About Us
Staff

Staff

Melinda Billings Stewardship Coordinator

Melinda is a stewardship coordinator with the Ecology Center. She leads stewardship activities in East River Park and has developed educational workshops such as weed walks, native plant tours, and citizen science projects such as the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Melinda is a longtime Lower East Side resident who holds a BFA from Pratt Institute. Additionally, Melinda has a background as a textile designer, photographer, and artist, and her work is inspired by an appreciation for the natural world in an urban setting. Her recent work includes a series of hand-painted and hand-printed scarves that focus on street trees as well as ongoing photographic documentation of East River Park, the Lower East Side, and the birds and habitat of Great Gull Island.

Jennifer Bombardier Education Manager

Jennifer is the education manager for the Ecology Center. She develops the organization’s environmental education programs and community education partnerships, and through her work she brought to life the Food Justice Program. She holds an MA in environmental conservation education from New York University and previously taught educational programs at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and served as the director of programs for Trail Blazers. She is dedicated to connecting youth with their local environment and instilling stewardship values that last a lifetime. When she isn’t working, she can usually be found biking around Brooklyn, camping, or experimenting in her kitchen.

Oliver Clark E-waste Associate

Oliver is a e-waste associate with the Ecology Center. You can find Oliver across NYC, helping to run our e-waste collection events. He joined the Ecology Center as a volunteer when he was 11 years old, where he mastered the basics of e-waste identification, sorting, and palletizing while refurbishing stereo equipment. Oliver has been given the nickname “McGuyver” because he always seems to have a tool or special technique for solving problems. Oliver collects and restores vintage stereo equipment and salvages speakers to study their design. He is a recent graduate of Adelphi University with a BFA in studio art. He specializes in sculpture made from found objects.

Renée Crowley Deputy Director

Renée is deputy director of the Ecology Center. She supports the organization’s strategic planning, coordinates the overall flow between the programs and staff, and teaches the occasional natural dyeing workshop. Having worked with community-based programs for over 10 years, Renée has collaborated with nonprofits, city agencies, artists, volunteers, youth, and more to advance the work of urban sustainability and build healthy communities. She holds an MS in city and regional planning from Pratt Institute and a BA in environmental and urban studies from Hamline University. Additionally, Renee has a creative practice in ceramics, weaving, sewing, and general craftiness.

Christine Datz-Romero Co-founder & Executive Director

Christine Datz-Romero is a cofounder and executive director of the Ecology Center. As a longtime resident of the Lower East Side, Christine has been dedicated to environmental activism by developing community-based recycling, education, and stewardship programs over the last three decades. She holds a bachelor of arts from Queens College and has done graduate work at the New School/Milano School for Nonprofit Management. As a member of NYC’s environmental community for more than three decades, Christine serves on various boards and is a past chair of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board. 

Anthony Guevara Compost Associate

Anthony is a compost associate with the Ecology Center. You can find him at Union Square Greenmarket overseeing our booth and food scrap collections. He has a passion for urban agriculture and food access and has been farming and gardening in NYC for the past 3 years. In his free time he enjoys making noise music.

Nina Herzog Bookkeeper

Nina is the Ecology Center’s bookkeeper. She compiles the organization’s financial reports and manages the Center’s government contract reporting needs. She developed an interest in environmental causes at an early age, sparked by her upbringing in a rural area surrounded by farms and woods. After moving to NYC, she was relieved to be able to continue her composting routine by dropping off her food scraps at Union Square Greenmarket. In her free time, she enjoys reading, knitting, and taking her dog on walks around their neighborhood.

Lila Livingston Compost Associate

Lila is a compost associate with the Ecology Center. You can find her at our greenmarket and food scrap drop-off sites. She is a chaplain, writer, and compost lover from Bozeman, Montana. She learned creativity and care from her mother, a therapist and artist, and her father, who split his career between working in construction and caring for the elderly as a CNA. Lila moved to New York City in 2014 and received her BA in environmental policy and East Asian studies from Barnard College. Currently, she is a master of divinity student at Union Theological Seminary, where she focuses on Buddhism, interreligious engagement, and chaplaincy. Lila lives in Flatbush with her partner and dear friends. 

Antonio Lopez Development Manager

Antonio is the Ecology Center’s development manager. He manages the organization’s fundraising efforts by developing corporate partnerships, our annual Fall Social, and private giving. Antonio has an MPA from City College, where he focused on nonprofit management. Originally from Houston, he lives on the Lower East Side with his partner and his Tibetan spaniel. He loves to thrift—90% of his clothing comes from thrifting, and he hopes to make that 100%. When he is not working, you can catch him at a movie theater watching old movies and foreign films or doing crossword puzzles in Seward Park.

Gui Marques Compost Associate

Gui is a compost associate with the Ecology Center. You can find him at the greenmarket booths or supporting the compost operations. He is a proud East Village resident and is passionate about serving his local community. Gui is currently a student at the CUNY New York City College of Technology, where he is studying to become a nurse. A native of Brazil, Gui has lived in New York City for almost 20 years and is fluent in English, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish.

Bridget McCann Operations Coordinator

Bridget is an operations coordinator with the Ecology Center. Bridget is responsible for overseeing the operations of our food scrap drop-off sites and coordinating volunteer workdays. Bridget majored in urban sustainability at Brooklyn College and minored in sociology. She is driven by her passion for environmental justice. Bridget has an affinity for the outdoors and loves camping, gardening, and going for nature walks to see the local flora and fauna.

Nicole Swient E-waste Reuse Technician

Nicole is an e-waste reuse technician with the Ecology Center. Nicole is responsible for the organization’s technical needs to keep the organization functioning and can also be found at e-waste collection events teaching others the importance of recycling electronic waste. Nicole is passionate about reuse and giving unwanted electronics a second chance at life. She enjoys finding awesome old electronics and creating something new out of them. When not at the Ecology Center, Nicole enjoys the simple things like spending time with family and friends, hiking, listening to music, and playing retro video games.

Shyanne Washington Stewardship Coordinator

Shyanne is a stewardship coordinator with the Ecology Center. She leads volunteer stewardship opportunities and facilitates the organization’s Horticulture Training Program. Shyanne was born and raised in the Bronx, and her passion for sustainability stemmed from experiencing limited access to local environmental programming in her community. She graduated from the Farm School of NYC and dedicated her life’s work to being a steward of the land, people, and all living things. She has facilitated many educational workshops throughout all five boroughs, teaching programs such as farming/gardening, carpentry, health and wellness, and recycling/reuse practices. Additionally, she has a BS from Lehman College in dietetics, food, and nutrition. Shyanne spends her time cooking, making music, and rocking out on her bass guitar.

Jermaine Wilson Operations Coordinator

Jermaine is an operations coordinator with the Ecology Center. He ensures that our food scrap drop-off sites run smoothly and prepares finished compost for distribution. He joined the Ecology Center in 2017 as part of the electronics recycling program and transitioned to the compost program in 2020. Jermaine enjoys spending time with his wife and their two daughters and son.

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Christine Datz-Romero, Executive Director and Cofounder (Ex Officio)
Kayla Donley, Co-chair and Development Committee
Heather Loebner, Treasurer
Dr. Tok Oyewole
Leonel Ponce, Co-chair
Clyde Romero, Co-founder, Board Member (1987-2022)
Lauren Singer
Mohita Sinha
Kate Zidar, Secretary

Advisory Board

Advisory Board

Atom Cianfarani
MaryEllen Etienne
Venetia Lannon
Neil Seldman