Bio: Jaime Zaplatosch started with Openlands in 2004 as the Education Coordinator. During her time with Openlands, the organization’s school-based programs has grown to include a substantial school gardens program, Building School Gardens, and Eco-Explorations for elementary and high school students at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. In 2009 Jaime was promoted to Education Director and was selected as a 2009 Awardee of the Community Renewal Society’s 35 Under 35. Before joining Openlands, Jaime worked at Riverside Brookfield High School, the City of Chicago Department of Environment’s GreenCorps, a community gardening and job training program, and was vice president of GreenNet for two years. Jaime has helped create school gardening programs at more than 120 schools throughout Chicago and has taught people of all ages, ranging from preschool to adult, in London, Arizona, and Chicago. A certified permaculture designer, she is a member of the KidsGardening national advisory board and a Board member of the Garfield Park Community Council.
Education: B.A., Environmental Education, Prescott College, Prescott, AZ M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Bio: Nelson Chueng manages the public open space group of the Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development. He provides direction on City-wide open space planning, open space impact fees, Tax Increment Financing for Chicago Park District projects and City / private developer open space collaborative projects. He also oversees open space land acquisition projects, lease agreements, and intergovernmental transactions. As the Department's waterways planner, he leads policy direction on the implementation of the Chicago River Plan and the Chicago Lakefront plan review for public open space projects. Addressing the need to provide space for urban agriculture, Mr Chueng also coordinates the assembly, environmental remediation, and site preparation of urban farm projects within the City of Chicago.
Education: MS University of Illinois - Urbana; AB Washington University - St Louis
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