 |
Elizabeth Litman, M.A. BOARD ADVISOR
Liz is passionate about teaching to the whole child and creating dynamic and meaningful instruction practices, and has over 15 years of experience in education. While completing master’s programs at Teachers College and studying at the Bank Street College of Education, she began her teaching career at the Churchill School and Center where she taught 7th and 8th grade for nine years. Beginning in 2011, Liz ran her own private tutoring practice for five years where she continued to educate, guide, and support students as they navigate the challenges of middle and high school. Currently, she is a Dean of Students for grades 6 -9 at Avenues: The World School.
Liz believes that with the most appropriate supports, personal strategies, and encouragement, all students can accomplish their goals and thrive both inside and outside of the classroom. She is also passionate about nutrition and fitness education and is excited to educate and motivate children and families to make healthy choices in all aspects of their lives. Liz understands the pivotal roles that family and community play in the education of a child and is thrilled to be working in the greater NYC area.
Liz is eager to bring her positivity, encouragement, and experience to empower the children and families of Green Generations.
|
 |
Punji Leagnavar, M.A. BOARD ADVISOR
Punji has always had a passion for the environment. She currently serves as International Affairs Officer at World Bank Group with an M.A. in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University. She has worked on the Mekong River with local communities in Thailand, taught environmental education to schools in Seattle, and worked on international environmental policy with the United Nations Environment Programme and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Punji initially volunteered with Green Generations as a volunteer facilitator because children inspire her and remind her to be a curious learner, and to appreciate the wonder of nature. She now serves GG by advising the Board through strategic outreach and planning.
|
 |
Christina Santiago, M.S.Ed. CURRICULUM ADVISOR
Christina is the consummate educator. She has been teaching in NYC elementary public schools for over 25 years. She’s also served the NYC Department of Education as a math coach and a technology specialist. Christina is passionate about whole-child education, connecting children with nature, and teaching children about healthy nutritional habits. She is a first-generation Puerto Rican, born and raised in the South Bronx.
Christina is excited to reconnect with her community and share her valuable expertise with us at Green Generations.
|
 |
Victor Chovil, B.A. DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR
Victor graduated from the University of Washington in 2012 with a B.A. in Global Studies. He now works at an event tech company in Long Island City and is often referred to as “Victor-pedia” in our Green Generations cyber-office.
Victor is gifted when it comes to all-things computer-related and has the desire to harness this power for good, as evidenced by his commitment to helping Green Generations with all technical issues that arise. Victor is passionate about learning new things and is excited to be a part of GG’s dynamic and growing team.
|
 |
Jessie Norment, M.B.A. FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Jessie began her professional career as a tax accountant with Watson Rice serving the non-profit sector. She moved on to Rothstein Kass where she expanded her skill set to include knowledge of the sports, entertainment, and hedge fund industries. In 2007, Jessie took a break from corporate life to become a mom-preneur, operating her family business from home while raising her children. During this time, she was a consultant for other entrepreneurs to help develop business plans, streamline procedures, and create systems of accountability within their organizations. She brings business and financial management experience to help support and fulfill Green Generations’s mission.
Jessie holds a B.S. from Howard University and an MBA from the Simon Business School, University of Rochester. She is married with three wonderful children and resides in the Bronx.
Jessie has a burning curiosity about all things financial and holistic, which some would say are seemingly on opposite ends of the spectrum. Imagine her delight when she found this opportunity at Green Generations – to marry two of her favorite interests while helping members of the community where she was born and raised. Awesome!
|
 |
Sara Rotter, L.M.S.W. FUNDING AND PROGRAMS ADVISOR
Sara believes that every child should be equipped with the essential life skills to make healthy life choices. She’s committed to providing children with the tools and education they need to thrive in school and in life.
Sara is a human resources professional with a focus on recruitment. She is also Licensed Social Worker, and received her masters at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Sara has experience working in several nonprofit organizations in the areas of fundraising, community outreach, facilitation, team building, programming and evaluation. Sara is thrilled for the opportunity to contribute to Green Generations’s mission by providing advisement on fundraising and evaluation processes.
|
 |
Ally Tufenkjian, B.A. CURRICULUM ADVISOR
Ally originally came to New York to pursue an acting career, but began to feel that her work should serve a higher purpose. While studying Theater and Psychology at Eugene Lang College in the New School for Liberal Arts, she tackled weighty topics such as privilege, systemic oppression, and cultural insensitivity. Inevitably, she saw these issues infiltrate her work as a theater practitioner, educator, and activist.
Ally found that education offered the most promising pathway for change. She first entered the urban education scene in 2011 as a founding member of Healthclass 2.0, a fitness and nutrition program dedicated to serving low-income public schools. Remaining passionate about the arts, she began working as a Teaching Artist in 2013, working with organizations such as the CUNY Creative Arts Team, the Young Players Theater, and the Community-Word Project. She was also a Trainer at Global Kids, Inc. where she built curriculum and led workshops on youth leadership, human rights, and environmental awareness.
In 2015, Ally became a Green Generations facilitator and moved to Texas to pursue her M.F.A. in Drama and Theater for Youth and Communities at The University of Texas. She continues to offer her expertise in curriculum development to GG.
|
 |
Julie Alexander, B.A. CURRICULUM ADVISOR
Empowering youth, promoting healthy self-esteems, and enhancing children’s social and emotional growth inspire Julie’s passion to teach children. She greatly enjoys and values being a support system for children as a mentor and teacher. Julie has been an educator in various environments for the past four years, including as a teacher’s aide in Cuzco, Peru and as an after-school teacher in Boquete, Panama where she worked with Casa Esperanza, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Ngöbe Buglé children’s health and education and ending child labor.
After earning a B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies at Columbia University, and completing her research as a Graduate Fellow at the Consortium on Gender, Security, and Human Rights in Boston, Julie returned to New York City with aspirations to combine her analytical and academic background with her love of teaching children. She did so most recently as a Trainer at Global Kids, Inc. where she worked with middle school youth in Washington Heights, creating and facilitating interactive workshops that broke down complex environmental and social justice issues.
As a visual artist, Julie believes that aesthetics have tremendous power to promote peace and wellness. For nearly 2 years Julie was a Green Generations facilitator and is thrilled to continue contributing as she pursues her M.Ed. at Temple University.
|
 |
Laura Epperson, B.S. CURRICULUM ADVISOR
As an artist and educator, Laura is passionate about empowering young people to find, cultivate, and use their innate creative voices as they collaborate to build engaged, active, and compassionate communities. While studying Theatre Performance at the University of Evansville, Laura ran an after-school theatre program at a local elementary school and began to explore her interest in alternative education at organizations including Living History Farms and the Santa Fe Opera.
Since moving to New York, Laura has been on a constant quest of finding ways in which she can simultaneously use her artist, educator, and activist selves. As a result, she has gotten to work with incredible young people all around the city. From in-school, drama-based literacy residencies with the Creative Arts Team, to after-school, arts enrichment classes with Wingspan Arts and SOOP Theatre Company, Laura’s work aims to exercise participants’ empathy as much as their confidence. In addition to facilitating classes and workshops, Laura recently created an original emotional health curriculum for NaliniKIDS. This 10-unit, grade-specific curriculum aligns with the Common Core to teach Elementary students emotional agency, mindfulness, self-love, and gratitude.
Laura was a Green Generations facilitator for a year and continues to offer her expertise in curriculum development. In 2017, she joined GG colleague Ally Tufenkjian to also pursue her M.F.A. in Drama and Theater for Youth and Communities at The University of Texas.
|