Folashade Cromwell Solomon is an Associate Professor of Education at Framingham State University, and a Senior Scientist at TERC, a STEM think tank. She has over 25 years of experience in education serving in many roles including elementary classroom teacher, faculty professional developer, whole school change coach, and researcher. Her teaching and research focuses on learning, identity and exploring the connections between the arts and STEM. Her recent National Science Foundation-funded project, Embodied Physics: Using the Lenses of Physics and Dance to Investigate Learning, Engagement, and Identity Development for Black and Latinx Youth, is a three-year national research study that partners with community-based dance organizations in Boston, New York City and Gary, Indiana. This research investigates approaches for teaching physics through dance, paying special attention to the funds of knowledge Black and Latinx students call upon. This study will be featured a Journal of Learning Science special issue. She received a PhD in Administration, Planning & Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2011. She also holds an MS in Education from Wheelock College and a BA in Theater Arts from UMASS Boston. Folashade looks forward to bringing her strong love of her community and skills in education, and her newfound love of farming to the UFI board. She is a 2021 graduate of the Farmer Training Program.

Angel Mendez is the Executive Director at Red Tomato and has been with the company for 22+ years. He is a longtime food systems innovator and an integral part of the food community in the Northeast and nationally. He serves as a Food Systems Leadership Network mentor, Interim Chair on the board of the Urban Farming Institute, member of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council, and board member for the Equal Exchange banana company.

Professional in Strategic Planning, Operations Management, IT Management, Logistics/Supply Chain Management, Financial Management, Systems Management, Consulting, Mentor

Specialties: Non-Asset based distribution and handling of perishables, Product/Farm Development, Quality Control, Warehouse Management, Internal Controls, Systems Management, Networking, Finance & Metrics

After holding various roles at the company, Lucia is now a Managing Director for Boston Trust Walden an employee owned investment company. She is a member of the Board of Directors and serves as President and Director of the firm’s investment advisor subsidiary. She is Chair of Audit & Risk Committee and a member of the ESG committee. Her investment career began at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Lucia has a BA Cum laude from Connecticut College and an MBA from Boston University. She was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and she serves as the Financial Advisor to the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Greg is the Farm Manager of Newton Community Farm (NCF). He has managed NCF since its inception in the spring of 2006. Before coming to NCF, Greg was a doctoral student in Boston University’s Science, Philosophy and Religion interdisciplinary program. His research focused on the ethics of genetically modified crops. He took a terminal Masters degree when he left the program to farm full time. Greg also has a Masters of Theological Study from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in systematic and philosophical theology. He lives at NCF with his wife and two children.

Tamika is a public health professional, a chef, food enthusiast and has deep training in international agriculture. She has also held positions in education and marketing. She was Executive Director of theMove, and a Senior Community Marketing Officer in St. Lucia. Tamika completed a graduate practicum in Protected Areas Development in the Caribbean. She trained as a chef at Boston University’s culinary arts program and has a Master’s of Art in Sustainable International Development from Brandies and a degree in Non-Profit Management from Marlboro College Graduate & Professional Studies.

Abdi Mohamed Ali, Ed.D is the Executive Director of WriteBoston. This caps a 25 + year classroom career teaching English to students from elementary to high school. A longtime Roxbury resident, Ali is a founding faculty member of the Boston Arts Academy where for 13 years he co-designed an interdisciplinary humanities and writing program. He holds degrees from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Boston University and the University of MA Boston. He is dedicated to the use of “learning to foster creativity and agency”. An author, an educator extraordinaire, a committed community builder, and someone who is there for his children and ALL our children — he exemplifies Black Excellence. His writing, his interest in urban farming, the land, African & African American Literature, and beauty, make him an extraordinary addition to the UFI Board.

Bing Broderick has many years of experience in niche marketing, community organizing, and nonprofit management. Early in his career, he marketed and sold music into niche outlets across the country (including bookstores) as Director of Special Marketing for the Cam-bridge-based record label, Rounder Records. Mid-career, Broderick shifted his focus to food justice, arriving at the Boston-based nonprofit Haley House to manage the newly launched social enterprise Haley House Bakery Cafe. Located in Nubian Square, Roxbury, the Cafe provided hearty heathy food, a vital community space, and a workplace for men and women who faced significant barriers to employment. In December 2013, Broderick succeeded Haley House’s founder as Executive Director of the non-profit organization, stewarding (in addition to the cafe) its soup kitchen, food pantry, housing, farm and educational programs. Bing transitioned out of this role in April 2022, having welcomed and oriented the new Executive Director, Reggie Jean. He is now partnered with Boston’s Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola in opening JustBook-ish, a community bookstore in Dorchester’s Fields Corner neighborhood.