Root-Cause Systems Change

Advocates for regenerative farming practices and the use of biomaterial building techniques to promote environmental sustainability and resilience.

Operates the Howard Meinke Scholarship program, which awards financial support to local high school seniors pursuing college studies in environmental fields. The program is funded in part by events such as the annual Earth Day 5K.

Collaborates with Climate Smart Community green teams, municipal officials, the Town of Riverhead, Long Island Organics Council, Southold residents, and Drawdown East End leaders to implement regional food scraps-to-compost operations, including securing grant approvals and establishing composting at three local farms.

Engages in long-term advocacy to protect natural resources on the North Fork, including successful campaigns for the Community Preservation Fund (resulting in over $1 billion for open space), opposition to development at Kroemer Ponds and Jamesport nuclear plants, and work with Southold Town on 2-acre zoning and Farmland Preservation. Also led efforts to stop the Levon Corp. dredging project and the widening of Sound Avenue.

Hosts educational programs on topics including organic landscaping, native plantings, energy cost reduction, and nature-based solutions. During the pandemic, these programs transitioned to Zoom webinars to maintain community engagement.

Organizes and hosts Repair Café events in Greenport, Riverhead, and in partnership with the Southold Town Conservation Advisory Council, where community members bring broken items for repair with the help of skilled volunteers. These events promote environmental sustainability, reduce landfill waste, and help residents save money by extending the life of their belongings.

Organizes an annual Earth Day 5K race and walk to raise funds for environmental scholarships and hosts an annual clothing swap event where community members exchange gently used clothing and accessories to promote sustainable fashion and reduce textile waste.

Runs the Plastic Reduction and Elimination Program (PREP) using community educators to reduce single-use plastics in the North Fork region through outreach and behavior change initiatives.

Promotes zero waste through waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting initiatives. Installed a rain garden with native plants at the Roy Latham Nature Center in Greenport to purify stormwater and create wildlife habitat, and installed the public art piece "The Big Bee" in Downtown Riverhead to raise environmental awareness.

Conducts regular beach cleanups at local coastal areas, including participation in International Coastal Cleanup Day and Riverhead Townwide Litter Clean Up Day, to prevent pollution from entering waterways and protect natural habitats. Events include organized efforts at Moore’s Woods Trailhead and two local beaches.

Advocates for the use of GIS and geodesign in global sustainable development through participation in UN processes, including the Open Working Group on SDGs, ECOSOC input, and statements to Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations. Participated in 13 consultative sessions shaping the 17 SDG focus areas.

Creates comprehensive maps, 3D design models, and integrated spatial systems using enterprise GIS, CADD, and cloud environments. Implemented GIS infrastructure for city departments in Titusville, Florida, and developed visual frameworks for urban and regional planning.

Conducted primary and secondary research using GeoDesign methods in informal settlements, including Manyatta, Kisumu, Kenya, resulting in community-level geospatial models and dissertation research.

Analyzes, visualizes, and disseminates geospatial data to support sustainable development planning, making such plans universally accessible. Applies GIS and spatial modeling to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Delivers geospatial education through workshops, informal learning tools like educational games, and high school educational plans under the Millennium Earth Project. Engages global volunteers, particularly millennials, to contribute skills across technical and research areas.

Developing a global dashboard to monitor, track, and enforce progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Hosts and co-organizes virtual and in-person events to advance the 2030 Agenda through geospatial technologies, including an online event on geographic information and a New York event on Haiti’s virtual development plan. Participates in key forums such as the ESRI GeoDesign Summit and the World Energy Forum in Barcelona.

Conducted a proof of concept in St. Raphael, Haiti using geospatial data to demonstrate equitable resource distribution and implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Developed an urban infrastructure plan, 3D modeling presentation, and a national development plan aligned with SDGs.