Community Ecology Institute
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Jean Silver-Isenstadt
President

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Jean (M.D., Ph.D.) is a writer, nature-lover, and social historian whose work has focused on patient-centered health reform.  Jean served as the founding Executive Director of the National Physicians Alliance (now Doctors for America) and has fifteen years’ leadership experience in the non-profit sector.  She is the author of Shameless: The Visionary Life of Mary Gove Nichols (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002).  Raised in Columbia, Maryland, Jean is a grateful beneficiary of open-space neighborhoods, open-space schools, and developer James Rouse’s bold commitment to racial, religious, and socioeconomic integration.

MONICA LEWIS
​VICE PRESIDENT

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Monica has been a health educator and certified fitness instructor for over twenty years.  She has a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science and a Master’s degree in Nutrition. She previously worked in the county promoting healthy environments in areas facing health disparities; advocating for community gardens and increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables and environments for physical activity.  She has a deep love of sustainable food systems and environmental wellness while partnering with a farm.  She continues to foster the same passion and desire with partnering with CEI. She currently works at HCC as an adjunct and MLT clinical coordinator.

Margo Duesterhaus
​
secretary

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Margo is President and co-owner of Triple TeQ, a small business that focuses on integrating people, processes and technology to create successful projects and organizations. She has degrees in Computer Science, Astronomy and Organizational Learning and has worked with organizations such as NASA and NOAA. She is a founder of Transition Howard, which focuses on creating locally sustainable and resilient communities. 

PATRICK CURTIS
TREASURER

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Patrick is a certified public accountant who specializes in providing audit, consulting, and advisory services to government contractors, nonprofit organizations and closely held businesses of varying sizes. He has been in the accounting profession since 1999. Patrick is the engagement partner for audits and reviews of nonprofits, government contractors and other closely held businesses. ​

Tonya Aikens

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Tonya is President and CEO of Howard County Library System, a nationally recognized Five Star Library for delivering excellence in public education for all ages. She is keenly focused on building the collective leadership of the organization, its partners, the community, and customers to provide equitable, high-quality educational opportunities for all. Tonya served as part of the Leadership Howard County community impact project team supporting CEI’s purchase of Freetown Farm in 2019.

MAbrooka Chaudhry

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Mabrooka has taught social studies and advanced research at Atholton High School (neighbor to Freetown Farm) for 25 years.  Community service, engagement, and volunteerism are her passions.  She believes that sustainability education can transform young people’s lives and lead to improved mental and physical health.  Mabrooka has bachelor's degrees in History and Social Studies Secondary Education, a Masters of Liberal Arts and a Masters Certification in School Administration and Supervision from Loyola University. 

Erica Coady

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Erica is a celebrated professional in the sustainable and organic agriculture sectors with over 10 years of entrepreneurial history leading, supporting, and advising the development and operations of production farms, local food hubs, and regenerative farming projects. Erica works as a Certification Coordinator with the Real Organic Project, a farmer-led movement that upholds the integrity of organic farming. Erica is dedicated to being a good steward of the land, and sharing her love of sustainable, local food and farming.
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Akil Cole

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Akil is a committed youth mentor, student advocate, and entrepreneur with experience in leadership development and student life optimization. He is a student at Georgetown University and is pursuing degrees in Environmental Studies and Justice and Peace Studies. As host and producer of CEI's podcast, Community Blooms, Akil highlights positive environmental, health, and educational work. He also founded Your Better Four, a life skills development service for high-school students. Listen to Akil's Community Blooms podcast. 

Leah Miller

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​Leah has twenty years of experience in sustainability and environmental education program management. She has a BA in Political Science and Organismal Biology from Yale and is a LEED Green Associate. She currently serves as the Energy Manager for Howard County. Previously, she worked as the Sustainability Program Manager for Montgomery County and the Clean Water Program Director for the Izaak Walton League of America. Her family enjoys participating in CEI's Families in Nature events.

Kim Flyr

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Kim is a mental health counselor, yoga teacher, writer, teacher, and grandmother. She has a passion for integrative healing and believes that being in and learning from nature help us heal. Kim grew up and still lives in Columbia, where she has spent many hours walking a dog along its paths. She enjoys giving back to her community by supporting organizations like CEI.
 See you soon and Happy 2023!


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Leah Miller

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​Eduardo is a student at Yale University majoring in Environmental Studies and in Urban Studies. He has had experience with environmental landscaping through his employment with Howard EcoWorks. He has also worked as a student assistant in Avolio's lab at John Hopkins University, with research on urban ecology: how humans affect the natural world. Last but not least, Eduardo has been volunteering, interning and working with CEI at Freetown Farm since the fall of 2019! 

ERica Jones

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​Erica is a Chef, Farmer, and Master Gardener with a passion for growing local food and preparing healthy and delicious meals with the bounty. She is a teacher in our award-winning Nourishing Gardens program and leads the way in our use of regenerative agriculture principles at Freetown Farm. She’s an advocate for edible schoolyard gardens and on a mission to transform public school lunch programs so that every student has fresh, locally grown food on their lunch trays every day. Grow with her on Instagram@Edesiagurl”

Jonathan McKinney

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Jonathan is a community organizer that has worked on several successful campaigns, protests, and marches. His advocacy work has included Presidential campaigns, membership organization for the NAACP and National Action Network, and the founding of a non-profit, The Advocacy Factory. Within 25 years of servant leadership, Jonathan takes pride in helping others recognize their passion for change, assisting them in finding their voice and place in the movement for social justice.

GARY PILARCHIK

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Gary started his YouTube channel, The Rusted Garden, in 2011 as a way to enjoy himself and teach others about gardening. He has since grown his following to more than 638,000 subscribers. His belief is that a garden wants to give, vegetables want to grow, and everyone can have a successful garden. Gary is also a clinical mental health therapist who worked for Johns Hopkins for the last 15 years, before retiring in 2020. He sees vegetable gardening as a global practice that brings people together across cultures and geographical boundaries. ​​​

Jason VanKirk

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Jason is a Vice President with Elm Street Development. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Commissioner on the Patuxent River Commission, a member of the Leadership Howard County class of 2019, where he served on CEI’s project team to purchase and protect our farm property, and is the Vice Chair of Finance for the Boy Scouts of America National Pike District. ​

Jason Zhao

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Jason has a B.Sc. in civil engineering and a M.Sc. in computer science.  He has twenty years of experience in civil and environmental engineering,  technology application, and public policy enactment and implementation. He believes community engagement on environmental issues not only improves the environment but also promotes diversity and inclusion for all. He participates in various activities at Freetown Farm with his entire family.

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CEI humbly acknowledges the Indigenous people who were wrongfully removed from their ancestral lands where we live and work today. We offer our deepest respect to the Piscataway Conoy Tribe and all other tribes Indigenous to the central Maryland region where our organization is based. To learn more about the Indigenous people where you live, visit Native-Land.ca. ​

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  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Work
    • Meet The Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Partners
    • Awards and Press
  • Our Programs
    • Families in Nature
    • Roots and Wings Learning
    • Green SEEDS Internship
    • Nourishing Gardens
  • Locations
    • Freetown Farm >
      • Growing Together
      • Make + Repair
    • Green Farmacy Garden >
      • GFG Advisory Council
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Upcoming Events
  • Donate
    • Business Partner Program
  • Contact Us