Join us for
MAP's inaugural
‘Raising the Roots’
farm-to-fork event!
Oct. 5, 2019
Noon - 4pm
This event is
presented by:
Monday
10/5
Meet the Staff
Diane Picard has been with the Massachusetts Avenue Project since 1997 and currently serves as MAP’s Executive Director.
In 2003, she founded Growing Green, a program that employs and trains youth in urban agriculture, food systems issues, microenterprise and leadership. With her very talented staff, she has led MAP’s efforts to increase access of fresh, affordable food in Buffalo’s schools and inner city neighborhoods. In 1992, she received a Masters of Social Work from Boston University, specializing in Program Planning and Community Organizing. Her undergraduate degree 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 to 1988.
Email Diane or call her at (716) 882-5327 ext. 1
Karine Amato (she/her), MAP's Mobile Markets Director
Karine L. Amato began as a Mobile Market Coordinator in 2019. After working in restaurants for years, Karine was looking to be involved with food in a way that made a greater impact for the community, and MAP’s mission and values fit right in with Karine’s personal ones. Karine was first drawn to MAP through her passions surrounding Slow Food, a global grassroots organization that focuses on where food comes from and how food choices affect the world. Karine has an intense interest in preserving her family’s culture and traditions of food and wants other families to have the accessibility to continue theirs as well. Karine loves trying new foods of all kinds, traveling, and hiking/camping- especially where there is water involved!
Email Karine or call her at (716) 882-5327 ext. 4
Neena Hussey (she/her) MAP’s Youth Education Director first started working at MAP in 2013 as a Growing Green Youth.
Inspired by her previous relation to MAP she went on to major in Food Studies at Syracuse University. During her time in Syracuse she’s helped organized a community garden in Syracuse, developed food justice curriculum, and interned with NOFA NY. She’s very passionate about social justice and believes in emulating the change you wish to see in the world. In her free time she likes to explore new music and play with her nephew. She looks forward to engaging with the youth in meaningful ways.
Email Neena or call her at (716) 882-5327 ext 6.
Sarah Klawinski (she/they) MAP’s Development Director
Sarah is a Buffalo native and Community Centric Fundraiser with a passion for art and its intersectionality with social, environmental, and climate justice. With a BA in Art History from Buffalo State College, they began seeking opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to social impact work. Since 2010 Sarah has worked as a development professional for several local nonprofits, working to build meaningful partnerships and move resources in support of community-led solutions that promote equity and mobilize people towards collective action and systemic change.
Email Sarah or call them at (716) 882-5327 ext. 2
Joe Kurtz (he/him), MAP's Food Justice Organizer
Joe Kurtz went to Manhattan College for Chemical Engineering to fulfill a childhood dream of making medicine. But his work with the Tool Library and managing a Grassroots Garden community garden shifted his passion from pharmaceuticals to advocating for urban agriculture and food policies that put people, land, and the planet before profit. In 2017, he received the Presidents’ Volunteer in Service Award in Environmental Advocacy for his work on ReTree the District with The Tool Library.
He became a volunteer with MAP during the pandemic and is excited to bring his experience in community organizing, urban ag, project planning and program development with diverse community, county, and state representatives to his new Food Justice Organizer role.
Antionette McClain (she/her) MAP’s Mobile Market Procument Coordinator
Antionette McClain is from the City of Good Neighbors in Buffalo, NY, both born and raised. While growing up she recalls the fun memories of visiting a variety of local farmers markets with her family and friends, which is where she drew her inspiration to become more involved in her community. She dedicates her spare time by giving back to her community in so many ways. Some of which includes volunteering for non profit organizations. In 2022, she completed the Young Professionals for Olmsted Parks program and proceeded to join the IDEA Committee for Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, the Programming Committee for the Tool Library, and she also serves on the Board for Catholic Charities Young Professionals along with occupying a seat on their Advocacy Committee. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Bethany Ortquist (she/her), MAP's Farm to Table Coordinator, began working with MAP in 2011 as a summer AmeriCorps member after graduating from Houghton College.
In the years that followed, she worked with both Jericho Road Community Health Center and Westminster Economic Development Initiative as the Program Coordinator of the FLY Program where she oversaw after-school and summer programming for approximately 30 middle school refugee students every year. At FLY, she was passionate about teaching her students life skills such as gardening, cooking, nutrition, and self-care, and she is excited to bring that passion to MAP. Bethany lives in a housing co-op with several friends and loves being a part of the vibrant and diverse West Side community. She enjoys gardening, beekeeping, ultimate frisbee, and cuddling with her chickens.
Email Bethany or call her at (716) 882-5327 ext 3.
Katherine Pfohl (she/her), MAP's Farm Manager
After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy at SUNY Fredonia, Katherine Pfohl, MAP's Farm Manager, started farming in Zambia where she was a Peace Corps volunteer in an aquaculture program.
After that, she studied Permaculture in Oregon and then moved to St. Croix to work on a permaculture farm. With a desire to know how to farm in temperate regions, Katherine helped start a CSA in East Aurora for the 2010 growing season. Katherine started working at MAP as an AmeriCorps volunteer and now she is happy to be working with MAP as a full-time staff member.
Email Katie or call her at (716) 882-5327 ext 5.
Tabitha Wechter (she/her) Mobile Market Outreach Coordinator
Tabitha began her work with MAP in the summer of 2022 as a summer ABLE Team Leader. After studying conservation biology at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, she became passionate about the intersection of sustainability and environmental justice. She moved to Buffalo in the summer of 2021 and was introduced to urban agriculture through farm work at 5 Loaves Farm. Through this experience she became interested in youth education and building community connections through food sovereignty and accessibility. After spending a summer working with MAP, she is excited to return and continue the organization’s mission as a full time staff member. Tabitha enjoys being outdoors in any capacity, including hiking, running and camping.
Email Tabitha or call her at (716) 882-5327
