who we are
what we believe in
the Earth Friends board
Meet the humans who are working together to bring life-affirming learning & environmental education into early childhood classrooms & outdoor play spaces through wonder, possibility, and love—and a good dose of tenacity.
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FounderJanna has been steadfast in her care and concern for the world around us since she was a little girl, and as an adult she continues to encourage and support others in finding ways to live in harmony with our environment and each other. Janna is a book editor, published author, and registered yoga teacher with a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from New York University.
She believes that all young children should have the chance to be educated about the interconnectedness of our world and be given the opportunity to exercise their self-agency to make it a healthy, vibrant, happy place for all. She has infused Earth Friends with her passion for planet and people, her expertise in business, writing, and program development, and her enthusiasm for endless possibilities.
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Co-ChairTiffany's demonstrated commitment to equity and the environment can be seen in the work she does for a living, but also in her conversations, dedication to her personal work, and the connections she makes with others. Tiffany is the Director of Energize Careers at SEI where she works to build climate leaders and connect people with opportunities for a thriving future.
Tiffany helped to start Landforce, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that invests in people through restoring the environment. Landforce provides workforce development training and support for individuals with barriers to employment. The training is focused on work readiness skills and land stewardship hard skills while also fostering a love for the environment and a passion for caring for our earth. Tiffany built on her experience with Landforce to co-author the American Forests’ Arboriculture Pre-Employment curriculum, the national standard for urban forestry workforce development programming. She also created a first-of-its-kind national network of urban forestry workforce programs called the Tree Equity Workforce Network, where programs learn together and from each other. Tiffany brings a focus on equity and inclusion to the environmental movement and believes that we won’t move the needle unless diverse voices are heard, and we are all invested in making an impact. Tiffany received her master’s in social work in 2016 from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied macro social work focused on working with communities, organizations, and using social action.
Instagram: @tiffanymrotek
Email: tiffanyekim@gmail.com
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Treasurer
Megan centers inclusive community in everything she does. Her wholehearted commitment to equity and wellbeing for all is evident in her work and way of living. She is the Co-Founder and Director of Programming of the nonprofit organization Open Up. Open Up’s mission is to teach mindfulness tools through movement and expressive arts practices that center individuals living with disabilities but are for every body. Her longest-running program Open Schools brings mindfulness and movement to students ages PreK - 21 in many schools in the city of Pittsburgh.Megan is a graduate of The University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Marketing. She runs a registered yoga school and empowers participants with disabilities by teaching them to become yoga facilitators and leaders in wellness spaces. Her passion and ability to connect with people by meeting them where they are is her superpower.
email: msicheri@open-up.org
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Creative CollaborationsSuzie is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and television host, specializing in climate and environmental communication for kids of all ages. As an Aspen Institute Future Leader and a Grist 50 Fixer, their work combines children’s media, music, and playful learning to highlight climate solutions and emotions. Suzie connects youth advocates and educator allies to role models advancing climate justice all over the world. Big public media nerd.
Instagram: @suzie_hicks_climate_chick
website: suziehicksclimatechick.com
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Co-ChairComing to the field of Early Education in 2006 from a career in corporate marketing and management, Valerie attained her Master of Science Degree in Education, with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education upon making this career switch.
Valerie is the Owner/Director of The Peppermint Tree Child Development Center, in Toms River, NJ, a state licensed center with a four-star rating in Grow New Jersey Kids, the state’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. Her center has also been selected by the state of New Jersey to implement the Pyramid Model, to support social emotional development of young children. She serves on the board of the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young (NJAEYC) children, running a local chapter of the organization to support early education in Ocean County, New Jersey.
As an organizational leader, motivator and provider of professional development both locally and nationally, to this board she contributes early childhood education expertise and a driving force to do the best we possibly can for young children.
Valerie is embracing, supporting, and piloting the Earth Friends curriculum. She is, admittedly, new to a focus on environmental education but is grateful to be learning and growing through this collaboration.
email: val@pepperminttree.com
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SecretaryAnna is a community organizer, educational advocate, and parent of 3. She sits on the Board of multiple organizations, including the J Los Angeles where she holds leadership roles on various committees.
She is passionate about building community and empowering people to become agents of change within them. Anna is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.
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DevelopmentKaty is passionate about sparking positive change globally. She holds a BS in Intelligence and National Security and an MS in Environmental Studies from Point Park University and has had diverse professional experiences that have taken her around the globe. Throughout her studies and career, Katy has focused on connecting food security and national security, sustainability, and innovation, finding simple solutions to serve as powerful tools for social and economic development. Katy firmly believes that building effective organizations with robust infrastructure is the key to making a measurable impact.
Katy is the Managing Director of Global Operations, People, and Culture at The Build Up Companies, where she is responsible for managing its processes and operations around the globe. She directs a portfolio of projects to strengthen the Companies’ internal infrastructure and ensures that systems, processes, and policies are in place to support internal operations as well as their clients’ work.
Outside of the office, Katy is a 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher, specializing in yoga for addiction and recovery. When she is not working or on her yoga mat, you can find her getting lost in a good book and exploring the world around her.
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Brand & International OutreachVictoria O'May (she/her) is an art director and graphic designer and a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and social impact. She believes design and communication are powerful tools that can (and should) drive positive change for people, nature, and the planet. Originally from Brazil, she lives in Spain with her partner, daughter, and a giant rescue cat.
Instagram: @victoriaomaystudio
website: victoriaomay.com
Earth is our home.
All life on our planet matters.
Cultivating a love of where we live, an understanding of how we live, and an awareness of who we live with builds a bridge between the natural environment and the (human) built environment. This life-affirming foundation of learning will be a necessity for our coming generations and the collective ecological and humanitarian challenges they will face.
Mission & Vision
MISSION: to connect young children with the natural world, give them an understanding of their impact, and empower them to live their happiest and healthiest lives
VISION: Earth Friends are the future of positive human impact.
Values
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Reciprocity was once described as “falling and being able to get back up.” Robustness, however, “is not falling in the first place.”
Earth Friends nurtures the relationships found throughout all of life—the interconnected awesomeness—and through those relationships we can widen our experiences and wisdom. When living in constant flow of giving and receiving with every being and every thing around us, we are living in circularity.
To teach oneself to live a circular flow with all beings, is the best preparation we have for the uncertain future we face. We learn how not to fall.
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Earth Friends learning affirms life.
When children pay attention to the source of our food, they learn to nourish their body. When children deepen their love for nature, they nourish their soul. When children understand their place in the world, they foster their joy.
A generation of healthy, aware, happy humans will nourish our whole society.
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Earth Friends believes that the children of today are going to be the doers, dreamers, artists, architects, leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. Only through seeing our world through the lenses of love, curiosity, and wonder will they invent a happy, healthy, and vibrant future for all.
