Meet Our Team

Lianna Levine Reisner

Network Director

Lianna Levine Reisner, MSOD, is building a multicultural movement for health as President and Network Director of Plant Powered Metro New York, an organization she co-founded in 2019 to empower local communities to prevent and reverse chronic disease through evidence-based, plant-based nutrition. To address her family’s health challenges, Lianna had been searching for clear, evidence-based nutritional guidelines that made sense for her family. The writings of T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and his colleagues made a compelling case for whole food, plant-based nutrition, helping her to lose 20% of her body weight, reverse endometriosis and hormonal imbalances, and heavily reduce her allergies and skin issues, among many other benefits. Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center honored Lianna as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star in Food Policy in 2022. Lianna holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell, and she is a certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator through Main Street Vegan Academy. She is also a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

With a Master’s from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, Lianna previously worked as an independent coach and consultant serving UJA-Federation of New York, providing organizational change support to Jewish nonprofit organizations in the New York metropolitan area. She lives in the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband and three children.

lianna.levine.reisner@ppmny.org

Lynn Diamond

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Lynn contributes to the big-picture thinking and design of our volunteer network while also developing and curating resources and tools for our work on the ground. She read Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book Eat to Live in 2012, went whole-food plant-based “cold turkey,” and within weeks reversed her high blood pressure. The WFPB lifestyle enabled her to easily lose 25 pounds and maintain a healthier weight. She teamed up with Lianna in 2018 to bring the message to the wider community that a whole-food, plant-based diet leads to better health. Lynn served as a Manhattan-based WFPB leader and is part of the founding team of PPMNY. Lynn is a PCRM-certified Food for Life instructor and is working toward her certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. She recently retired after working as an attorney in private practice and previously had a career in marketing and journalism.

lynn.diamond@ppmny.org

Bryan Barrett

Operations Director

Bryan coordinates PPMNY’s internal operations including finances, human resources, and technology. He started his whole food, plant-based journey in March 2020 after watching the documentary What the Health and took a “cold turkey” approach to change his diet. He immediately saw the health benefits with his blood pressure dropping from hypertensive to normal levels within a couple of months. Bryan has dedicated a large part of his life to supporting marginalized communities through an economic development lens, working in the fields of workforce and small business development. He has now pivoted his focus to food justice, realizing that, for a community to thrive, it needs access to healthy and nutritious food. Bryan is a 2011 We Are All Brooklyn Fellow, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from CUNY – Baruch College, an MS in Urban Affairs from CUNY – Hunter College, and an MBA in Managerial Analytics and Finance from Mercy College. He currently lives in East New York, Brooklyn.

bryan.barrett@ppmny.org

Rafiul Bari

Operations Assistant

Rafiul joined PPMNY in 2025 to support our operations, including data management, finance, HR, and technology. He builds centralized systems that keep us running smoothly as well as integrations across many tech platforms. Before, Rafi worked as an IT specialist and tutor and helped manage his family’s small construction business. He is currently pursuing a BS in Cybersecurity at CUNY City Tech, and he’s passionate about building accessible systems that help mission-driven teams expand their impact. A lifelong New Yorker who also speaks Bengali, Rafi can usually be found prototyping automations, sketching data models, or figuring out how to replace repetitive tasks with a single smart button.

Marty Davey, RD

Education & Research Manager

Marty Davey, RD, CDN, joined PPMNY’s core team in 2025 to manage some of our educational partnerships and research projects. She has been plant-based since 1980 and plant-exclusive since 2002. After decades in the film and TV business, Marty decided to change her occupation and become a dietitian, earning a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She launched her own dietetics practice and developed a business as a nutrition contractor. That contract work included seven years as a facility dietitian assisting teens in lockdown learn culinary skills and build a school garden with an herbs CSA. Marty has produced over 80 cooking videos.

Her early work as a nutrition researcher led her to be an intervention member for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s GEICO study. She became a senior research team member creating and implementing the NEW Soul Study and the DG 3-diet study interventions at the University of South Carolina. In 2024, she completed collaborating with the Food Revolution Network, developing curriculum for their Plant-Based Coaching Certification Program. Currently, she is an adjunct professor at Mercy College and maintains her faculty position with the Main Street Vegan Academy. Otherwise, Marty and her husband can be found kayaking in Yonkers or camping in some quiet spot.

marty.davey@ppmny.org

Ellie Hsu

Intern

Ellie Hsu is an undergraduate studying Nutrition and Public Health at NYU, where she is pursuing a combined BS/MS in Nutrition & Dietetics. She is particularly interested in nutrition epidemiology and diet-related chronic diseases, with a focus on plant-based nutrition. Outside of school, Ellie interns at Plant Powered Metro New York, volunteers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and works as a nutrition assistant at Square Fare, a meal delivery company. Originally from Seattle, Ellie moved to NYC for school and now lives in Brooklyn. She enjoys exploring the city, going on long walks, and cooking with friends.

