The Value of Water in Urban Agriculture

The New Jersey Urban Mayors Association
Urban Agriculture Conference is here!
The 2016 New Jersey Urban Mayors Association conference theme is Urban Agriculture as an
Economic Development Tool and will focus on the economic development opportunities for urban
communities through urban farming and agriculture in today’s technology driven, knowledge-based
economy. Conference sessions will focus on innovative ideas and best practices, and are designed to
provide a combination of substantive presentations and practical, real-world case study examples of
successful urban agriculture initiatives/enterprises.
This conference is intentionally designed to attract and facilitate interaction, learning, and information exchange among a diverse group of stakeholders in New Jersey’s urban and rural economic development future.
These stakeholders include:
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New Jersey Mayors of Urban and Rural Municipalities and their respective department heads
Other state and local officials, elected and appointed
Public and private sector economic development professionals and practitioners (including UEZ Coordinators, Engineers, Business Administrators, etc.)
Institutions of Higher Education (community colleges and four-year institutions), boards of education
Federal, state and local economic development agencies
State, regional, and local Chambers and EDC executives
Site selection and development professionals
Officials interested in reentry opportunities
Recreation Departments
Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn about innovative approaches and resources that may be available to
your economic development efforts, and develop contacts and relationships that can help your community!
8:00 am-8:45am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45am-9:15am
Welcome and Introduction:
Barbara George Johnson, Executive Director, The John S. Watson Institute for
Public Policy of Thomas Edison State University
The Honorable Wilda Diaz, Mayor, City of Perth Amboy,
President and Chair of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association
The Honorable Eric Jackson, Mayor, City of Trenton,
New Jersey Urban Mayors Association Central NJ Vice President
9:15am-10:15am
Plenary Session
Breaking Down Urban Agriculture
This session will give participants a better understanding of what urban agriculture
entails while delving into the operational, financial, and social challenges that arise in
making urban agriculture responsive and relevant to the needs of underserved communities and also examine the obstacles and opportunities for urban agriculture.
(George Washington Ballroom)
10:30am11:45am
Workshops I
Session 1: Innovative Systems Approaches to Urban Ag
In this session presenters will explore the various employment opportunities via the
innovative differences of technological systems and traditional approaches to growing
fresh produce. Also, in this session you will learn about the different educational models of urban agriculture from local colleges, universities, and urban agriculture businesses. Trainees who undergo these programs are prepared to grow and harvest via
traditional, hydroponic, and greenhouse growing methods.
(Delaware River Room)
Session 2: Supporting Agriculture in Policy
In this session participants will learn about existing agriculture policies pertaining to
urban and rural municipalities in regard to land use, preservation, and business development. In this session we will examine resolutions, initiatives, and legislation supporting urban agriculture. This session will have focus on contamination clean-up,
water access, land trusts, land access, and defining community.
(Turning Point Conference Room)
Session 3: The Value of Water in Urban Agriculture
In this session, you will hear how stakeholders from around the state are working to
provide technical assistance to communities regarding water infrastructure and will
focus on water policy as related to urban agriculture in New Jersey.
(Woodrow Wilson Board Room)
12:00pm –1:30pm
Lunch and Keynote – Healthy Communities and Urban Agriculture
The lack of access to healthy foods makes it difficult for families to eat nutritiously,
fueling the country’s growing obesity epidemic and the severe health problems that
complement it. This session will focus on various programs in place and how municipalities can play a key role in fostering healthy practices in their communities. It highlights the creative solutions that are being implemented to make certain that the products remain affordable and accessible and that community interests are represented in
the process. (George Washington Ballroom)
1:45pm-3:00pm
Workshops II
Session 1: Creating a Sustainable Urban Farmers Market
This session will be utilized to convene urban mayors and provide training and technical assistance to cities that currently host farmers markets to run these markets
with greater efficiency, increased fresh food access and a focus on health and wellness.
(Delaware River Room)
Session 2: Highlighting Success: Urban Ag Models that Work
This session will highlight the various urban agriculture models to create opportunities to address poverty and employment. This session will also focus on tools that can
help combat crime and provide sustainable employment to city residents.
(Turning Point Conference Room)
Session 3: Creating Opportunities for All
In this session, we will examine various agriculture projects specifically designed to
help individuals find jobs or providing basic job skills that will allow them to enter
other job markets, all while using urban agriculture to generate productive and empowering transitional employment. These urban farm projects will primarily focus on
youth, the homeless population, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
(Woodrow Wilson Board Room)
3:15pm -4:30pm
Closing Session:
Looking through the City’s Lenses
Local governments can use urban agriculture as a tool to address many financial,
health, and environmental issues. This session will provide cities with specific actions
through zoning, planning, and programs that municipalities are taking to attract urban agriculture to their cities. This session will also explore the variety of spaces that
urban agricultural businesses utilize, as well as how to identify emerging agricultural
businesses/entrepreneurs, and how to introduce them to the opportunities in urban
cities. This session will also highlight the various trainings, resources and funding
opportunities that are available to municipalities to create various agriculture opportunities in their communities. (George Washington Ballroom)
4:45pm-5:00pm
Closing and Giveaways
(George Washington Ballroom)
9:15 am -10:15 am
Plenary Session
Understanding Urban Agriculture
This session will give participants a better understanding of what urban agriculture entails while delving into the operational, financial, and social challenges that arise in making urban agriculture responsive and relevant to the needs of underserved communities and also examine the obstacles and opportunities for urban
agriculture.
Facilitator:
Meredith Taylor, MA, MPH
Research Associate
Office of Agriculture and Urban Programs
Rutgers University
Meredith is a Research Associate in the Office of Agriculture and Urban Programs at Rutgers University.
Meredith’s expertise is in the development and evaluation of community-based agriculture and food systems
projects. She has worked for award-winning and nationally recognized community development organizations in New York and New Jersey. Between 2001-2003, Meredith helped to design and implement New York
City’s first institutional-scale Community Supported Agriculture Project, connecting a community soup
kitchen and food pantry to fresh, locally grown food from farms in upstate New York. In its first year, the
kitchen served over 180,000 hot meals and the food pantry serviced 400 families per month. Prior to her appointment at Rutgers, Meredith consulted on the construction and program design of Newark’s first commercial-scale hydroponic farm. She holds graduate degrees in Nutrition and Food Studies from New York Uni-
Speakers:
Secretary Douglas H. Fisher
NJ Secretary of Agriculture
The State Board of Agriculture’s appointment of Mr. Fisher as Secretary of Agriculture was approved by then-Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Feb. 10, 2009. At the time,
Mr. Fisher was serving as a member of the General Assembly. Governor Christie
issued a statement in January 2010 supporting Mr. Fisher’s continued service as
the secretary.
