Who We Are
Monica Ibacache, BOD Founder, Executive Director
A native of Chile, Monica is a New York City–based public speaker, community organizer, sustainability educator, and ecological designer since 2007. An avid gardener as a small child with her grandparents in Chile, she rekindled her passion for growing food as an adult while living in southeast Alaska. Monica is committed to improving food systems while advancing social and environmental justice globally. She has dedicated her life to working with diverse and marginalized communities in education and local development in the U.S. and abroad. |
Monica teaches Oregon State and Cornell University’s online permaculture courses. She is a lifetime fellow in the U.S. Grassroots Accelerator for Women Environmental Leaders through Women’s Earth Alliance and Sierra Club, and she sits on the New York Climate Education Hub Advisory Committee.
Monica has advanced certifications in Permaculture Design and Teaching, and she currently serves as the president of Permaculture Institute of North America (PINA) and sits on the boards of Abundant Earth Foundation and the Northeast Biogas Initiative Advisory Council.
She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Permaculture for Children (IPEC), the NYC Indoor Gardening Society (IGSA), IPCC International Permaculture Convergence Council.
Monica has advanced certifications in Permaculture Design and Teaching, and she currently serves as the president of Permaculture Institute of North America (PINA) and sits on the boards of Abundant Earth Foundation and the Northeast Biogas Initiative Advisory Council.
She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Permaculture for Children (IPEC), the NYC Indoor Gardening Society (IGSA), IPCC International Permaculture Convergence Council.
Kayla Torrey, Education Coordinator
As an educator Kayla’s goal is to instill curiosity, a love of the world and solutionary thinking into young people. Currently Kayla serves on BOD’s curriculum development team, working closely with our founder to devise creative and engaging lessons for our students. Kayla graduated from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School in 2022 with a BA in theater, minoring in Environmental Studies and Food studies. Kayla's Thesis was a collection of practices inspired by permaculture, designed to encourage communal design. Kayla spent two spring to summer seasons volunteering at Tig Susah Farms. Received their PDC at the Findhorn Foundation in August of 2019. Kayla also volunteers with Full Circle Compost, in Topanga California as a compost steward. |
"My goal as an educator is to inspire wonder; I want to share my stories and knowledge with the most important people on this planet: our kids! I am grateful for Beyond Organic Design allowing me to invest in and teach our future inventors, farmers, artists, and activists. Together we will cultivate our love of the natural world and preserve it for future generations."
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Alexandra Bello, Operations Coordinator
Alexandra has a B.A. in International Studies and is dedicated to Human Rights defense in diverse social organizations in Venezuela while working with educational projects. She started studying her first Permaculture Design Course in 2022, and she is committed to climate change research in Venezuela, and environmental issues that happen in the Venezuelan territory. Dedicated to project management and to serve the society, she seeks to support BOD through her expertise to manage the operations of our organization. |
Stephanie La Rosa, Communications Coordinator
Stephanie has a B.A. in Arts, majored in Cinematography, and is currently finalizing her B.A.Sc. in Psychology. Stephanie's dual expertise in both the arts and psychology uniquely positions her to not only understand the intricacies of human behavior, but also to effectively communicate these insights through multimedia platforms. Her goal is to utilize her knowledge and talents to help others and share the diverse stories of individuals. Her commitment to supporting BOD through her understanding of the human psyche demonstrates her dedication to leveraging her skills for the betterment of the organization. Stephanie's passion for sharing people's stories and assisting in creating a positive impact showcases her altruistic nature and drive to make a difference in the world. |
Juliana Campos, Curriculum Writing Assistant Juliana holds a teaching degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Her personal commitment to advocating for social and environmental justice has been a driving force throughout her life. In her role at BOD, she is able to unite her teaching background and her dedication to sustainability advocacy by working alongside our Executive Director to craft engaging educational materials that go beyond traditional teaching methods. |