Sherry Jarrett, DHEd, MSEd, CWP

Network Training Organizer

Dr. Sherry Jarrett is PPMNY’s Network Training Organizer, overseeing our mentorship program and contributing to many aspects of the Plant Powered Jumpstarts. Dr. Jarrett, a former teaching professor and leader in higher education for 18 years, has uniquely blended her experience in Early Childhood Teacher Education and Health Education. She served as Early Childhood Teacher Education Chair, First Year Studies Program Director, and as Public and Community Health and Professional Internship professor. Concurrently, she consulted with schools and communities in developing and mentoring teachers, and in health and wellness programming. Dr. Jarrett’s credentials include a doctorate in Health Education from A.T. Still University, a Masters of Education Early Childhood Education from the City College of the City University of New York, a B.S. in Elementary Education and Psychology from Nyack College, and a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. She is also a Certified Wellness Practitioner through the National Wellness Institute, a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

sherry.jarrett@ppmny.org

Rebecca Johnson

Culinary Partnerships Manager

As Partnerships Manager, Rebecca Johnson leads our restaurant initiatives, culinary education programs, and programming that highlights African heritage and foodways. She cultivates relationships with faith-based organizations, government leaders, and schools to advance plant-based nutrition and works as a plant-based chef and chef instructor. In her previous position, she contributed to expanding and enhancing plant-based options within the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services, working with food service staff, children, and families. Her personal journey of overcoming health challenges through adopting a whole food, plant-based diet inspired Rebecca to deepen her expertise, eventually earning a certification in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. She is also a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Rebecca continues to share her knowledge by teaching plant-based cooking classes and performing live and virtual demonstrations for nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Rebecca is a native of Philadelphia who lives in the village of Harlem in Manhattan.

rebecca.johnson@ppmny.org

Vivian Lee

Culinary Empowerment Coordinator

Vivian Lee is our Culinary Empowerment Coordinator, organizing engaging cooking and nutrition programs for communities across the region. She’s passionate about helping others embrace whole food, plant-based eating and low-waste living, drawing inspiration from her own health journey. After adopting a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, Vivian experienced improved mood, energy, and skin health. Eliminating dairy even cleared the eczema she had since childhood.

Her deep dive into plant-based nutrition began with reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD. With newfound knowledge and energy, she later pushed her physical limits by training for the first Vegan Bodybuilding Competition in 2018.

Vivian holds a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, is a certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator through Main Street Vegan Academy, and is a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Based in Astoria, Queens, she’s especially passionate about inspiring younger audiences to see plants as powerful tools for lifelong health and disease prevention.

vivian.lee@ppmny.org

Hana Martinez

Creative Design Manager

As our lead designer, Hana Martinez aims to draw in everyone seeking a healthier lifestyle with her designs, exciting people to dive deeper into whole food, plant-based nutrition and increasing recognition of Plant Powered Metro New York’s programming. Hana has a background in environmental non-profit work, having served as Greenmarket Manager and Recycling Outreach Coordinator at GrowNYC for six+ years. It was during this time that she became aware of the health benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet and got started making the change. Through this lifestyle, Hana has been able to appreciate the full spectrum of flavor and texture that plants have to offer our palates. Hana earned her Graphic Design Certificate at Pratt Institute and her BA in English at Hunter College. She’s a lover of learning who likes to draw, paint, and write poetry in her spare time.

hana.martinez@ppmny.org

Karina Pearse

Virtual Engagement Manager

Karina Pearse serves as our Virtual Engagement Manager, organizing PPMNY’s virtual events and livestreams. Her health journey started in 2004 after reading The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell. She made changes in her diet and saw immediate results: no more aches and pains, more energy, lower cholesterol, better skin, better sleep, and improved digestion. She hoped that reducing dairy and adding more plant foods would also free her three children from asthma, food allergies, and frequent colds and sinus infections. Inspired by the fast changes that occurred, Karina continued efforts to protect her family from the heart disease and diabetes that her grandparents had by redesigning her family’s favorite meals in a healthier way. In 2010, Karina joined the marketing team at Whole Foods Market and organized their Health Starts Here program and Wellness Club, training with Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman, and dietitian Jeff Novick. She became certified in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and is a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She later joined Ethos Health in marketing and patient care, and became a national board-certified Health and Wellness Coach. Karina has an MS in organizational development. She joined PPMNY’s team in 2022 and also runs Princeton Eats Plants, an active monthly community meet-up. Karina lives in Hunterdon County, NJ, and enjoys cooking, biking, and exploring.