Mr. Fisher received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from
Bryant College in Rhode Island in 1969. He served in the New Jersey National
Guard from 1969 to 1975. In 1971, he began a 30-year career as a supermarket
owner and operator. He is a Realtor and former New Jersey franchise owner of the
Entrepreneur’s Source. A Democrat, he was elected to the Assembly from the 3rd Legislative District in 2001
and was re-elected three times, serving as Deputy Majority Whip and Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural
Resources Committee. He also served on the Budget, Commerce, and Regulated Professions committees. He
was Cumberland County Freeholder from 1992 to 2001 and was Freeholder Director from 1996-2000. He also
served as a Bridgeton City Councilman from 1990-1992.
Mr. Fisher currently serves as the 10-state Northeastern Regional representative to the National Association
State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). He is a former Treasurer of NASDA, President of Food ExportNortheast, and President of the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture. In 2014 he was
awarded the Thomas W. Kelly New Jersey Food Council Government Service Award; in 2010, he received an
Honorary American FFA Degree; in 2009, he was given the South Jersey Freeholders Southern Star Award; in
2008, he was named Legislator of the Year by the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association; and in
2005, New Jersey Farm Bureau named him Legislator of the Year.
Fisher and his wife, Bonnie, have three grown children, Susan, Eric, and Carly.
Gerry Scharfenberger
Director, Office for Planning Advocacy
New Jersey Business Action Center
New Jersey Department of State
Gerry Scharfenberger, Ph.D. is the Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy
(OPA) for the New Jersey Business Action Center (BAC). Housed within the New
Jersey Department of State and reporting to the Lieutenant Governor, the BAC’s
core mission is to help create and retain jobs while encouraging private capital investment in the Garden State. In his role Gerry oversees the operation of the OPA and
develops and recommends policies and priorities designed to implement State planning policies, programs and practices.
Dr. Scharfenberger has spoken at numerous events sponsored by such respected planning organizations as the NJ Planning Officials, County Planning Association and Sustainable Raritan River
conferences. Gerry is a member of the adjunct faculty of Monmouth University in West Long Branch. Since
2005 he has served on the Middletown Township Committee. In addition he served as Mayor in 2007, 2008,
2010 and 2013 and Deputy Mayor in 2009 and 2006.
Gerry has been a member of the Landmarks Commission since 1996 where he was appointed Chairman in 2012,
and currently serves on the Middletown Township Open Space Committee and the Municipal Alliance for the
Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He also serves on the Monmouth County Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Committee. In 2006 he was the Township Committee's liaison to the Bayshore Dredge Committee, and in 2003
and 2004 Gerry sat on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and on Governor-elect Chris Christie's transition team.
Gerry is a member of the League of Municipalities legislative committee.
He holds a master's degree from Hunter College and received his doctorate in 2005 from the CUNY Graduate
Center with a dual focus on historical archaeology and cultural landscape studies.
Gerry has lived in Middletown for more than 19 years with his wife, Geraldine, and their two children.
10:30 am -11:45 am—Workshops I
Session 1: Innovative Systems Approaches to Urban Ag
(Delaware River Room)
In this session presenters will explore the various employment opportunities via the innovative differences of technological systems and traditional approaches to growing fresh produce. Also, in this session you will learn about the
different educational models of urban agriculture from local colleges, universities, and urban agriculture businesses.
Trainees who undergo these programs are prepared to grow and harvest via traditional, hydroponic, and greenhouse growing methods.
Facilitator:
David R. Specca
Assistant Director for Controlled Environment Agriculture and Bioenergy
Rutgers EcoComplex
Clean Energy Innovation Center
David Specca’s work focuses on sustainable greenhouse practices including; hydroponics,
aquaponics, and clean energy technologies such as anaerobic digestion, biofuels and combined heat and power. He serves as the Assistant Director for Controlled Environment
Agriculture and Bioenergy at the Rutgers University EcoComplex. His experience in both
the research and commercial aspects of agriculture gives him a unique perspective for the
integration of systems that are technically sound and economically feasible. Dave has a BS in Horticulture and an
MS in Plant Science from Rutgers University and serves as the Agricultural Representative on the New Jersey Water Supply Advisory Council.
Dave, along with his wife Lisa and their two sons, also enjoy operating their part time pick-your-own farm which
produces an assortment of vegetables including small leafy vegetables, beans, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
Panelists:
Dr. A.J. Both
Extension Specialist in
Controlled Environment Engineering
Rutgers University
Dr. A.J. Both was appointed as Extension Specialist in Controlled Environment Engineering at Rutgers University in 2000. Prior to joining Rutgers University, he was a Post Doc
and research associate at Cornell University. He received his Ph.D. degree from Cornell University in Agricultural and Biological Engineering in 1995. He received his M.S. and B.S.
degrees from the Agricultural University in Wageningen, the Netherlands, majoring in Agricultural Engineering. Dr. Both’s research focuses on controlled environment agriculture
and includes engineering and crop production projects in growth chambers, greenhouses and high tunnels. His research interests include greenhouse environment control, hydroponic vegetable production, supplemental lighting,
and energy systems.
Rodney Spencer
Rutgers Veterans Environmental Technology and Solutions (VETS) Program
Mr. Spencer is first and foremost a proud providing father of four. Rodney is a U.S. Army
Veteran who was stationed in Ft. Belvoir, VA and For Shafter HI: Unit 29 Engineering
Battalion. His job while in the army was in Survey and Topography Reproduction. He has
taken courses in Sociology and Human Services, for which he plans to acquire a Bachelors
degree. He has spent most of his adult life working with various populations such as disabled adults, and teenage mothers trying to find their way into a positive living environment. It has always been his passion to work with children and after becoming involved in
the Rutgers VETS program, this passion has only grown. He has spent the last two years
working with hydroponic and aquaponic systems, as well as starting up and maintaining a
community garden. He has also had the opportunity to travel to Milwaukee to attend
workshops hosted by Growing Powers, a leading organization in the development of Community Food Systems. He looks forward to continued collaborative work within the community of Newark, where he was born and raised, as a way of giving back and possibly
starting a Community Food System here in his hometown.
Susan Chang Saridakis
Founding Principal
Olive Creek
Susan Saridakis is a founding principal of Olive Creek Farms. She has more than thirtyfive years of progressive experience in information systems with an emphasis on project
management, management of technical staff, and systems implementation. This experience has been readily transferable to the demands of a start up venture.
She has excellent communication and interpersonal skills and is exceptionally talented in
the area of human resources, organization development and general administration.
