Structure
Since 2009, the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC) has served as a local food system convener. Our current membership includes over 80 governmental, non-profit, academic entities and community members that collaborate to develop comprehensive food policy approaches. As such, we are well poised to lead this planning effort.
In order to build on our close partnerships, strengthen public sector collaboration, and invite contributions of key stakeholder groups, the Greater Pittsburgh Food Action Plan will be guided by a robust leadership structure. This structure takes the shape of an avocado with three distinct groups: the Project Core, the Project Team, and the Advisory Committee.
Project Core
Cindy Vong – Emerson Hunger Fellow, PFPC – cindy.vong8@gmail.com
Dawn Plummer – Executive Director, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC) – dawn@pittsburghfoodpolicy.org
Karlin Lamberto – Urban Agriculture Coordinator, PFPC – karlin@pittsburghfoodpolicy.org
Laura Valentine – GPFAP Data Consultant, Productive Places Consulting – productiveplaces@gmail.com
Qiyam Ansari – Project Administrator, PFPC – qiyam@pittsburghfoodpolicy.org
Sam Applefield – GPFAP Project Coordinator, PFPC – sam@pittsburghfoodpolicy.org
Sarah Buranskas – Food Access Coordinator, PFPC – sarah@pittsburghfoodpolicy.org
Project Team
Ahmed Tacumba Turner – Braddock Youth Project
Anne Marie Kuchera – UPMC Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh Healthy Schools Program
Blair Schoenborn – Healthy Food Access Program Manager, Bridgeway Capital
Claudy Pierre – Founder, Eminent Hospitality
Cynthia Caul – Outreach Coordinator, CRAFT, Chatham University
Darla Cravotta – Director, Community Relations and Special Projects, Allegheny County
Donna Scharding – Environmental Health Supervisor, Allegheny County Health Department
Hannah E. Hardy – Chronic Disease Prevention Program Manager, Allegheny County Health Department
Heather Manzo – Executive Director, Allegheny County Conservation District
Helen Gerhardt – Grassroots Organizers, Just Harvest
Jake Seltman – Executive Director, Grow Pittsburgh
Jamil Bey – President and CEO, UrbanKind Institute
Jonathan Burgess – Policy Director, Urban Agriculture Program Lead, Allegheny County Conservation District
Jordan Romanus – Restaurant Opportunities Center Pittsburgh
Ken Regal – Executive Director, Just Harvest
Lauren Connelly – Allegheny County Economic Development
Malik Hamilton – Supervisor, Food Services Purchasing, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Maria Graziani – Extension Educator, Penn State Extension
Mim Seidel – Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Falk School of Sustainability, Chatham University
Molly Bernsten – Education Specialist, Penn State Extension
Plaxedes Chitiyo – Assistant Professor, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Raqueeb Bey – Garden Resource Coordinator, Grow Pittsburgh
Rebecca Bykoski – Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant Program Manager, Sustainable Pittsburgh
Shelly Danko+Day – Urban Agriculture and Food Policy Advisor to the Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
Zaheen Husain – Sustainability Coordinator, New Sun Rising
Advisory Committee
Abigail Horn – Deputy Director, Office of Community Service, Allegheny County
Alice Julier – Associate Professor and Director, Food Studies Program, Chatham University
An Lewis – Executive Director, Steel Rivers Council of Governments
Art King – Owner, Harvest Valley Farms
Austin Davis – 35th District Representative, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives
Cassa Collinge – Manager, Consumer Programs, Allegheny County of Economic Development
Curtistine Walker – Food Service Director, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Darla Cravotta – Director, Community Relations and Special Projects, Allegheny County
Deb Gross – 7th District Representative, Pittsburgh City Council
Edward Gainey – 24th District Representative, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives
Erika Strassburger – 8th District Council Representative, Pittsburgh City Council
Jake Wheatley – 19th District Representative, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives
Jim Ladlee – Assistant Director Energy, Business, and Community Vitality Programs, Penn State Extension
Karen Hacker – Director, Allegheny County Health Department
Laura Drogowski – Critical Communities Initiatives Manager, City of Pittsburgh, Mayor’s Office
Lew Vilotti – Director of Planning and Development, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
Mark Critz – Executive Director, Rural Development Council
Megan Stanley – Deputy Director, Commission on Human Relations, City of Pittsburgh
Patrick Catena – 4th District Councilman, Allegheny County Council
Ray Gastil – Director of City Planning, City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning
Roseanne Javorsky – Interim Exectuive Director, Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Scott Sheely – Special Assistant for Workforce Development, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Tiffany Webb – Associate Professor, Behairoal and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Subcommittees
Engagement Sessions
Karlin Lamberto
Sam Applefield
Molly Berntsen
Claire Matway
Russ Thorsen
Helen Gerhardt
Mel Cronin
Leeland Scales
Rebecca Bykoski
Policy Pathway
Dawn Plummer
Sam Applefield
Dennis McManus
Itha Cao
Jonathan Burgess
Jim Price
Shelly Danko+Day
Ken Regal
Data Team
Laura Valentine
Sarah Buranskas
Justin Gilmore
Cynthia Caul
Abigail Horn
Lynda Jones
Strategy Inventory
Sarah Buranskas
Rebecca Bykoski
Mim Seidel
Evaluation
Dawn Plummer
Blair Schoenborn
Laura Valentine