karina.pearse@ppmny.org

Aifra Ruiz

Hispanic Health Empowerment Organizer

Aifra Ruiz serves as PPMNY’s Hispanic Health Empowerment Organizer and is the founder of Healthy con Plantas, a wellness platform that empowers the Spanish-speaking community to discover the power of food as medicine. As a culinary educator, fitness coach, and licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Aifra brings energy, culture, and compassion to everything she does. Her mission is to make whole food, plant-based living fun, practical, and accessible, especially for communities with chronic illness. Whether she’s leading a cooking demo, a wellness challenge like Reto Salud a Base de Plantas, or hosting a community event, Aifra creates culturally-relevant experiences that connect people with vibrant, plant-based meals rooted in Latin flavor. After transforming her health in 2012 through plant-based nutrition, Aifra became passionate about sharing this lifestyle with others, particularly in underserved communities. Her approach is grounded in joy, storytelling, and empowerment. She is also dedicated to helping families learn how to prepare nourishing meals that are simple, affordable, and full of sabor — flavor!

aifra.ruiz@ppmny.org

Enrica Sacca

Lead Organizer & Mentor

Enrica Sacca is part of the founding team of Plant Powered Metro New York, committed to building thriving communities through whole food, plant-based nutrition awareness and empowerment. As a first generation Italian-American, Enrica was extremely driven. Her family came to the United States to make it. Within ten years, they were all sick from the standard American diet. Today, Enrica has cured herself from a lifetime of gastrointestinal distress, including diverticulitis, and is dedicating her life to support individuals who are just as driven as she was — but would love to be successful and healthy. She serves as a Lead Organizer, making countless projects and partnerships possible through her outreach, relationship building, and collaborative teamwork. A resident of Astoria, Enrica previously ran a specialty travel company for 20 years before moving into real estate management. She holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the ​T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell and a business degree from Pace University.

enrica.sacca@ppmny.org

Corey Simoneau

Marketing & Programs Coordinator

Based in Brooklyn, Corey Simoneau is our Marketing and Programs Coordinator, handling many logistics of PPMNY’s public events and outreach activities, and collecting and organizing the stories and videos emerging from our work. Corey adopted a whole food, plant-based diet after seeing the documentary Food Inc. in 2007 and never looked back. A humanitarian and an animal rights activist at heart, Corey cares deeply about learning how to improve their vitality, and educating others about how to improve their health and the health of our planet. With a decade of seasoned expertise in photography, cinematography, and video editing, Corey is a master storyteller whose passion for marketing and visual communication shines through their diverse body of work. Holding a degree in Mass Communication and a certificate in Sustainability, they further honed their craft by earning an MA in Documentary Filmmaking from George Washington University. Corey served as a Video Producer/Editor for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) from 2019 to 2022. Their innovative social media campaigns broke new ground, driving audiences to take meaningful action and significantly boosting engagement across platforms. Outside the office, Corey loves to travel, practice hot yoga, and spend time with their three cats Miles, Miso, and Mochi.

grace.simoneau@ppmny.org

Jim Spellos

Events and Technology Specialist

After experiencing a tremendous health transformation through whole food, plant-based nutrition, Jim Spellos supports our team with his expertise in technology and data systems, especially in the production of virtual events, addressing data security, and researching or adopting new tools to support our internal operations. He is also a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Jim is the President of Meeting U., a company specializing in helping people become more productive and comfortable with technology. Jim delivers over 100 seminars annually on how to use technology more efficiently, and how it is altering the nature of business. He is certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist. He was a faculty member at New York University, teaching in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies for over 25 years and was honored with both their Award for Teaching Excellence and their Outstanding Service Award. Jim serves on the Board of Directors for Rock and Wrap It Up, an anti-poverty, anti-hunger think tank, which supports food recovery for over 43,000 agencies in North America by recovering excess food from events and facilities. He co-created their Whole Earth Calculator app which helps organizations identify the quantity of food donated and carbon footprint reduced in helping to recover excess food from events. Jim is also an accomplished musician and songwriter and released his first solo recording, Stroke of Genius, at the end of 2019.

Zena Thornton

Jumpstart Operations Consultant

Zena Thornton coordinates the operations of our Plant Powered Jumpstarts. Her journey toward plant-powered living began with a profound realization that transformed her life. In 2018, she made significant changes to her diet, and the impact was immediate and remarkable: She experienced newfound energy and improved digestion, lowered her high blood pressure, and lost 30 pounds. This pivotal moment ignited a passion within her for a holistic approach to health and well-being. Having witnessed the positive effects of whole food, plant-based eating on her own life, Zena decided to take her knowledge to the next level. She had a thriving career in operations management and finance for 19 years. Embracing a more fulfilling path, she transitioned her career in 2023 to focus on advocating for a healthier, plant-powered lifestyle. Finding solutions to streamline processes and organization brings her joy, and helping others is always on her agenda. Zena holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Zena enjoys visiting new vegan restaurants, aqua aerobics, and the beach. She currently resides in Staten Island.

zena.thornton@ppmny.org

Sheri Abrahams

South Florida Organizer & Mentor

Dr. Sharon “Sheri” Abrahams is a Lifestyle Mentor for PPMNY and has been inspired to organize learning and social events for the plant-based community in her hometown in Florida. Sheri has been whole food, plant-based since 2014 and completed the T. Colin Campbell Plant Based Nutrition certificate program in 2017 after attending the continuing education programs aboard the Holistic Holiday at Sea educational cruise. Dr. Sharon (her professional name) conducts educational programs for colleagues within her industry around the topic of mindful eating and eating for mental clarity. As Sheri, she volunteers regularly within the vegan community in South Florida and acts as a mentor to anyone interested in improving their health through the foods they eat.