Ms. Saridakis holds an A.B. from Cornell University in psychology and an M.B.A. in finance and information systems from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Marc Oshima
Chief Marketing Officer & Co-Founder
AeroFarms
Marc Oshima, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of AeroFarms, a clean-technology
company that builds and operates advanced vertical farms in urban environments. AeroFarms has been recognized as a Circular Economy 100 company, won the World Technology
Award for most impactful Environmental Company, was voted Most Innovative Company
at the Future of Agriculture conference, the Best Growth Company to invest in at the Wall
Street Journal’s ECO:nomics conference, and was a finalist for The Circular Awards of The
World Economic Forum.
Within food, Marc has led the marketing for The Food Emporium, a leading NY metro grocery store chain and for Citarella gourmet markets which has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Specialty Food
Retailers in the United States. Also, Marc has overseen numerous food events including partnerships with the
James Beard Foundation and Le Fooding, what Time magazine calls the “coolest food event in the world.”
Active in the community, Marc is a member of the Chefs Collaborative Board, United Fresh Produce Marketing
Merchandising Council, Food Bank for NYC - Marketing Advisory Committee and Columbia University Alumni
Advisory Group.
Marc has his B.A. from Columbia College and M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
Session 2: Supporting Agriculture in Policy
(Turning Point Conference Room)
In this session participants will learn about existing agriculture policies pertaining to urban and rural municipalities
in regard to land use, preservation, and business development. In this session we will examine resolutions, initiatives, and legislation supporting urban agriculture. This session will have focus on contamination clean-up, water
access, land trusts, land access, and defining community.
Facilitator:
Marissa Davis
Project Director YMCA of Trenton
NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids-Trenton
Marissa Davis is the Project Director for the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy KidsTrenton (NJPHK-T), a five city initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
In Trenton, the project is led by the Greater Trenton Area YMCA. A University of Delaware
graduate, Marissa's professional experience has been marked by taking on the challenges of
newly created roles and programs. Well-versed in approaches to policy and environmental
change, she has successfully built relationships across sectors, including school and government officials, businesses, non-profits and faith-based organizations. Her work has resulted in significant improvements throughout the city of Trenton including: playgrounds, salad bars, walking audits, wellness policies, farmers
market, healthy corner stores, garden expansions, a fitness room and the creation of a collective impact network.
Marissa provides regional technical assistance and coaching to other municipalities interested in adopting community based strategies, programs, policies, systems and environmental changes designed to create healthier places to
live, eat, play and work. Marissa is most passionate about supporting diverse populations through social equity initiatives and is dedicated to the residents she serves.
Panelists:
Colette Santasieri, PhD
Director,
Policy and Planning Innovation
for Civil Infrastructure and Environment
New Jersey Institute of Technology
and New Jersey Innovation Institute
Dr. Santasieri possesses over 30 years of practical and applied urban, environmental, infrastructure, and land use planning and engineering experience in both the public and private
sectors. She has extensive experience and expertise in strategic planning; community visioning for redevelopment; transit oriented development; port-city relationships; sustainable planning and design of communities, properties, and transportation systems; brownfields; and identifying and
analyzing a project’s impacts on socio-economic, natural, and man-made settings as well as on environmental justice
communities. Dr. Santasieri has a proven record of exceptional program and project management experience, having created, implemented, and managed multi-million dollar projects and programs, and has led multidisciplinary
project teams of planners, engineers, scientists, economists, cultural resource experts, and architects. She has developed and facilitated forums for discussion and building consensus; and designs and conducts stakeholder engagement
programs, as well as technical assistance programs for state, regional, county, tribal, and local government entities
and nonprofits. Dr. Santasieri currently serves as the Director of Policy and Planning Innovation for Civil Infrastructure and Environment at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the New Jersey Innovation Institute, a corporation of NJIT.
Dr. Santasieri earned a PhD in Urban Systems, a MS in Civil Engineering, and a BS in Environmental Planning and
Design. These diverse, yet complimentary degrees provide her with a well-rounded perspective in addressing the
challenges and opportunities of the urban setting.
Robin L. Dougherty
Executive Director
Greater Newark Conservancy
Robin L. Dougherty, Executive Director, joined Greater Newark Conservancy in January 1999 with over 20 years experience in education, fundraising, management and
programmatic development. A former educator, Ms. Dougherty developed curriculum
and programs for a residential school and while there created a social enterprise to help
the students learn business skills. In her capacity at the Conservancy, she served as a
co-chair of Mayor Baraka’s Transition Team for Environment and Sustainability and
previously as co-chair of Mayor Cory Booker’s Environment and Open Space Vision
Plan. She is also a former board member of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, and a founding member and former
two-term President of the Board of Trustees of EarthShare New Jersey and a past board member of the Newark
Workforce Investment Board. She is a Leadership New Jersey Graduate-Class of 2004, and a 2007 Gustav Henningburg Fellow and in 2004 received a Conservation Award from the Garden Club of America. Robin currently serves
on The Nature Conservancy’s New Jersey Urban Advisory Council and the Essex County Prisoner Reentry Task
Force.
Peter Furey
Executive Director
New Jersey Farm Bureau
Peter Furey joined the New Jersey Farm Bureau staff in 1981 and has served as its
executive director since June, 1982. He is now the longest tenured state Farm Bureau
administrator for the 12-state Northeast region. Among his primary responsibilities
are the management and direction of daily operations for the association on behalf of
its 11,000 members under the supervision of the Farm Bureau’s president, officers
and directors.
Furey works closely with state legislators, agencies of state/federal government, congressional
offices, university and research professionals, agribusiness corporations, new media, local governments, allied trade associations, and member farmers throughout the state. He has played
an important role in the passage of numerous pieces of legislation and public policy at the state level, including: the Agriculture
Retention and Development Act and the Right to Farm Act (which recently marked a notable milestone in having preserved
over 210,000 acres of farmland with over $1.6 billion of state funds since its inception).
Additionally his role in public service had led to exemptions from water use fees on irrigation water diversions, strengthening of
the trespass/vandalism legislation, hiring the first-ever seasonal worker ombudsman as a service to farm employers, enacting
the Pinelands compensation formula in 1999 as part of the Garden State Preservation Trust, several property rights protection
initiatives (Policy on Equity-state master plan), recruitment of the new use agriculture professor at Rutgers University, enactment of U-Pick liability reform legislation, creation of the first Produce Directory in the state and establishment of the annual
ag policy opinion polling with Fairleigh Dickinson’s PublicMind poll.
Prior to joining the NJ Farm Bureau Furey has worked for the Ocean County Planning Department as a planner trainee, the
Ocean County Board of Freeholders as a county grantsman, and deputy director of the Pinelands Environmental Council. He
has a B.A. degree in economics from Washington and Lee University.
