Staff

Lauren Breen, Executive Director
Email Lauren or call her at 716-882-5327x1

Diane Picard, Growing Green Program Director
Diane has been with MAP since 1997. She was instrumental in opening the Neighborhood Outreach Center in 1998 and she currently directs Growing Green. She received a Masters of Social Work from Boston University, specializing in Program Planning and Community Organizing. Her undergraduate degree in International Agriculture and Development from Cornell University prepared her to teach agriculture and art at a rural secondary school in Botswana, where she served as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1986-1988. Diane is devoted to grassroots community-building as a means of making positive change.  Email Diane or call her at 716-882-5327 x 2.

Deidra Em-El, Food Ventures Coordinator
Deidra has five years of experience in urban micro-enterprise and cooperative development. She is a Buffalo native and a graduate of Buffalo State College where she majored in Sociology. She has helped to found several community-based non-profit organizations in the City of Buffalo.  Email Deidra or call her at 716-698-1987.

Jason Donati, Growing Green Youth Coordinator
Jason started as an AmeriCorps member three summers ago.  He has experience in environmental work, nutrition education and working with youth.  He is passionate about providing opportunity for youth to learn the skills capable of grassroots change.  As a program we focus on implementing sustainable practices with youth as a critical component of community progress.  Email Jason or call him at 716-882-5327x 3.

Erin Sharkey, Growing Green Outreach Coordinator
Erin is a transplant from Minneapolis MN, where she developed a great love for community organizing. Erin received grassroots organizing training while working at the Park Avenue Foundation and while serving on MN Senator Paul Wellstone’s final term. She is also a mural painter and creative writer and has studied studio arts, literature, creative writing, and women's studies at Bethel University (St.Paul), Minneapolis College, Oregon Extension and now studies at SUNY Buffalo.   Email Erin or call her at 716-882-5327 x 4.

Zoe Hollomon, Youth Enterprise Coordinator
Zoe was formally trained as an Urban Planner at Cornell University and found her love for community organizing in Buffalo while working at United Neighborhoods, doing Neighborhood Leadership Training at the Block Club Incubator. She has a specific interest in cooperative business development, has worked with the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) in Greenfield, Massachusetts and with youth economic education programs in New York City.  Email Zoe or call her at 882-5327 x4.