Migdalia Acevedo

NYC Organizer & Mentor

Migdalia Acevedo is a Brooklyn-based organizer and Lifestyle Mentor for PPMNY. She has spent her entire life in public service. She completed an LPN program while in high school and was then recruited by her congressman at the age of 15 to be an intern. Migdalia has given testimony at the NYS Legislature on health disparities and health system bias towards women and participated in many public health community events. She has served as a Spanish translator and interpreter at the state and local level. Migdalia is the union chapter president of the NYC Technical Guild at NYC Health + Hospitals and has served as both the legislative chair and women’s committee chair. As a City Research Scientist for H+H, she has drafted and administered training and policy manuals, analyzed data, and participated in emergency response activities for the City of NY. These days, Migdalia spends her free time giving health talks in her churches and helping to organize events such as health fairs and classes.

María Isabel Ariza

Food for Life Instructor & Mentor

María Ariza is a passionate health advocate based in Queens whose journey began over a decade ago, when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. While medication helped manage her condition, the side effects were challenging. Seeking a more natural approach, María turned to a plant-based diet that brought life-changing results. Her joint pain and inflammation significantly decreased, greatly improving her quality of life. In 2020, during the pandemic, María joined a plant-based nutrition program that deepened her commitment to this lifestyle. Since then, she has made it her mission to share what she’s learned, especially in underserved communities, through cooking classes and demonstrations that promote chronic disease prevention. María is a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and serves as a mentor and culinary educator with PPMNY. She also works with a nonprofit organization dedicated to community well-being. María enjoys hiking, swimming, and experimenting in the kitchen — where her passion for healing through food continues to grow.

Rhotochia Atkins-Jones

Food for Life Instructor, Ambassador, & Mentor

Rhotochia Atkins-Jones serves as a peer mentor and ambassador for Plant Powered Metro New York and is a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. After experiencing a range of health issues such as asthma, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, inflammation, obesity, and migraines for years, Rhotochia decided to explore the benefits of a plant-based diet. Since making the switch in 2021, which included participating in PPMNY’s 21-Day Jumpstart, she has experienced a range of positive impacts on her health and well-being, including a boost in energy, mental clarity, and overall emotional stability. She is now passionate about lighting other people’s candles so they can lead healthier lives. As an advocate for plant-based living, Rhotochia is committed to educating others on the benefits and often shares recipes, cooking tips, and resources to help with the transition. She continues to be a trusted resource for individuals in the faith-based community seeking advice and guidance on this important topic, and she is always looking for ways to inspire and educate others to start their wellness journey. Rhotochia is a retired executive administrative assistant from the NYPD who now runs a speaking and coaching business.

Shoba Balaji, MS, RDN, LDN

Nutrition Educator

Shoba Balaji is a passionate dietitian promoting plant-based living backed by evidence-based scientific knowledge, training, and certification. She combines knowledge and wisdom inherited from her education and multi-generational plant-based living and is eager to work with clients at various stages of change towards a plant-forward approach. She provides one-on-one virtual nutrition counseling and works with corporate clients catering to nutrition-related projects. Her goal is to empower individuals to elevate and transform their health and lifestyle to a higher level by incorporating a wholesome plant-based diet.

Rich Bassin

Food for Life Instructor

Rich Bassin is a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Until his forties, Rich ate the traditional American “meat and potatoes” diet. In his late forties, his wife Denise introduced him to the Ornish diet to lower his 200+ cholesterol. Later, after flirting with the keto diet, Rich adopted a whole food, plant based lifestyle which normalized his blood pressure, brought his total cholesterol under 150, and his LDL down to 81. Since then, Rich has never looked back. Through plant based cooking, he discovered his passion for the kitchen. He has become fascinated at how plant based meals can be so flavorful. Currently, Rich is a high school math teacher on Long Island and has a math tutoring business on the side. Prior to becoming a math teacher, he had a career in show business where he performed in Broadway (Miss Saigon) and hopes to continue his passion for theater after he retires from teaching. In addition to fitness, he loves to watch the New York Jets and ballroom dance with his wife.

