on Rockaway Beach, watching the surfers and dolphins
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Program Manager,
P.S./M.S. 7
Purslane
Pronouns: She/They/Them
Program Manager,
Brighter Choice Community School
Salena has a background in Organismal Biology and Ecology. They are passionate about urban gardening and getting kids excited to try new foods. When they are not at Brighter Choice Community School, you can find them making jewelry, biking, and trying every bakery in the city
Rockaway Beach
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Program Manager,
P.S. 109
Ryan comes to NYC from Texas, where he grew up around a family of educators and good food. After attending Columbia University for nutrition and becoming a Registered Dietitian, Ryan spent time at GrowNYC and Children’s Aid Society working with seed-to-plate and food justice programs. With a background in research, Ryan is as likely to be found reading a journal article as searching for the best new restaurant in town.
The Flavor Bible
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Program Manager,
P.S. 216
Neida was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona. She attended the University of Arizona where she got her BA in Anthropology and gained inspirational research experience around food and culture. She is now working on her Masters in Applied Anthropology through an online program with the University of North Texas. Neida recently moved to NYC and loves it thus far. On her free time she loves to be outside whether that is hiking, running, or just walking around the city. She also enjoys taking dance classes, drawing, taking pictures with her film camera, and watching movies at the Nitehawk movie theater.
Cherry Tomato
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Program Manager,
Brighter Choice Community School
Mimi is originally from Maryland and moved to Brooklyn in 2018. They went to NYU Gallatin and studied the history of diasporic communities in America and studio art. Mimi has worked as a teaching artist at museums and schools all over NYC, where they have taught visual arts and painted murals with students. This past year, Mimi worked as an educator on rooftop farms in Brooklyn, and they loved taking care of the chickens and bees. Outside of work, Mimi loves biking, listening to music, and hanging out with their cat, Cookie.
Jacob Riis beach
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Development and External Affairs
Consultant
Trudy Stallings is a development professional with 20+ years of experience. Throughout her career, she has raised critically needed funds for NAF, Figure Skating in Harlem, The Harlem School of the Arts, the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center, and the International Rescue Committee. Trudy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina, where she majored in English and International Studies. Her mission as a social purpose leader is to help young people identify and pursue their interests, develop their skills, or remove barriers so they can see their way to a goal and feel empowered to pursue it.
Sitting in a picture window with the sun shining on her, a cup of coffee by her side, and book in her hand, and no plans for the day.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Interim Vice President,
Finance and Operations
Kristin holds a BA in political science from Villanova University and an MPA in public administration from The George Washington University. In her spare time, she enjoys singing in a pops chorus – The Alexandria Singers, traveling, reading, bingeing TV, attending concerts & theater performances, trying new restaurants, and time with her cute Havanese dog, Lola. She is also a board member of Humanity Corps, an organization that supports students and families in Ecuador.
The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer (the one my grandfather gifted me when I was learning to cook)
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
We make the connections between food, health, and environment come alive for our students.
Our Board is comprised of dedicated individuals who are deeply committed to Edible Schoolyard NYC’s mission.
Our supporters include nonprofits, foundations, corporate partners, and both the culinary and wellness communities.
