Dr. Amy Tuininga

Working Groups: Air (Vice-Chairwoman), Land, EEC

Amy Tuininga, PhD, is the Director of Montclair State University’s PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies (PSEG ISS). She grows partnerships among faculty, students, administrators, government agencies, private corporations, and community groups to solve sustainability problems. Projects involve aspects of the environment, energy, water, food, natural resources, and economies that collectively function to build sustainable communities. She is developing the PSEG ISS as a source for innovation in sustainability and environmental management, a model of academic-corporate-community partnerships that advance sustainability science and build resilient communities that utilize informed, data-driven decision making. Dr. Tuininga joined EJAC in July 2018.

Dr. Galia Shokry

Working Groups: Water, Land

Galia Shokry, PhD, is a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at Kean University in the Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences. Her work unpacks the paradoxical issue of green and climate gentrification resulting from financialized environmental or climate investments in overburdened urban communities across the United States and Europe. Dr. Shokry’s studies show how this process exacerbates residents’ vulnerability through their displacement to less green and more climate-exposed neighborhoods and underscores the need to protect vulnerable communities from displacement before and throughout climate adaptation initiatives. Her work also strives to understand the socio-cultural impacts of (non-)participatory environmental and climate resilience planning on the capacities of socially vulnerable residents to adapt to climate change risks and impacts. This research has contributed to developing an environmental equity and anti-displacement policy toolkit and other health, educational and practitioner-oriented publications. Formerly a non-profit director, she designed programs for inclusive, place- and inquiry-based education and teacher training. Complementing her New Jersey roots and environmental justice research in the United States, she also contributes an international perspective on environmental issues through a decade of living and working in Europe and as a founding member of the Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability.

Krishna Garlic

Working Group: Water

Krishna Garlic is a life-long member of the Elizabeth, New Jersey community. After leaving New Jersey for the purpose of pursuing a Baccalaureate Degree from Hampton University and a Juris Doctor Degree from Roger Williams School of Law, she returned to her hometown in Elizabeth to become the Chief Executive Officer of a nonprofit housing development corporation. From 2001 to 2012 she and the committed Staff continued a legacy begun by her father Reverend Joseph H. Garlic, building affordable for sale homes and rental housing for those in need. She successfully shifted the model from a “grassroots approach” of urban development to a business model with four distinct lines of business; real estate development, property and asset management, community education and organizing and youth services.

Ms. Garlic currently serves at the pleasure of Mayor J. Christian Bollwage as one of his seven appointed Directors for the City of Elizabeth. As Director of Health and Human Services since 2012 she has maintained and developed numerous public health initiatives throughout the city. She is responsible for the management of Public Health Education, Reentry Services, Vital Statistics, Restaurant Inspections, Housing Inspections, Animal Control services, Youth development programs, Office on Aging programs, Rental, Prescription, and Burial Assistance, Emergency sheltering coordination, and public health nursing.

Ms. Garlic is Chief Collaborator of a women’s empowerment business called Collaboration Over Competition. She and her business partner host professional development workshops, provide personal and professional coaching, and assist women in obtaining the resources needed to reach their goals.

Jeffrey Perlman

Working Groups: Air (Chairman), Land

Jeffery Perlman currently serves as the Senior Director of Planning at the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. He is responsible for overseeing and integrating metropolitan transportation planning initiatives for the North Jersey region. Previously, Jeffrey has worked as a planning consultant for a number of New Jersey municipalities, where he conducted a variety of planning studies including master plans, redevelopment studies, and affordable housing plans. Jeffrey holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University, and a Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Jeffrey is a licensed planner in the State of New Jersey and certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners at the American Planning Association.

Dr. Denalerie Johnson-Faniel

Working Group: EEC

Dr. Denalerie Johnson-Faniel, HS-BCP served as the Division on Civil Rights, Office of the Attorney General Law and Public Safety Department’s inaugural chief of the outreach, community relations and crisis response unit. The Lean 6 Sigma Greenbelt certified CEO of 3D Management Consulting, LLC., is also the director of equity and inclusion within the strategic integration and health equity office at University Hospital, New Jersey’s only acute trauma state hospital. Dr. Johnson-Faniel has a clinical background is a registered yoga instructor, reiki master, life coach, behavioral analyst, author and adjunct professor. Her courses include African American history, contemporary social problems, multiculturalism and diversity, race and ethnicity, sociology, the psychology of women, cultural awareness for health and human services, and strategic planning and organizational development in healthcare.