A resident of Moorestown (Burlington County), NJ, Peter and his wife Kristine have three adult children: Colleen, Dennis and
Michael, and two grandchildren Henry James and Charlotte Anne.
Session 3: The Value of Water in Urban Agriculture
(Woodrow Wilson Board Room)
In this session, you will hear how stakeholders from around the state are working to provide technical assistance
to communities regarding water infrastructure and will focus on water policy as related to urban agriculture in
New Jersey. In this session, panelists we will explore how urban farming and community gardens can help cities
manage stormwater, lessening the impact on their water systems, while providing a community resource and educational tool. Panelists will additionally discuss the state of New Jersey's urban water infrastructure and innovative, integrated funding opportunities for urban agriculture and stormwater management.
Facilitator:
Jane Rosenblatt
Program Coordinator
New Jersey Future
As program coordinator, Jane supports the Jersey Water Works collaborative working to transform New Jersey’s water infrastructure. Prior to joining New Jersey Future, Jane was a project specialist at Sustainable Jersey where she managed the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program, coordinating the application, selection and
reporting processes. She previously worked at the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of
Parks and Forestry, and the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University.
Jane holds a B.A. in history and political science from Rutgers University with a
concentration in environmental policy.
Panelists:
Tiffany Bohlin
CEO, Global Agricultural Productions, LLC.
President, Muller Bohlin &Associates, Inc.
Ms. Bohlin founded Global Agricultural Productions, LLC. (GAP) in 2011, an
American farming company built on the foundations of sustainability and
conservation. GAP’s financial model is built on a “living” wage. Besides being
3 times as productive per acre of land and 5 times as profitable as
“traditional” blueberry farming, a key feature of the technology owned by
GAP is that it is scale-able. Clients include individuals who live in the United
States and South Africa.
The first application in the United States was as a “green roof” atop the headquarters of the UA Plumbers Local
Union #1 in New York City. The system of which the blueberries are a part will capture almost all rooftop stormwater with a peak storage capacity of 19,000 gallons -- as well as vastly reduce the building’s demand on the
City’s water and sewerage network. In addition, the projected yield of 80,000 lbs. of blueberries (June 2016 will be
the first harvest) will generate a net profit of about $250,000 from fruit sales. Ms. Bohlin assisted the client in designing the system and securing the funding for the green infrastructure.
Tiffany has worked to develop partnerships between her South African clients and those in the United States as a
practical way to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the new global economy. She was particularly impressed by a new technology developed in South Africa to grow blueberries (with potential for additional
applications) in a highly productive, water efficient process.
She has strengthened economic opportunities for women and is a proud Member of the Board for the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP).
Additionally, Ms. Bohlin is the President and Owner of Muller Bohlin & Associates, Inc. (MBA), a firm she cofounded in 1996 in New Jersey. MBA is a strategic planning, project development and grants management firm
that has successfully secured over $500 million in grants, loans, and alternative revenue sources for its clients, which
have been used for critical economic (e.g. the Hackensack Rail Trestle Replacement Project) and social infrastructure (e.g. East Rutherford “Veterans Park” project) and social empowerment programs. Ms. Bohlin has had the
privilege of working with some of New Jersey’s most innovative cities to advance projects of all sizes (e.g. Jersey
City’s Prisoner Re-entry Program).
Tiffany resides in Cape Town, South Africa with her two children and spouse, however she continues to spend a
large proportion of the year in the United States.
Dr. Dan Van Abs
Associate Professor of Practice for
Water, Society & Environment at
Rutgers University,
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Dan Van Abs is an Associate Professor of Practice for Water, Society & Environment at
Rutgers University, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Previously, he was
Senior Director for Planning & Science with the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (NJ), where he managed staff efforts regarding implementation of the Highlands Regional Master Plan. He also has served as Director of Watershed Protection, NJ Water Supply Authority
for over eight years; with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection for 12 years, six as manager for
statewide water resources planning; and as Technical Director of the Passaic River Coalition for four years. He
holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He is a licensed Professional Planner in New Jersey, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and former
Chair of the New Jersey Clean Water Council. Dan is co-editor with Karen O’Neill of a new Rutgers University
Press book (June 2016) Taking Chances: The Coast After Sandy.
Dr. Stan Hales
Director
Barnegat Bay Partnership
Dr. Stan Hales joined the Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) as Director in 2007. Dr.
Hales brought a diverse background in education, research, and management to the
BBP. He has worked in federal and state government agencies, consulting firms, academic institutions and non-governmental organizations in New Jersey. Since becoming Director, he has steadily grown the BBP from a staff of 2 to 12 and now oversees
grant-funded activities totaling more than $5.8 million.
Previously, Dr. Hales was a Senior Fish and Wildlife Biologist in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS)
New Jersey Field Office, where he coordinated planning and other USFWS activities in the Hackensack Meadowlands. He was the lead author of The Hackensack Meadowlands Initiative: Preliminary Conservation Planning
(USFWS, 2007), and helped establish the Hackensack Meadowlands Initiative, a watershed partnership of federal
and state agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Prior to joining the USFWS, Dr. Hales was a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Biology and Marine Science Programs and Assistant Director of the Coastal Conservation Research Program (CCRP) at Richard Stockton University. Dr. Hales was instrumental in establishing Stockton’s CCRP as a collaborative student-based research program
supported by the National Science Foundation, and other federal, state, local, university, and non-governmental
partners. With faculty appointments in two different programs, Dr. Hales taught a wide range of marine science
and biology courses at Stockton.
Dr. Hales’ research has concentrated mostly on coastal and estuarine fishes. Most of his published research has
focused on movements, growth and mortality of estuarine fishes. In addition, his collaborative research has included published studies on ecotoxicology, population genetics, reproductive ecology, and life histories. In addition to conducting research on fishes, Dr. Hales has published other research efforts on invertebrates, reptiles, and
birds.
Ashley Slagle
Chief Water Quality Field Scientist
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission
Ashley Slagle is the chief water quality field scientist for the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) in Newark, NJ and manages the Long-Term Water Quality Monitoring Program in the NJ portion of the NY/NJ Harbor
for the New Jersey Harbor Dischargers Group. Ashley holds a B.S. in Biology from Rowan University and has
completed coursework for her Masters of Science degree in Forensic Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In recent years, she has also been the project lead on PVSC’s new Green Infrastructure Municipal Outreach &
Technical Assistance Program in partnership with Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, and
is an active member of the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Municipal Action Teams, Newark DIG and Paterson
SMART. She is a current member of the New Jersey Water Environment Association (NJWEA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the Hudson-Delaware Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry (HD-SETAC). Ashley participates with the Management Committee and Water Quality Workgroups of
the interstate NY/NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, is a member of the NJ Water Monitoring Council, and is the
station manager for the continuous monitoring station at PVSC as part of the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System (HRECOS) network. Ashley also served six years on the Board of Trustees for the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC).
