MEET OUR TEAM
Tim Chen
Executive Director
Tim joined the GGWNY team in November 2020 to supervise the day-to-day operations of the Community & School Garden program before moving into the Executive Director position in January 2023. His background has ranged from youth development and education to environmental justice work, and he holds an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon and a BS in Biology from Houghton University. Most recently, he spent several years working in outdoor leadership training while based out of Boston, MA. Tim is particularly interested in the intersections of community development, food sovereignty, and environmental equity, and looks forward to continuing to advance GGWNY's collaborative efforts with communities across our region.
Tim can be reached at director@grassrootsgardens.org
Justin Baumgardner
Development Director
Justin joined Grassroots Gardens WNY in December 2022 as development director, bringing more than a decade of nonprofit fundraising and communications expertise to the organization. Throughout his career, he has worked to address food insecurity and increase food access in our communities. Prior to joining Grassroots Gardens WNY, he served in both development and communications roles at FeedMore WNY and the Meals on Wheels Foundation of WNY.
Justin holds a Master of Science in Communications and Leadership from Canisius College. A lifelong resident of the Buffalo-Niagara area, he is passionate about the region’s food system and the sustainability of its unique resources.
Justin can be reached at justin@grassrootsgardens.org
Greg Wilder
Garden Education Coordinator
Greg joined Grassroots Gardens WNY in the spring of 2017 as the school garden coordinator. He has a bachelors degree in adolescent education and has been an avid gardener for many years. In 2014 he purchased an empty lot at the city foreclosure auction and transformed it into a garden where he grows fruits, vegetables, and perennial flowers. He enjoys how gardens can be effective conversation starters as a way to build positive relationships within the neighborhood. Outside of gardening, Greg is active in the local cycling community and helps to promote alternative forms of transportation with Go Bike Buffalo. For recreation, he loves spending time hiking and camping, especially in the Adirondacks. He also unsuccessfully tries to be a fisherman, but enjoys it nonetheless.
Greg can be reached at greg@grassrootsgardens.org
Loc Tran
Program Manager
Loc joined the staff of Grassroots Gardens WNY in 2022. He has a degree in Botany from the University of Oklahoma and a passion for gardening and addressing food insecurity. He previously worked in southwest Colorado as a food security coordinator and a garden coordinator. He has also served as a food security volunteer with Peace Corps Nepal from 2017-2019.
Loc moved to Buffalo in 2021 and looks forward to making Buffalo his home. Loc enjoys listening to jazz and poorly playing his clarinet at the dismay of his neighbors.
Loc can be reached at loc@grassrootsgardens.org
Sylvin Ashbrook
Land Stewardship Coordinator
Sylvin joined the GGWNY team in June 2022 as the Land Stewardship Coordinator. In this role, Sylvin will be responsible for the support and growth of the Grassroots Gardens Land Trust. Sylvin has well over a decade of gardening experience and has an extensive background in native plant gardening.
Sylvin moved to Buffalo in 2018 with their husband and dog, two cats, a bird, a snake, and a frog. Sylvin looks forward to growing closer to the Buffalo community in this new role. They recently got their Masters in Sustainability Leadership from the University at Buffalo. When Sylvin is not gardening, they can be found either reading a book, enjoying their houseplants and two planted aquariums, taking a hike in the woods, or working on their art.
Sylvin can be reached at sylvin@grassrootsgardens.org
Special thanks also to Paula Pirson at PRP Financial Solutions, Anthony Armstrong at Make Communities and Briana Popek of Briana Popek Grants, LLC for their ongoing contract work to support our programs and operations.
Grassroots Gardens couldn't thrive without the dedication of our strong, working board. Each member shares time each week to support our growth.
Our 2024 Board Officers:
PRESIDENT: Dan Reid Roma
VICE PRESIDENT: Derek Nichols
TREASURER: Isabella Newman
SECRETARY: Eitan Stant
Board Members at Large:
Brett Andrzejewski
Raana Azam
Alyssa Brouillet
Kate Gorman
Lindsay Haubenreich
Marc Kabigting
Fiona Reid Roma
Kate Willoughby
Gail Graham | Board Member Emeritus
Interested in becoming a board or committee member with GGWNY? Contact director@grassrootsgardens.org to learn more.
Board members Raana Azam (on left), Jim Ciliberto (middle) and former Board Chair Ellen Barnum (right) pitch in at Shakespeare Garden in 2020.
Many former and current board members joined our staff and gardeners to celebrate our accreditation in 2021.
Board member, Raana Azam (pictured on the far left), is one of the lead gardeners at Universal School of Buffalo.
Board member, Minesh Patel, participating in the GGWNY 5K in 2020.