She is a MPH candidate at The College of New Jersey, focused on international health communications and Dr. Johnson-Faniel is an alumna of Columbia, Howard and Capella Universities with over twenty years of HR/DEI/L&D and counseling experience. As a New Jersey Feeding America food bank director, she transformed it into a health equity modeled nutritional health and wellness impact center. She served as national mentoring consultant for Center for Supportive Schools, was executive vp, workforce development at Dress for Success Worldwide, director of organizational development and change management at the Jewish Home Hospital, operations director at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and president of a National Urban League affiliate.

The board-certified human services professional held elected and appointed government roles; sat on a central New Jersey NAACP board of directors and was an advisory member of Anti-Poverty Network NJ. Dr. Johnson-Faniel lives in Trenton, contributes on a variety of justice related taskforces, is a mental health section lead for the American Public Health Association, member of the Sierra Club of New Jersey, the National Educators Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., holds the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., international co-director social action role and chairs the organization’s New Jersey advocacy and partnerships teams.

Dr. Robert Laumbach

Working Groups: Air, Water

Robert Laumbach MD, MPH, CIH is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Rob has a major research focus in cumulative impacts of multiple chemical and nonchemical stressors on health, particularly on mechanisms by which air pollution interacts with other stressors in Environmental Justice communities in New Jersey. He is currently collaborating with the Ironbound Community Corporation on an EPA-funded project to measure the effects of diesel exhaust air pollution and chronic stress on asthma exacerbation among children living in communities adjacent to the Port of Newark/Elizabeth. He directs community outreach and engagement for the NIEHS Center for Environmental Exposure and Disease (CEED), at the Environmental and Exposure and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI), and maintains a clinical practice at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. A former Sanitarian, Industrial Hygienist, and member of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Science Advisory Board, Rob strives to apply the best available scientific evidence and approaches to solving real-world environmental health problems in New Jersey.

Nicole Brown

Utilizing over 25 years of experience with all phases of water and wastewater projects as a design engineer and project manager, Nicole Brown has worked with clients to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of their systems. She is currently a Client Development Manager for Suburban Consulting Engineers focusing on water & wastewater projects in GA, NJ, and PA. Nicole utilizes her communication skills to provide technical and community outreach assistance for clients. She is passionate about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the water industry and focuses on encouraging and educating the next generation of water professionals.

Andrew Kricun

Working Groups: Water (Chairman), Air

Andrew “Andy” Kricun has 35 years of wastewater management experience. He served as the Executive Director of the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority. He graduated from Princeton with a degree in chemical engineering. He serves as the chair of the national association of clean water agency’s environmental justice committee and he has served on the NJ Environmental Justice Advisory Council since 2016.

Michael Morgan

Working Groups: Air, EEC

Michael “Mike” Morgan is an advocate for environmental and public health in the overburdened neighborhood of Waterfront South in Camden where he lives with his family. As a longtime resident, he sees the ways local industrial pollution impacts the neighborhood’s health and well-being. He is currently a master’s student of public affairs/ community development at Rutgers-Camden with the goal of applying his degree toward creating systemic change in Waterfront South. As a member of Camden Collaborative Initiative, he advocates for environmental concerns in the City. Through his community engagement role at the Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden, he is collaborating with cross sector partners to research the intersection of environmental justice and social determinants of health in Camden City. By researching this connection between environmental and public health, he strives to address public policy to reduce the environmental stressors that impact the City.

Jackie Park Albaum

Working Group: Land (Chairwoman)

In her role as Director of Urban Agriculture, Jackie oversees the day-to-day operations of the Come Grow With Us! Urban Agriculture Initiative including the Groundwork Elizabeth MicroFarm, Elizabeth’s two community plot gardens, the community Partner Gardens, eight Agricultural Laboratories, the Farm & Garden Adventures education programs, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Union County Means Green and Kids Dig In! Community and School Gardening grant programs (under the direction of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados.) and the More P.E.A.S. initiative. Jackie has an extensive background in communications, design, resource development, non-profit management, urban agriculture and sustainability. Jackie serves as co-lead on the Climate Safe Neighborhood Partnership.