Sharon Y. Brown

New Jersey Organizer & Mentor

Sharon Brown serves as a New Jersey-based organizer and mentor. She is a PCC credentialed life coach, owner of Collaborate Change, and a certified Plant-Based Health Coach through the Food Revolution Network. Sharon identifies as Black/African-American and uses she/her/hers pronouns. Sharon is warm, compassionate, intuitive, and spiritual. She values social justice, social transformation, continuous learning, indigenous healing and wisdom traditions, plants as medicine and nutrition, deep connection, collaboration, and co-creation. Sharon also values coaching as a support for those dealing with current-day, historical, and generational trauma related to racism and other types of oppression. She believes that everyone deserves dignity, respect for their intersectional identities and perspectives, and the ability to live and contribute fully and freely from their authentic gifts in a just, equitable society. As a plant-based health coach and educator, Sharon is committed to supporting people who are disproportionately impacted by lifestyle diseases to take their power and health back by incorporating more nutrient-dense whole plant foods in their diet. Sharon has over 15 years of experience with culturally aware/trauma-responsive coaching and training, curriculum and workshop design, project and team leadership, community applications of coaching, and prison workshop co-facilitation. She grew up in a working-class home with parents who valued the higher education they didn’t have the opportunity to pursue. She loves reading, growing food, writing, researching ancestors, and spending time with family and friends. Sharon was born in Newark and raised in East Orange, New Jersey. She currently lives in Verona, New Jersey.

Mitchell Castell

Long Island Regional Organizer

Mitch Castell is part of PPMNY’s founding team and continues to serve as an organizer in Long Island. He has been on his plant-based journey since March of 2012 after his father recommended that he read The China Study. Mitch decided he wanted to help promote the benefits of WFPB nutrition and contacted the author’s son, Nelson Campbell, to help with screening his documentary, Plant Pure Nation. After helping with the NYC launch, Mitch became the ambassador to bring the movie to Long Island. Soon after, he helped form the Long Island PlantPure Pod of PlantPure Communities in 2016 before it became part of PPMNY. Mitch has since earned his certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell and is passionate in helping people regain their health, putting life in their years.

Nancy Chervin

Westchester Organizer & Mentor

Nancy Chervin is based in Westchester County and serves as an organizer and Lifestyle Mentor for PPMNY. She started eating a vegan diet in 2000. She was diagnosed with high cholesterol and wanted to control it through diet, without medication. Nancy has since learned to eat more whole plant foods. She is passionate about a healthy lifestyle and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.

Brandy Cochrane

Culinary Educator & Food for Life Instructor

Brandy Cochrane is a culinary educator for PPMNY, a licensed Food for Life Instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and a chef, recipe developer, and author. She is also the co-founder of Plant Candy, a food company committed to getting you just as excited about plants as you are about candy. Her fascination with plant-based living came after reading The China Study and converting one of her grandma’s cake recipes with butter beans and dates. Once she saw that it worked, she went down a rabbit hole exploring ways to leverage the textures of plants and building in familiar flavor profiles to create food that anyone could enjoy. A graduate of Rouxbe’s Plant-Based Culinary Program, Brandy has used her knowledge to introduce this healing lifestyle in a way that’s fun, accessible, and creative. Her cookbook, Plant Candy Gathering, shares simple recipes that can be enjoyed by the plant-committed and plant-curious alike. Her latest book, The Plant-Based Handbook, which simplifies the benefits and resources for sustaining a plant-based lifestyle, was released in 2024. Brandy wants to create a narrative that a splash of creativity, a dash of openness, and a lot of spice can make plant-based living enjoyable and fun!

Louise Cohen-Silver, PhD

Seattle Organizer, Food for Life Instructor, & Mentor

Louise Cohen-Silver is a plant-based nutrition educator based in Seattle. A lifelong animal lover and vegetarian for 50+ years, Louise was first introduced to the vegan lifestyle as a means to achieve and maintain a 40-pound weight loss and thus lower her BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure, and arthritic inflammation. She has since earned her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate through the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and has trained to become a Food for Life instructor and a Vegan Lifestyle Coach & Educator through Main Street Vegan Academy. She specializes in connecting the dots between inflammation, health, and nutrition. With a Master’s in Deaf Education and a PhD in Counseling, she builds upon a decades-long teaching career with individualized cooking classes for both deaf and hearing individuals and interactive virtual classes for plant-based and “plant-curious” individuals of all ages. Her goal is to share the weight management, health, and ethical benefits of eating plants with simple recipes to embrace the lifestyle deliciously.

Stephanie Cornejal

Hispanic Community Organizer, Food for Life Instructor, & Mentor

Stephanie Cornejal serves as an organizer and Lifestyle Mentor with a special focus on the Latino community. She started on the path to lifestyle change at the age of 13 when she became a vegetarian, at the time because of animal cruelty. Since then it’s become about so much more: In college, she took various courses in Health and Wellness and was inspired to change her diet to be healthier as well as vegan. She also participated in various internships where she was able to introduce healthy meals to various populations. Stephanie is inspired to show the Latinx community the power that food has to change and prevent disease — and that change can taste great! In 2024, she became a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She has a degree in Psychology and is currently working on the Foundations of Public Health Practice Specialization through Imperial College London, the first step towards a Master’s in Public Health. Alongside her volunteer role with PPMNY, Stephanie works in Human Resources because she is passionate about helping people, and in the long-term she would like to help people more holistically to live their healthiest lives. She enjoys traveling, running, reading, and cooking and is based in Queens.

