Meet Our Team
Dr. Chiara D'amore, Executive DirectOrChiara D’Amore, Ph.D. (she/her) is the founder of the Community Ecology Institute. She holds a M.S. in Environmental Science and Engineering and a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education. She has worked as an environmental consultant and educator for more than 20 years. Her overarching focus is on promoting the benefits of time spent in nature on personal, social, and ecological well-being She is dedicated to helping create a healthy, beautiful and abundant future where people and nature thrive together.
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ROOTS & WINGS LEARNING COMMUNITY DIRECTOR
Lindsay KreisherLindsay (she/her) is an experienced educator with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution and a Master of Arts Degree in Education. She is dedicated to serving the community through youth programming that promotes independent learning, creativity and environmental stewardship. Lindsay utilizes her trainings in restorative practices when designing educational environments and has experience working with diverse populations, including at-risk youth and those in the criminal justice system.
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GREEN SEEDS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM LEAD
Nicki SandersNicki (she/her) brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience and expertise to the leadership of CEI's high school and college internship program. Nicki has managed program expansion, led curriculum development, and served as the main point of contact for service collaborations, partnerships, and programming requests and provided direct support to children and families. Nicki has a Bachelor's in Sociology and a Master's of Social Work with a specialization in Social Action and Community Development.
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OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Theresa TaylorTheresa (she/her) has a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Criminal Justice. Her primary passion has been advocating for and upholding human rights. She sees environmental sustainability and food security as a natural extension of that work. Her career has included the design and management of community-based youth education programs as well as training and technical assistance projects for state and federal programs supporting migrant and refugee families and families with limited incomes.
FARM MANAGER
Justin Chen Justin (he/him) serves as CEI's farm & volunteer coordinator through the AmeriCorps program. He graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor’s in Spanish and Government and subsequently worked on various global public health projects. After several amazing farming experiences, he's excited to join the Freetown Farm family to engage volunteers and organizations with the common goal to improve the health of our communities.
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COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES IN NATURE (CFIN) LEAD
SARA SmithSara (she/her) is a classically trained, eclectically minded educator. In 2008 after 10 years as a classroom teacher, she left the public school system to raise her kids and begin a homeschooling journey. She has worn many hats these past 15 years: Mom, licensed home child care provider, founder and leader of a family nature club: The Gifts of Trees, independent reading and language arts teacher, Language Arts teacher at Roots and Wings during the 2019-2020 school year, and CFIN event leader. She is now the leader of the full CFIN program!
NOURISHING GARDENS COORDINATOR
Loni CohenLoni (she/her) serves as CEI's Nourishing Gardens Program Coordinator. Loni has been a long-time CFIN program participant and completed the CEI Nourishing Gardens training program in 2022. She brings a passion for community development, specifically cultivating a safe, supportive, and healthy environment that promotes the wellbeing of all life. Loni has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Social Work.
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ROOTS & WINGS TA & YOUTH GARDEN MANAGER
DANA BELANGERDana (she/her) carries a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies where she focused on ecotherapy and the intersections of mental health and sustainability. Much of her professional work has been in educational settings and non-profits, largely working with young adults with intellectual disabilities, previously having developed and taught a program to strengthen soft skills and skills for transitioning to the workplace and independent living for 26 individuals. She has worked in schools with K-8 students. Dana opts for hiking, working with horses, and making poetry in her free time.
ROOTS & WINGS HIGH-SCHOOL PROJECT MENTOR
FRANKIE DAVIDSONFrankie (she/her) is a lifelong lover of nature and the outdoors, promoter of native plants, and student of primitive skills, She is a passionate educator who believes things are best learned by getting as hands-on as possible. In her spare time, she can be found on her family farm gardening and hanging out with her dog, Fang. For the last 12 years, she has taught science and history at various local homeschool co-ops and enrichment programs for various age groups. Other hobbies include playing D and D, reading, and crafts. She has three kids, 21, 16, and 12.
MD CORPS MEMBER
aidan haleAidan joined the CEI team through the Maryland Corps Service Year, looking for a job that allowed him to be outside and working with nature. He will be working to support our garden and facilities work at Freetown Farm and the Green Farmacy Garden. Aidan is looking forward to learning more about growing food and starting a garden. A fun fact about Aidan is he lives next to a tree farm that he enjoys hiking through and observing to see what's growing.
WORKSHOPS, FIELD TRIPS, AND RENTALS COORDINATOR
ANGELA NICHOLSAngela (she/her) first joined CEI as a volunteer at Freetown Farm, is a graduate of our Nourishing Gardens program, and now gets to combine her years of creative and administrative experience all in one role as a part of our team! She's taught knew skills, creative arts, and cooking (among other fun topics) to children and adults in church, retail settings, and with Girl Scouts! She loves to cook, hike, grow things, paddle board, read, create, and bring people together.
ROOTS & WINGS ASSISTANT (BULBS)
sarah thoberSarah (she/her) has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Master credit hours in Curriculum Development. She has taught with the JHU Center for Talented Youth and worked at the Cambridge school of Baltimore as a fifth-grade teacher.
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