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Lunch and Keynote
Healthy Communities and Urban Agriculture
(George Washington Ballroom)
The lack of access to healthy foods makes it difficult for families to eat nutritiously, fueling the country’s growing
obesity epidemic and the severe health problems that complement it. This session will focus on various programs in
place and how municipalities can play a key role in fostering healthy practices in their communities. It highlights
the creative solutions that are being implemented to make certain that the products remain affordable and accessible and that community interests are represented in the process.
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. John W. Boyd Jr.
Founder and President
National Black Farmers Association
John Wesley Boyd, Jr. (born September 4, 1965) resides in Baskerville, Virginia with his wife Kara Brewer Boyd.
He is a fourth-generation farmer, civil rights activist and the founder of the National Black Farmers Association
(NBFA). He owns/operates a 300-acre farming operation growing soybean, corn, wheat and produce in addition to
raising beef cattle, American Guinea Hogs, Nigerian Goats & Chickens. For 14 years Boyd was a chicken farmer in
a Perdue Farms breeder program. He was also a tobacco farmer for many years.
He formed the NBFA, a Virginia-based non-profit organization, in the early 1990's. In his role with the NBFA,
Boyd has worked closely with national leaders in government, agriculture organizations and rural groups nationwide as well as internationally. Boyd was appointed by then-Virginia Governor-elect Tim Kaine to serve as cochair of his Policy Committee on Agriculture and Forestry during the transition period. In 2000, Boyd was
appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on his administration's tobacco commission. Prior to that, he was
appointed by then-Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore to serve on the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and
Community Revitalization Commission. In 2000, Boyd was the Democratic nominee for election to Virginia's 5th
congressional district.
He was an early supporter of Senator Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries and played
an important role organizing African American voters in the critical South Carolina primary. During the primaries
Boyd also organized supporters and spoke at events in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio,
Texas and Mississippi.
On July 7, 2008, Roll Call newspaper reported that Boyd was instrumental in "securing the biggest Congressional
victory in history for black farmers, a $100 million line item in this year’s farm bill that effectively reopened the
government’s discrimination settlement with black farmers." After leading public rallies and an intensive NBFA
member lobbying effort, Congress approved and President Barack Obama signed into law in December 2010
legisla-tion that set aside $1.15 billion to resolve the outstanding Black farmers cases. Boyd attended the bill
signing cere-mony at the White House. Boyd told CNN.com "This is about justice."
Boyd was quoted in the national press numerous times on the Cobell Native American trust fund case. His work on
that case, which was resolved when it was grouped with the Black farmers legislation, helped lead to a $3.4 billion
legal settlement. He told National Public Radio in November 2010 that "This has been just a long struggle for the
black farmers and for the Cobell case as well."
Boyd was named ABC World News Tonight's Person of the Week on Friday, November 21, 2003. The next year he
was featured in the CBS Evening News Eye on America report. And he has appeared on CBS's 60 Minutes, Nightline, CNN and other television networks. He has been named one of the "100 Most Influential Black Americans and
Organization Leaders" by Ebony magazine several times. He has been featured in Jet magazine numerous times.
Boyd was vetted to be a contender to serve in President Obama's Cabinet as Secretary of Agriculture. The Congressional Quarterly (CQ) reported some members of the Congressional Black Caucus supported Boyd. However, the
position ultimately went to Tom Vilsack of Iowa.
1:45 pm - 3:00 pm –Workshops II
Session 1: Creating a Sustainable Urban Farmers Market
(Delaware River Room)
This session will be utilized to convene urban mayors and provide training and technical assistance to cities that
currently host farmers markets to run these markets with greater efficiency, increased fresh food access and a focus
on health and wellness.
Facilitator:
Beth Feehan
Co-Founder
West Windsor Community Farmers Market
Beth Feehan is the co-founder of the West Windsor Community Farmers Market in central New Jersey, which celebrates its 13th season in 2016. Beth is a graduate of the
French Culinary Institute and holds an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University
School of Journalism and Media Studies. She is a board member of I Am Trenton and
helped to found Trenton’s Greenwood Ave Farmers Market in 2015.
Panelists:
Joni Garcia MS, RD
Program Integrity Team Lead
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Mid-Atlantic Region
Joni Garcia MS, RD is a Team Lead for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office. Her focus area is Program Integrity, which includes the SNAP program
areas of Recipient Integrity, Claims, EBT, and Farmers’ Markets. Previously, Joni worked with the SNAP Nutrition Education Program at FNS, where she worked with states to develop and implement nutrition education programs for SNAP clients and individuals eligible for the program. She is a Registered Dietitian.
Marissa Davis
Project Director YMCA of Trenton
NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids-Trenton
Marissa Davis is the Project Director for the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy KidsTrenton (NJPHK-T), a five city initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In Trenton, the project is led by the Greater Trenton Area YMCA. A University of
Delaware graduate, Marissa's professional experience has been marked by taking on the
challenges of newly created roles and programs. Well-versed in approaches to policy and
environmental change, she has successfully built relationships across sectors, including
school and government officials, businesses, non-profits and faith-based organizations. Her work has resulted in
significant improvements throughout the city of Trenton including: playgrounds, salad bars, walking audits, wellness policies, farmers market, healthy corner stores, garden expansions, a fitness room and the creation of a collective impact network.
Marissa provides regional technical assistance and coaching to other municipalities interested in adopting community based strategies, programs, policies, systems and environmental changes designed to create healthier places to
live, eat, play and work. Marissa is most passionate about supporting diverse populations through social equity
initiatives and is dedicated to the residents she serves.
Jennifer Papa
Founder and Executive Director
City Green
Jennifer Papa is the Founder and Executive Director of City Green, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating the establishment of urban farms and gardens in northern New
Jersey’s cities to create increased access to healthy, local food while cultivating education in
food systems, nutrition and the environment. Through a variety of programs and projects
offered to children and adults of all ages City Green has been providing the communities of
northern New Jersey increased access to fresh organically grown produce, education on gardening, nutrition and the environment, and avenues to revitalize and rejuvenate the urban
environment for over ten years. Jennifer is also a founding Board Member of Eat Local,
Inc., a non-profit promoting local and sustainable agriculture through education initiatives and a Farmers’ Market
in her home community of Ringwood, NJ. Her previous professional background includes a position as Assistant
to the Dean of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program at Ramapo College of NJ, and a Media Director position at an advertising and public relations firm. Jennifer is the recipient of The Garden Crusader Award, the Andrew Goodman Foundation’s prestigious Hidden Hero Award, a Russell Berrie Make a Difference Award and a
Jersey City Urban Innovation award for her efforts to facilitate urban revitalization through community based
farming and gardening projects.
