Our staff
MONICA IBACACHE
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STEPHANIE LA ROSA
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JULIANA CAMPOS
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SARA JASPE |
KAYLA TORREY
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Monica Ibacache, BOD Founder, Executive Director
A native of Chile, Monica has been 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 Skagway, Alaska. She is committed to improving food systems while advancing social and environmental justice globally. Monica has dedicated her life to working with diverse and marginalized communities in education and local development in the U.S. and abroad. |
She has advanced certifications in both Permaculture Design and Teaching children and adults. Currently part of the permaculture faculty at Oregon State and Cornell University.
A lifetime fellow in the U.S. Grassroots Accelerator for Women Environmental Leaders through Women’s Earth Alliance and Sierra Club.
She sits on the Advisory Committees for the New York Climate Education Hub Task Force, Abundant Earth Foundation, and the Northeast Biogas Initiative Advisory Council
Monica currently serves as the Board President of the Permaculture Institute of North America (PINA), a trade association for permaculture professionals.
She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Permaculture for Children (IPEC), the NYC Indoor Gardening Society (IGSA), and the International Permaculture Convergence Council (IPCC).
A lifetime fellow in the U.S. Grassroots Accelerator for Women Environmental Leaders through Women’s Earth Alliance and Sierra Club.
She sits on the Advisory Committees for the New York Climate Education Hub Task Force, Abundant Earth Foundation, and the Northeast Biogas Initiative Advisory Council
Monica currently serves as the Board President of the Permaculture Institute of North America (PINA), a trade association for permaculture professionals.
She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Permaculture for Children (IPEC), the NYC Indoor Gardening Society (IGSA), and the International Permaculture Convergence Council (IPCC).
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Stephanie La Rosa, Communications Coordinator Stephanie has a B.A. in Arts, majored in Cinematography, and a 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. |
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Juliana Campos, Project Manager and Education Coordinator Juliana holds a teaching degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and is currently pursuing a Master's in "Development, Education, and International Cooperation" at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. She is also certified in Permaculture Design by Oregon State University. Her career is driven by a deep commitment to social and environmental justice. 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. |
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Sara Jaspe, Curiculum Writer
Sara has a B.A in Social and Cultural Anthropology, she focused her research on health and gender studies, driven by a profound care for people. As a doula, she has done volunteer work in public hospitals in Caracas, Venezuela, solidifying her commitment to helping others. She is also a teacher. For many years taught languages to foreign students, primarily Spanish and Italian, with a particular focus on young learners, fostering a love for language and culture. Her studies, volunteer work and participation in feminist circles have consistently reinforced her values of community, sorority, and social justice. She is thrilled to join our organization, where she can contribute her skills and values to cultivating a sustainable and harmonious relationship between people and the Earth. |
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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 growing 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. |