Laurie Courage

Food for Life Instructor

Laurie Courage presents Food for Life nutrition and cooking classes for PPMNY while also working as a health educator, coach, and chef through her business, Encouraging Greens. She has helped hundreds of people on the brink of a health crisis restore their health by helping them understand what and how to eat and to make lifestyle changes that last. Laurie was never a foodie. Her family tree had a legacy of those lost too young or living with many chronic conditions. By her early 50s, she decided to take back control of her health by learning what and how to eat. Laurie holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, she is a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a Starch Solution Certification Course Graduate from Dr. McDougall’s Health and Medical Center, and is a certified Diet and Lifestyle Intervention Practitioner. Laurie has also completed several courses in the Nutrition Educator Program through the Wellness Forum Institute for Health Studies, is a graduate of the Rouxbe Professional Plant-Based Chef Certification Program, and is a certified Health and Wellness Coach with over 20 years of coaching and mentoring experience. She is also a Whole Kids Foundation Healthy Teachers Program instructor, a Whole Food Plant-Based Certified Provider via WFPB.org, a certified Professional Never Binge Again Coach, and is also a member of the American College for Lifestyle Medicine. Laurie loves to share how each of us can find the good, better, and best ways to take back our health and fit this lifestyle change into our life rather than the other way around.

Vivian Davis

Nutrition & Fitness Educator, Mentor

As a nationally qualified bodybuilding competitor, Certified Personal Trainer, and Certified WFPB Holistic Nutritionist, Vivian Davis understands the importance of exercise, building muscle, and healthy food choices to help prevent or mitigate health issues that are affecting our population at younger ages and to promote functional longevity. Vivian served on PPMNY’s Board of Directors in its first few years.

Eman Faris

NYC Organizer

Based in Manhattan, Eman serves as an organizer for PPMNY after first meeting us through her work at the Washington Heights/Inwood Food Council. Eman’s interest in nutrition and food as medicine started at the age of 11, when her mom was diagnosed with diabetes. Ever since, she has researched and explored various diets to maintain her own health and not repeat the cycle — before she came across whole food, plant-based nutrition after attending a community event hosted by Plant Powered Metro New York in 2020. Eman comes with nearly a decade of experience in program management, partnership development, and community engagement. She previously worked at Columbia University managing the Summer Public Health Scholars Program, where she coordinated a CDC-funded immersive summer experience to prepare undergraduate students for a career in public health. In addition, Eman served as the Project Director for the Washington Heights & Inwood (WHIN) Food Council, a grassroots volunteer-led food justice initiative based in upper Manhattan. In her most recent role as the Director of Advocacy at the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, Eman connected with and engaged CUNY students in advocacy activities to improve the school’s campus food environment and prepare them for a career related to food justice.

Diana Goldman

Culinary Educator

Diana is a whole food, plant-based chef and nutrition educator based in Boston. She is the author of the award-winning Plants For You cookbook, a Sierra Club cooking show host, and a guest chef for the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition. Since launching her companyBeantown Kitchen in 2013, Diana has been teaching others how to prepare delicious and nutritious plant-based foods to enjoy and share with family and friends. She also brings culinary nutrition programs to medical practices and companies to deliver knowledge, skills, and healthy food experiences to patients and employees. Diana holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science from Cornell University, a master’s of education in Teaching & Curriculum from Harvard University, and many certifications.

Mare Gomez-Bolaños

Hispanic Community Organizer & Mentor

Marta (Mare) Gomez-Bolaños serves as an organizer and Lifestyle Mentor with a special focus on the Latino community. Her journey started in 2017 after watching the documentary Food Choices. She made changes to her diet and experienced health improvements immediately: lower triglycerides and cholesterol, no more hypoglycemia episodes, and regular bowel movements. She became a WFPB advocate and received a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell in 2020 to better help others. She enjoys traveling abroad, meditation, and kundalini yoga. Currently, Mare works as a fashion designer in Midtown Manhattan. She is from El Salvador and lives in New Jersey with her WFPB triathlete husband.

Sara Hirschler

NYC Organizer

Sara Hirschler is a Manhattan-based organizer for PPMNY. She adopted a whole food, plant-based diet after completing the Plant-Based Nutrition certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. She moved to New York City with her family in 2022 after 20 years in Philadelphia where she worked in marketing for non-profit and for-profit organizations. She is a mother of two rambunctious boys, a nature lover, a former Junior Olympian jump roper, and a big fan of the 2004 film I ♡ Huckabees.