Session 2: Highlighting Success: Urban Ag Models that Work
(Turning Point Conference Room)
This session will highlight the various urban agriculture models to create opportunities to address poverty and employment. This session will also focus on tools that can help combat crime and provide sustainable employment to
city residents.
Facilitator:
Cynthia Mellon
Cynthia Mellon served for seven years as Environmental Justice Organizer for the
Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC), a neighborhood organization based in
the East Ward of Newark, NJ. In addition to organizing with her neighbors to fight
polluting companies and practices, Cynthia founded the first community garden in
the East Ward, where she installed a rain harvesting system that stores 1,100 gallons of water. She is a 2015 graduate of the urban agriculture certification program
of Farm School NYC and a fellow of the national Environmental Leadership Program. She is currently Co-Chair of the Newark Environmental Commission.
Panelists:
Tiffany Bohlin
CEO, Global Agricultural Productions, LLC
President, Muller Bohlin &Associates, Inc.
Ms. Bohlin founded Global Agricultural Productions, LLC. (GAP) in 2011, an
American farming company built on the foundations of sustainability and conservation. GAP’s financial model is built on a “living” wage. Besides being 3 times
as productive per acre of land and 5 times as profitable as “traditional” blueberry
farming, a key feature of the technology owned by GAP is that it is scale-able. Clients include individuals who live
in the United States and South Africa.
The first application in the United States was as a “green roof” atop the headquarters of the UA Plumbers Local
Union #1 in New York City. The system of which the blueberries are a part will capture almost all rooftop stormwater with a peak storage capacity of 19,000 gallons -- as well as vastly reduce the building’s demand on the City’s
water and sewerage network. In addition, the projected yield of 80,000 lbs. of blueberries (June 2016 will be the
first harvest) will generate a net profit of about $250,000 from fruit sales. Ms. Bohlin assisted the client in designing
the system and securing the funding for the green infrastructure.
Tiffany has worked to develop partnerships between her South African clients and those in the United States as a
practical way to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the new global economy. She was particularly impressed by a new technology developed in South Africa to grow blueberries (with potential for additional
applications) in a highly productive, water efficient process. She has strengthened economic opportunities for women and is a proud Member of the Board for the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP).
Additionally, Ms. Bohlin is the President and Owner of Muller Bohlin & Associates, Inc. (MBA), a firm she cofounded in 1996 in New Jersey. MBA is a strategic planning, project development and grants management firm
that has successfully secured over $500 million in grants, loans, and alternative revenue sources for its clients,
which have been used for critical economic (e.g. the Hackensack Rail Trestle Replacement Project) and social infrastructure (e.g. East Rutherford “Veterans Park” project) and social empowerment programs. Ms. Bohlin has had
the privilege of working with some of New Jersey’s most innovative cities to advance projects of all sizes (e.g. Jersey City’s Prisoner Re-entry Program).
Tiffany resides in Cape Town, South Africa with her two children and spouse, however she continues to spend a
large proportion of the year in the United States.
Matthew Moghaddam
Chief Operating Officer
City Hydroponics
Matt is Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at City Hydroponics.
Matt’s education is rooted in social entrepreneurship, business management and
environmental sustainability; with previous work experience in information technology, project management, green construction, alternative energy and controlled
environment agriculture, Matt brings a breadth of knowledge to inform strategic
direction, support project generation and conceive research and development initiatives for City Hydroponics. He is most excited by the resource efficiencies and environmental benefits derived from localizing commercial scale agriculture.
“When you remove the majority of fossil fuel consumption related to crop production, and significantly reduce water and nutrient usage compared to terra-based farming, what you have left is a beautifully clean and sustainable
crop; one that tastes as great as it will make you feel.”
Mary Seton Corboy
Co-Founder and Chief Farm Hand
Greensgrow
Mary Seton Corboy cofounded Greensgrow and currently serves as chief idea officer where
she oversees a staff of 30+ who tend to the farm, nursery, and city supported agriculture
(CSA) program. As Executive Director of Greensgrow Philadelphia Project, Mary is the
driving force behind making Greensgrow a national model in urbanagriculture and sustainability.
In addition to her responsibilities at the farm, Mary advocates for urban agriculture and
brownfield reclamation matters. Reclaiming abandoned land as socially responsible green business is the core mission of Greensgrow Philadelphia Project. Although named Best Philadelphian by Philadelphia Magazine in 2010,
Mary Seton Corboy is a native of Washington DC and is a graduate of Wilson College with an BA in Political Science and English Literature and Villanova University where she earned her MA in Political Science. A regular in the
media, Mary has been featured nationally on ABC News, CBS News, PBS, and NPR and has also appeared in the
New York Times, Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer and national trade publications.
Prior to founding Greensgrow, Mary worked as a chef in Rehoboth Beach; on the Main Line in Philadelphia; and on
a dude ranch in Montana. In 2015 she published her first children’s book, Blanche Gets a Job, based on the life of a
cat on an urban farm.
Allegra Lovejoy
Urban Farm and Volunteer Coordinator
D&R Greenway Land Trust
Allegra joined D&R Greenway Land Trust in 2015 as the organization's Urban Farm
and Volunteer Coordinator. In this role she managed a volunteer program of over 100
volunteers and managed Capital City Farm's infrastructure development and community planning process. She is currently transitioning to the role of Farm Manager for
the 2016 growing season. Previously, Allegra was a Community Programs Fellow at
The Food Project in Boston, MA, a leading organization in the food justice and urban
agriculture movements. Allegra graduated from Princeton University in 2014 as a student in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs. As a student at Princeton, she traveled extensively in South Asia, where her interest in environmental work and agriculture began.
Session 3: Creating Opportunities for All
(Woodrow Wilson Board Room)
In this session, we will examine various agriculture projects specifically designed to help individuals find jobs or
providing basic job skills that will allow them to enter other job markets, all while using urban agriculture to generate productive and empowering transitional employment. These urban farm projects will primarily focus on youth,
the homeless population, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Facilitator:
John Harmon
Founder, President and CEO
African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
John E. Harmon, Sr. serves as the President and CEO of the African American Chamber of
Commerce of New Jersey. The AACCNJ performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. As affirmed in its mission statement, the Chamber seeks to economically
empower and sustain African American communities, and businesses with direct outreach
programs, thereby facilitating entrepreneurship and free enterprise activity, not serving as
mainly an association of allied businesses, the Chamber serves as a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c) 3 tax
exemption, which is shared by the National Black Chamber of Commerce. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American businesses to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic
diversity while fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and
public policy.
