Staff

Lauren Breen, Massachusetts Avenue Project Executive Director

MAP's Executive Director and from 2004-2006 Lauren was the co-chair of MAP's board of directors.  She began working with MAP in 1998 as our attorney through the University at Buffalo Law School's Community Economic Development Law Clinic, where she teaches law students about non-profit corporations, tax exemption and community economic development.  Lauren currently co-chairs the Economic Self Sufficiency Coalition of Western New York, based at the United Way of Buffalo and Eric County.  She also serves on the Empire Justice Center board of directors, which champions the legal rights of low-income people throughout New York State.  She is a past president of Neighborhood Legal Services.  Lauren received a J.D. from the University at Buffalo Law School and an A.B. from Georgetown University.

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 x2

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 x6.

Jesse Meeder, Growing Green Peer Education Coordinator

Jesse Meeder has worked in and around Boston MA as a Youth Activity Leader, English and
Drama Teacher, and Gardener.   He has also worked as a Wilderness Trip Leader throughout
the northeast, including New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.  Jesse has an
educational background in literature, theater, and creative writing, which he blends with
experience in teaching, backpacking, and leadership training.

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 x4.

Zoe Hollomon, Youth Enterprise Coordinator
Zoe developed the youth enterprise, Growing Green Works, at MAP as part of the Growing Green Program in 2006.  She currently teaches business development and supervises the youth-led and managed social enterprise.  Zoe was formally trained as an Urban Planner at Cornell University and found her love for community organizing in Buffalo while training neighborhood leaders at United Neighborhoods Block Club Incubator. Zoe received an M.S. in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University in 2007.  Zoe has a specific interest in cooperative business development, has worked with the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) in Greenfield, Massachusetts and has developed youth economic education programs in New York City and in Buffalo.  Email Zoe or call her at 882-5327 x4.

Laura Marcetti, Growing Green Farm Manager

Laura oversees planning, planting and maintenance of our urban farm and will coordinate greenhouse production when our greenhouse is completed in April of 2008.  Laura has years of experience working in organi vegetable production, greenhouse production and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) distribution at Native Offerings Farm.  She also has experience in dairy processing and is skilled at working with teens.