Dale Johanson, EdD

Long Island Organizer & Mentor

Dr. Johanson joined the Plant Powered Metro New York network of volunteers in 2022 and serves as a Long Island Organizer and Mentor. She adopted a whole food, plant-based diet and lifestyle after attending the Real Truth About Health Conference in 2020. Dale’s has a Plant-Based Nutrition certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies & eCornell, and she completed Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Nutritarian Coaching Program. She is also a Vegan Lifestyle Coach & Educator trained through the Main Street Vegan Academy, and she has attended the Hippocrates Wellness Center and completed the Lifestyle Vitality Program. After adopting a plant-powered lifestyle, she became a regular in the kitchen, learning and creating healthy recipes and taking several cooking courses. She especially likes making desserts!

Dr. Johanson has worked as a Band Director, School District Music & Arts Administrator, and College Professor in Music Education. She is an active clarinetist performing with several groups in and around the Long Island area. She wanted to bring her background in education to PPMNY in order to help others learn about WFPB nutrition as well as health and wellness overall. She is delighted to share her experiences and journey with her mentees and anyone who is interested in learning more about this healthy lifestyle.

Kristin Kabay, MS, RD, RN

Nutrition & Fitness Educator

Kristin is a registered dietitian and nurse, originally from Houston, now based in New York. She joined Plant Powered Metro New York in 2021 and has spent over a decade promoting health through lifestyle medicine and a whole food, plant-based diet. Kristin empowers individuals to adopt healthy nutrition habits that can prevent, treat, and reverse chronic diseases. Inspired by healthcare workers during the pandemic, Kristin earned a nursing degree and now works as a cardiac nurse at Mount Sinai, blending clinical care with nutrition expertise to offer holistic support. Also a lifelong athlete and six-time Boston Marathon finisher, Kristin began a vegetarian lifestyle in the early ’90s out of compassion for animals. Over time, she transitioned to a fully plant-based diet, discovering its profound benefits for both health and athletic performance.

Robert P. Klein

Food for Life Instructor & Mentor

Robert P. Klein has been a Lifestyle Mentor for PPMNY since 2020 and is a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. He found this way of eating in 2017 shortly after being diagnosed with testicular cancer. After two invasive surgeries, which took almost 6 months to recover from, just to be able to walk and move without pain, he started looking for a way to take control of his health. He found his way to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle and never looked back!

Rob has since completed six half marathons, twelve 10K races, three Ironman 70.3s, an ultra marathon, and in 2022, a full Ironman at Lake Placid, New York. He attributes his athletic accomplishments to his commitment to a plant-based lifestyle. Learning to eat a plant-dominant diet changed everything about Rob’s life for the better. He has more energy than ever and is able to recover from very strenuous workouts with very little effort, all thanks to eating a high carb, low fat, plant-based diet. He has also been cancer free since 2017.

Rob has worked in Information Technology for over 20 years. He has been the Director of Information Technology at CUNY Guttman Community College since 2012. He is a moderator in the Food Education group for Whole Communities, an online community program run by the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.

Linda Kolton

Culinary Educator & Food for Life Instructor

As a professionally trained plant-based chef, cookbook author, culinary health coach, and licensed Food for Life instructor, Chef Linda Kolton’s mission is to help people put more plants on their plates by understanding the benefits and delights of plant-based eating. As a culinary educator for PPMNY and the owner of Kolton Culinary Consulting, Chef Linda helps individuals and businesses learn about the life-changing benefits of plant-powered nutrition. Through classes, coaching, and recipe development, she’ll meet you where you are to educate, inspire, and support you in deliciously, joyfully, and confidently achieving your healthy lifestyle goals.

Janet Levine, RDN, DMD

Nutrition Educator & Mentor

Janet is a registered dietitian nutritionist and retired dentist. She teaches her clients about the health benefits of plant-based nutrition and advises them on how to make the transition from the standard American diet to a whole-food, plant-based approach. Janet became interested in plant-based nutrition in 2011, and she earned her certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell. Janet enjoys following the current nutrition research and finds it rewarding to observe health improvements in the people she counsels.

Carole Levy

Culinary Educator & Food for Life Instructor

Carole Levy has loved art and food since she was a young girl cooking with her grandmother. Her first professional culinary experience was in a vegetarian restaurant where she built a foundation for eating healthfully. After many years of working with top chefs in restaurants and bakeries, she opened a café in San Francisco and incorporated a culinary job training program as part of its mission. While her career shifted away from food to creative advertising for the film industry, she never lost her passion for cooking. In early 2019 she participated in PPMNY’s 21-Day Jumpstart Program and shifted her 23 years of vegetarian eating to a whole food, plant-based, SOS-free lifestyle — eliminating dairy, salt, oil, and sugar. Since then she’s earned a certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell, and is a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Carole’s greatest ambition is to inspire people to take chances in the kitchen by teaching individuals to cook without fear, be open to creativity, and embrace more health-minded, nutrient-dense food combinations.