Mr. Harmon was previously employed at The Bowery Savings Bank in New York City where he managed the
bank's Residential Real Estate Department overlooking major mortgage loan transactions; and Chemical Bank
where he managed third party loan originations for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. While working at
Chemical Bank, Mr. Harmon established The Affordable Housing Loan Program. Prior to his banking background,
Mr. Harmon founded a transportation company in 1989, called Harmon Transfer, Corp. The company transported
food stuff, perishables commodities, and produce throughout the Northeast United States and Canada. Harmon
first acquired an interest in Business and entrepreneurship firsthand, while watching his father run Harmon Trucking, Inc. in Trenton, NJ.
John Harmon is the former President and CEO of the Metropolitan Trenton African American Chamber of Commerce (MTAACC). Under his guidance, MTAACC grew its membership substantially, established affiliations with
the Mercer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, and forged strategic partnerships in the public and private sectors to benefit African American businesses throughout New Jersey.
John Harmon has been featured on television and radio and in several publications including the covers of Mercer
Business and NJ Biz Magazines. He is the recipient of the New Jersey Transit Outstanding Service Award, the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors "Partnerships That Work" Award, the NAACP Freedom Award for Business,
a Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice, and The Leadership Award from
100 Black Men of New Jersey.
John Harmon also serves as the Regional Vice President of New York and New Jersey for the National Black
Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Mr. Harmon is a Board member of The National Black Chamber of Commerce, and The American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Lastly, he is a member of The US Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100. He earned his Associate Degree in Business Administration from Mercer County Community College in 1981, and then transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree
in Business Management in 1983. Mr. Harmon also successfully completed a one year Fellowship on Regionalism
and Sustainability sponsored by The Ford Foundation. Mr. Harmon has three sons, John Jr., Josh, and Justin.
Panelists:
April DeSimone
Co-Founder
Designing the We
April De Simone is a social impact designer and strategist with over 15 years of experience launching initiatives and ventures centered on systemically addressing complex
social challenges.
A Dean Merit Scholar at Parsons The New School for Design, April completed her Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies, a program which radically reframes the
study of cities and broadens a deeper understanding of complex economic, political, social, environmental, and
physical forces that influence urban growth and development. More recently, April co-founded designing the WE
(dtW). A B-Corp. social impact design studio based in NYC, dtW positions itself within the social innovation and
design sectors. dtW works on projects such as Undesign the Redline, an explorative and visioning framework for
addressing the historic transformations of place, class and race in America, to devise multi-stakeholder strategies to
generate transformative models for change.
Jan Zientek,
County Extension Department Head
Senior Program Coordinator
Agriculture and Resources Management
NJ Agricultural Experiment Station
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County
Jan Zientek has been working for the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County
since 2001, where he was originally hired to run the Rutgers Urban Gardening Program.
He also currently manages the Rutgers Master Gardener program in Essex County. In this
capacity he has worked with existing community gardens, as well as helped residents of
Essex County and Jersey City establish new community and school gardens. In 2008 he
began a gardening education program at the VA in East Orange, training unemployed veterans in the basics of organic land care. As a result a few veterans began their own businesses, but everyone involved in the program
(veterans and VA staff) appreciated the therapeutic value of gardening.
In 2014 Jan collaborated with Dr. Amy Rowe (RCE/Essex) to launch the Rutgers VETS Program (Veterans Environmental Technology and Solutions) to provide training in urban agriculture, organic land care and entrepreneurship to unemployed veterans in Newark.
Prior to this Mr. Zientek served as a forestry volunteer through Peace Corps/Ecuador. His project was to help local
farmers adopt sustainable agroforestry techniques, this was the point in his career where he began to question the
role of outside experts in community development. In Ecuador, failures were blamed on the local residents while
outside experts took credit for the successes.
Mr. Zientek earned his BS in Conservation Ecology from Cook College, Rutgers University, and subsequently earned
his MS in Natural Resource Sociology from the College of Forest Resources, University of Washington-Seattle.
Charles Rosen
Founder & CEO
New Ark Farms, LLC +
Jersey Cider Works, LLC
Charles Rosen is the founder of New Ark Farms–a Newark based social enterprise focused on workforce development and regenerative agriculture. The
company is committed to providing living wages to ex‐offenders and other
underserved members of the Greater Newark community. Moreover, New
Ark Farms, in partnership with Columbia University, has developed a curriculum to educate employees in character development, conflict resolution,
emotional intelligence, and communications skills. Charles believes that this
“soft--‐skills” training will build a stronger workforce, while also arming his employees with the tools needed
to better serve their own communities.
The various initiatives of New Ark Farms, including its Hunterdon County farm, heritage cider orchards,
and urban agriculture program, are more fully detailed at www.newarkfarms.com. Jersey Cider Works, one
of New Ark Farms’ sister companies, is launching Ironbound Hard Cider – an accessible craft cider made
from fresh-pressed American apples. Named in honor of the company’s Newark employees, Ironbound is a
modern interpretation of the historically renowned Newark Cider – the “champagne of ciders” favored by
George Washington. Jersey Cider Works is one of several interrelated companies Charles has developed to
fuel his revolutionary model aimed at rebuilding Newark's economy through a network of food--‐based enterprises focused on providing meaningful employment and skills training for the city's underemployed residents.
These enterprises are bound together by closed economic loops, such as the planting by New Ark Farms of 60
acres of New Jersey heirloom cider apples for use in the production of Ironbound Hard Cider. Ecological
loops are also being created by turning waste products into additional revenue streams, such as using the
pomace left over from pressing cider apples as a growing medium for high--‐value gourmet mushrooms. As
he builds his network of companies, Charles draws heavily on his background in law, film, and marketing.
Charles’ former company, Amalgamated, was a fully--‐integrated advertising agency and brand consultancy
globally recognized for leading the Madison Avenue digital revolution, as well as for its proprietary strategic
approach known as Cultural Branding– a methodology for establishing brands as cultural leaders. The agency’s clients included Coca-Cola, Patagonia, Patrón, and Ben & Jerry’s. In addition to his duties as CEO,
Charles led the agency’s efforts in social justice and political advocacy.
He acted as a senior advisor to a number of national and state political campaigns, political organizations,
and to the Democratic Party. Charles currently sits on the Mayor of Newark’s Corporate Advisory Council,
the Newark Workforce Investment Board, and the Board of Advisors of Montclair State University’s College
of Science and Mathematics.
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm—Closing Session
Looking through the City’s Lenses
Local governments can use urban agriculture as a tool to address many financial, health, and environmental issues.