Timi Lindsay

Working Group: Land (Chairwoman)

Captain Timika “Timi” Lindsay retired from the Navy in 2021 after 30 years of honorable service to the United States Navy.  Her expertise ranges from information technology, cybersecurity and satellite communications to talent acquisition, strategic development, crisis, risk, and organizational management.  In her last four years of military service, she served as Chief Diversity Officer at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA). Timi is the owner of Anchor Leadership Solutions, a professional consulting business with core expertise in strategic planning, facilitation, and leadership coaching programs nationwide.  She recently created a non-profit business named Pegasus Rising designed to support community revitalization, economic development, and environmental justice. Timi has extensively worked on understanding clean energy programs such as Offshore Wind and its potential positive impact on the region.  She aims to bring about meaningful change and uplift the lives of residents in the Paulsboro and Salem areas.

Chloe Desir

Working Group: EEC

Chloe Desir is a lifelong resident of Union County and has her B.A. in Political Science from Rowan University. She is the Environmental Justice Organizer with the Ironbound Community Corporation focusing on organizing and advocacy at the local, municipal, state and national levels, addressing issues related to environment, climate,housing and displacement, green space, infrastructure, community planning and development. She works on organizing and coordinating local campaigns revolving around environmental justice by working with community members, organization partners, and overseeing bringing community members together to help spread the word on current issues, and help build political power to fight against these issues.

X Braithwaite

X Braithwaite is a Newark-native, the Environmental Justice Organizer for Clean Water Action in New Jersey and the Co-Chair of the Newark Branch NAACP Environmental Justice Committee. X’s journey in activism began with the Newark Students’ Union, where they played a crucial role in education reform victories. Their commitment to social justice was further strengthened through the Bonner Scholar Program and their pursuit of a Bachelors of Science in Community and Justice Studies at Guilford College. At Guilford, X engaged in grassroots organizing, contributed to community-driven research, and facilitated courses on understanding oppressive systems and transformative justice. These experiences solidified their dedication to community empowerment and systemic change. X now works to ensure equitable access to clean air, water, and green spaces, advocating for environmental justice in Newark and beyond, striving to create a more just and sustainable world.

Terrance L. Bankston

Working Groups: Air, Water

Terrance, a New Jersey native, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Bloomfield College and a Master’s Degree in Administrative Sciences from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Terrance was recognized in 2008 by Ebony magazine as one of the top USA 30 leaders under 30.

Presently, Terrance is the Senior Ports and Freight Campaigner at Friends of the Earth’s (FOE)’s Oceans and Vessels Program, directing organizing, coordination, and advocacy efforts in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Northwest regions to reduce air pollution from port and freight activity. Terrance in June of 2023, was appointed to the Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) for New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). As a member of EJAC, Terrance represents Parents Engaging Parents (PEPNJ), a statewide parent advocacy non-profit with a focus on social and environmental justice.

Terrance has also worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Clean Water Action in New Jersey. In 2021 and 2022, Terrance co-led an Environmental Justice campaign, defeating Amazon and the NY/NJ Port Authority. Since January 2023, Terrance has served as the New Jersey Environmental Justice representative on the New York – New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (NYNJHEP) Management Committee. NYNJHEP is powered by the Hudson River Foundation and provides a forum for public and private stakeholders to reach agreements that will benefit communities in regard to shared priorities. These shared priorities seek to improve the health of the Estuary and Environmental Justice communities while enabling all people to realize the benefits.

Terrance has had success with working with both internal and external partners, creating new innovative programming for the local community, staff, faculty, alumni, and transitional programs for students (both new to high school and college). Most recently, Terrance was contracted by the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) as 1 of 7 outreach coordinators selected by Beverly L Wright, Ph.D to assist local Environmental Justice (EJ) groups with successfully designing local EJ projects and successfully applying for federal funding opportunities. As an Outreach Coordinator for DSCEJ, Terrance discusses and promotes the Justice 40 Act and engages in a project designed to build a grassroots infrastructure that will support community-based organizations (CBOs) and Environmental Justice groups to 1) advocate for thoughtful, transparent, and sustained stakeholder engagement; 2) the identification and dismantling of bias and systemic racism embedded in programs; and 3) the use of federal investment to reduce pollution in environmental justice communities.

Terrance is pleased to share both his personal and professional experience and interest in helping to create new and maximize existing partnerships, to best assess and respond to issues that impact the Estuary, EJ Communities, other non-port communities, and its people.