President

Pam has spent her career engaging New Yorkers and driving them to take action. She led marketing for the NY Knicks through two NBA Finals, then was CMO for Madison Square Garden, responsible for all properties, including Radio City Music Hall and MSG Network. She was the global marketing chief for Blue Man Group and served as the founding Executive Director for Fotografiska New York. Raised in Brazil and Mexico, Pam has an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA from Stanford University.

Executive Director

Julie joined the Sanitation Foundation in 2019, after working at American Express in partnership marketing and at the NYC Parks Department on sustainability projects and a public-private partnership to install free public Wi-Fi in parks citywide. She holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Columbia University, an M.B.A. from NYU and is a recipient of the Waste 360 40 Under 40 Award.

Director, Development & Partnerships

Caroline leads the Foundation’s development strategy and fundraising, creating mission-aligned opportunities to grow the organization. Prior to joining the Foundation in May 2021, she spent eight years building and leading marketing, communications, and sales strategy teams at a search advertising company. A lifelong New Yorker, Caroline is also a longtime volunteer and supporter of several NYC civic organizations and parks. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Middlebury College.

Director, Volunteer Programs

Halima works with communities to make positive change. She leads the Foundation’s volunteer programs with a human-centered lens, using design methodology to craft innovative models for change and mobilize her fellow New Yorkers to take action. She has over 10 years of experience in design education leadership—at the Smithsonian and Pratt Institute—guiding communities across the country to design collaborative solutions for a better future. She holds a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design and an MPS from Pratt Institute.

Director, Education

Fran joined the team as the Youth Education Director to help develop a strategic vision for how youth and educators can work together to re-think our collective responsibility to waste. She draws on her program development experience working with The New York Botanical Garden, The National Wildlife Federation and ExpandED Schools. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from NYU and a M.A. in Education from Brooklyn College.

Senior Manager, Education

David supports the Foundation’s educational programming. Given his background in K-12 education and journalism, he is particularly focused on storytelling, and advancing educational programs related to recycling and sustainability, such as the Foundation’s Follow Your Waste game and curriculum. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Ithaca College and an M.S. in Sustainability in the Urban Environment from the City College of New York.

Community Engagement Manager

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Johari "Nova" James is a Youth Mentor, business owner, community activist, hip-hop artist & artist manager. Through his company Str8OuttaBklyn Media LLC, he creates employment opportunities for youth, as well as youth and community initiatives such as art programs, neighborhood cleanups, and youth resume workshops. Creating safe and sustainable spaces in the black community, controlled by community residents, is at the core of what Johari is all about.

NYC Service Member

Michele is a serving AmeriCorps member working with the Sanitation Foundation. She supports programming, partnerships and communications. She’s excited to meaningfully engage the community around waste diversion and creating a more sustainable NYC . Prior to joining the Foundation, she spent twelve years building and leading the Programming and Events Department at Brooklyn Grange. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Pitzer College.

Senior Program Manager

Jenny first joined the team as the project manager for the Zero Waste Academy (ZWA) and worked on launching its inaugural iteration in 2021. She currently manages the NYC Trash Academy (formerly ZWA) program and assists with a variety of other projects. Jenny is most passionate about wellness, education, and community building. She has an affinity for the visual arts and holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Delaware, and a M.S. in Sustainability from the City College of New York.

Project Manager - Education & Outreach

Born and raised in California, Deborah is an educator, collaborator, and creator living and working in New York City. Her love for community building, education, and cheering on NYC’s Strongest has led her to the magical work of the Sanitation Foundation. A 2021 Zero Waste Academy graduate and current Sustainability Strategies Master’s Certificate candidate at The New School, Lohse also holds a Certificate in Filmmaking from NYU School of Professional Studies and a B.A. in Dance and B.A. in Theater from UC San Diego.

A student at The Beacon High School in New York, Afrah Ahmed is actively involved in community engagement and event management. As an Event Manager at S&N Confections, they’ve expanded brand visibility in diverse communities, managing logistics and budgeting for local markets and cultural fairs. She has volunteered with Seeds in the Middle to promote nutrition and agriculture among youth and is a dedicated tutor for grades 2-8, improving academic performance through personalized teaching. A strong advocate for social equity, Afrah co-facilitates the School Peace Initiative to foster anti-racism and inclusivity. With leadership experience as the organizer for the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament, she is committed to building connections and promoting growth both inside and outside the classroom.

Focused on expanding her network and sharpening communication, problem solving, and networking skills while in a professional setting to one day work in the finance and accounting sector.

Shania is a Grenada native currently serving as a Community Engagement Intern at the Sanitation Foundation. She is a senior at Medgar Evers College Preparatory School in Brooklyn, set to graduate 2026 with an AP Capstone Certificate and currently pursuing a degree in teacher's education at Medgar Evers College. As a community engagement intern she works collaboratively with other interns on project planning and execution.She focuses on programs involving children educating students about sanitation and environmental sustainability. Shania is dedicated to assisting others and enriching projects with cultural perspectives. Her skills include project planning, public speaking, and proficiency in Google Workspace, Canva, and Microsoft Word.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Vincent focuses on using data and technology to address issues in equity, mental health, and public service. He is currently conducting research at Columbia University on stress among Asian American youth, and was a USA Computing Olympiad 2025 silver medalist. As an intern here at the Sanitation Foundation, he hopes to contribute to civic life by expanding youth education on sustainability and work on marketing the foundation's volunteer program within the city. Outside of tech, Vincent is deeply engaged in finance and marketing—serving as his school's Finance club secretary and working on building a finance curriculum for his school. Vincent currently attends Staten Island Technical High School, and hopes to develop solutions that are sustainable and scalable.

Sam joined the team in July as a Summer Intern helping with youth engagement. Living in New York has allowed him to witness firsthand the trash problem present in the city, motivating him to want to take action and do his part to solve this issue. He has experience working with children through volunteering at Friendship Circle improving his fundraising and marketing skills. As co-president of the Disability Awareness and Advocacy club and president of the Sports Analytics and Discussion Club he has experience with event planning, facilitating meetings, and budgeting. He hopes to gain professional experience through this internship. He is a rising senior at Brooklyn Technical High School, expected to graduate spring of 2026.

Community Engagement Associate

Brenda is a Community Engagement Associate assisting with community cleanups. She enjoys engaging with her community by volunteering at her local park in the Bronx. In 2022 she completed the Compost and Farm Apprenticeship Program at Earth Matter in Governor’s Island, where she familiarized herself with a variety of commercial and homemade compost devices. Brenda seeks to broaden her knowledge in sustainability to educate the public and reduce waste in NYC.

Community Engagement Associate

Sai is a native of Mumbai, India and has lived in New York for 21 years. In her spare time, she likes to learn and educate herself on being a zero-waste ambassador for the community and has an interest in the sustainability space. She is a graduate of Zero Waste Academy and Master Composter certified. She loves taking care of her succulent plants and is learning not to overwater them. She is also training in Hindustani (Indian) classical music since 2020.

Community Engagement Associate

Jessica is a Brooklyn native of Mexican American heritage, has pursued her academic passions with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's in Criminology. Outside of her academic pursuits, Jessica commits her spare time to a noble cause: keeping the streets of New York clean. Whether through volunteering, community initiatives, or personal efforts, her dedication to maintaining a safe and orderly environment underscores her commitment to serving her community beyond her professional endeavors. Jessica's proactive approach exemplifies her proactive spirit and desire to make a positive impact in her hometown.

Community Engagement Associate

Community Engagement Associate