This session will provide cities with specific actions through zoning, planning, and programs that municipalities are
taking to attract urban agriculture to their cities. This session will also explore the variety of spaces that urban agricultural businesses utilize, as well as how to identify emerging agricultural businesses/entrepreneurs, and how to
introduce them to the opportunities in urban cities. This session will also highlight the various trainings, resources
and funding opportunities that are available to municipalities to create various agriculture opportunities in their
communities.
Facilitator:
Julie Krause
Urban Planner
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Julie Krause is an urban planner with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). She is DEP’s lead for the Community Collaborative Initiative in Trenton where
she works directly and proactively with the City of Trenton, local community groups, regional and national entities to advance shared environmental priorities in Trenton. Julie works to
understand the local environmental priorities and find innovative strategies to support them,
including urban agriculture. Trenton, Perth Amboy and Camden are the focus of DEP’s
Community Collaborative Initiative. Julie has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, and
a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the Bloustein School at Rutgers.
Panelists:
Kara Denise Brewer Boyd
President, Association of American Indian Farmers
Event and Program Coordinator for the
National Black Farmers Association
Kara Denise Brewer Boyd is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
She is married to civil rights activist Dr. John Wesley Boyd, Jr. They have 4 children. She
is also a caregiver and provider for her 12 year old niece. Kara was born in North Carolina
but now resides in Virginia on Boyd Farms. Mrs. Boyd received her Bachelor’s Degree of
Religious Education in Biblical Studies, Christian Counseling and Pastoral Ministries
(Double Concentration in Pastoral Ministries and Leadership) from Heritage Bible College, Dunn, NC. She graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Since graduating from high school, Mrs. Boyd has been an active and visible advocate for American Indians and
the preservation of American Indian culture. Ms. Boyd was a member of the North Carolina Indian Child Welfare
Standing Committee and was appointed to a Legislative Committee chaired by Representative Sutton to address
and change Indian Children Welfare laws and concerns of American Indian Families. She also has served as a Board
Member of the United Tribes of North Carolina and Tribal Liaison for a USDA 2501 grantee serving New, Beginning, and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in North Carolina.
Mrs. Boyd, as time permits, travels across the United States representing Native America and providing consultative services to students, families, farmers, ranchers, community organizations, tribes, nonprofits, universities and
local/state/federal governmental agencies. Mr. & Mrs. Boyd cofounded the Association of American Indian Farmers
to provide advocacy, outreach and technical assistance to all American Indian Farmers and Ranchers. She also
serves as the Program/Event Coordinator for the National Black Farmers Association along with her husband,
Founder and President.
Her accomplishments include founding the Native American Christian Academy and Spirit Warriors, a nonprofit
organization that provided domestic and international humanitarian aid and relief to disadvantaged people. She is
a Train the Trainer for Community Gardens.
Mrs. Boyd has over 25 years of experience combined working as Executive Director, Program Director, Training/
Employment Specialist and Program Coordinator assisting limited resource and socially disadvantaged community
members across the United States.
Robert J. Tessier PP, AICP, LEED AP
Project Specialist for Local Planning Services
NJ Department of Community Affairs
State of NJ
Mr. Tessier is a licensed Professional Planner in New Jersey and a member of the
American Institute of Professional Planners (AICP). He is also a United States Green
Building Council LEED Associated Professional. He holds a B.A. in Political Science
from American University and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of
Michigan. He has completed post graduate work at the University of London on the
history and Planning of London.
Mr. Tessier has over 30 years’ experience in land use planning in both the private and public sectors. He has worked
in Costa Rica, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for both government agencies and private developers. On the public sector side, he has prepared master plan amendments and reexamination reports, municipal
and regional planning studies, build-out analyses, environmental impacts reports, redevelopment studies, zoning
ordinances, grant applications and land development review reports. On the private sector side, he has managed
and coordinated the design, approval, financing, marketing and construction of various commercial, residential,
recreational and industrial projects. He has been qualified as an expert witness before numerous municipalities and
in Superior Court.
As Project Specialist for Local Planning Services at the NJ Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) , he is
team leader and supporting planner providing planning services at the request of mayors throughout the State.
Projects include the 8th Street Station Rehabilitation Plan for the City of Bayonne, the Economic Development for
the City of Passaic, White Paper Planning Recommendations for the City of Paterson, Kearny Redevelopment Area Assessment and the Jackson Township Hotel Venue Solicitation. He was a significant contributor to the 2nd addition Area in Need of Redevelopment Handbook and set up the NJDCA Area in Need of Redevelopment review
and publishing procedures.
His passion is for developing communities and projects that improve the quality of life for users and residents while
promoting sustainability and economic vitality.
Colette Santasieri, PhD
Director,
Policy and Planning Innovation
for Civil Infrastructure and Environment
New Jersey Institute of Technology
and New Jersey Innovation Institute
Dr. Santasieri possesses over 30 years of practical and applied urban, environmental,
infrastructure, and land use planning and engineering experience in both the public and
private sectors. She has extensive experience and expertise in strategic planning; community visioning for redevelopment; transit oriented development; port-city relationships; sustainable planning and design of communities, properties, and transportation systems; brownfields; and
identifying and analyzing a project’s impacts on socio-economic, natural, and man-made settings as well as on environmental justice communities. Dr. Santasieri has a proven record of exceptional program and project management
experience, having created, implemented, and managed multi-million dollar projects and programs, and has led
multidisciplinary project teams of planners, engineers, scientists, economists, cultural resource experts, and architects. She has developed and facilitated forums for discussion and building consensus; and designs and conducts
stakeholder engagement programs, as well as technical assistance programs for state, regional, county, tribal, and
local government entities and nonprofits.
Dr. Santasieri currently serves as the Director of Policy and Planning Innovation for Civil Infrastructure and Environment at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the New Jersey Innovation Institute, a corporation of NJIT. Dr. Santasieri earned a PhD in Urban Systems, a MS in Civil Engineering, and a BS in Environmental Planning and Design. These diverse, yet complimentary degrees provide her with a well-rounded perspective in
addressing the challenges and opportunities of the urban setting.
Donna Drewes, PP/AICP
Co-Director
Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey
Donna Drewes is a professional planner with over 35 years of experience in sustainable
development, food systems and natural resource management planning. Ms. Drewes has
worked as a professional planning consultant in the private sector and for both public
agencies and non-governmental organizations. Since 2004 Ms. Drewes has been with The
College of New Jersey and currently serves as the Co-Director of the Sustainability Institute. The Institute administers the Sustainable Jersey municipal and schools certification
program, a hugely successful state level effort to engage communities in advancing sustainable development by
providing clear guidance, training, community building and financial incentives.
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