Lois Lynn, MSEd, MS, RD, CD, CLMP

Nutrition Educator & Mentor

Lois joined PPMNY in January 2019 and has served as a Jumpstart mentor, researcher and content developer, and educational presenter. As a college student of nutrition, Lois was inspired by the health exuded by Seventh Day Adventists in their published nutrition research papers to eat as a lacto-ovo-vegetarian for more than six years, and briefly as a vegan. More recently, Lois readily lost a midlife weight gain of 40 pounds after being reintroduced to plant-based eating through Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Nutritarian Diet. She then shared this new interest with the world in her 2018 book, Cooking with Whole Plant Foods: A Meal-Plan and 100 Recipes. Lois is a registered and certified dietitian, biostatistician, and certified Lifestyle Medicine professional who is a hybrid clinician, medical researcher, author, and public speaker. Comfortable reading medical research papers, interpreting the results, and teaching, Lois’s current passion is to provide evidence-based presentations to highlight the health benefits of whole plant foods. Her current interest is a lifestyle approach to bone health. Lois has called the Upper West Side of New York City her home for over 30 years.

Gail Mayer, MS, RD, CDN, DipACLM

Nutrition Educator

Gail Mayer is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She has a passion for improving people’s lives through good nutrition which prevents and reverses chronic disease. Gail began her journey towards WFPB nutrition in 2003 and has been vegan since 2011. After studying the scientific literature on nutrition and health for 15 years, Gail became a dietitian to help connect everyday people with the scientific evidence so they can take control of their diet and transform their health. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between the scientific research and public knowledge. Along with educating people to better understand the connection between food and health, she aims to support people in making dietary changes and managing the challenges of adopting a WFPB diet and healthy lifestyle practices. She currently works for NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst as the dietitian for its Lifestyle Medicine program.

Danielle Medina

Organizer, Food for Life Instructor, & Mentor

Danielle Medina is actively growing the whole food, plant-based community. After years of painful gastrointestinal issues and acne flare-ups, she discovered the healing power of food. In 2021, Danielle received a month of support from a PPMNY mentor and experienced transformative health improvements, inspiring her to support others as a PPMNY mentor and organizer. She holds a B.S. in Food Science and Nutrition, a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, and is a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Danielle is also a longtime fitness and yoga instructor, bringing over 20 years of experience to her work. Through her business, Fit N Play Mama LLC, Danielle offers family-friendly cooking classes and wellness programs rooted in joy and simplicity. She especially loves sharing the kitchen with her daughter and showing families how to prepare meals that nourish both body and spirit.

Bryant Meythaler

Nutrition Educator & Mentor

Bryant Meythaler is a medical school applicant, and plans on pursuing Lifestyle Medicine which includes advising patients with whole food, plant-based (WFPB) nutrition. He has been inspired by other WFPB/Lifestyle Medicine physicians, including Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Michael Greger, and many others. He has been living the lifestyle for over 10 years now, after researching the incredible beneficial effects of WFPB nutrition on health and prevention/reversal of various conditions and diseases that are affecting so many communities. He experienced several health benefits within the first few weeks and after months of transitioning, including normalized cholesterol, better skin health (acne clearing), better mental energy for his studies, physical energy for sports/gym, better digestion, and more. He is very passionate about educating the community about this incredible lifestyle and has been a part of PPMNY since the fall of 2020. He has been mentoring in the English and Spanish Jumpstarts, assisting in Food for Life classes, and tabling at various fairs. It’s been an amazing experience working with PPMNY, and he is grateful for every opportunity!

Luis Moral

Food for Life Instructor & Mentor

Luis Moral is a Lifestyle Mentor for PPMNY and a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, supporting classes in both English and Spanish. He is a dedicated educator, business owner, and advocate for healthy living. With over 15 years of experience as a business owner, Luis is also a certified project manager and a former professor of economics. His personal journey with plant-based nutrition transformed his health, empowering him to achieve his dream of running marathons and giving him peace of mind in reducing his risk of disease, particularly cancer, which runs in his family. Luis also volunteers with his running club, North Jersey Masters, where he helps beginners take their first steps into running. Currently, Luis is working toward certifications as a Health and Wellness Coach and a running coach, further expanding his ability to guide others on their journey to better health.

Kele Nkhereanye

NYC Organizer & Culinary Educator

Kelebohile (Kele) Nkhereanye serves as a volunteer organizer and culinary educator for PPMNY. She is a food street vendor, food justice activist, gardener, community chef, and East New York leader. Kele is an immigrant from Lesotho, Southern Africa, where she learned about gardening and selling excess produce to her neighbors who did not have access to gardens. Even though Kele has been a food activist, she still suffered from diet-related diseases, which is why she is thankful to learn about whole food, plant-based nutrition. She has been on the path to reverse her chronic diseases and serve her communities, to find healing using food as medicine. Kele has an MPA from Metropolitan College of New York, and she studied Sociology & Women’s Studies at Hunter College and Hospitality Management at the New York City College of Technology. She holds a nutrition health coach certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, is a community chef trained by Just Food, and serves as an Interfaith Chaplain for the New York State Chaplain Task Force.

Madelyn Pullman Schloss, MD

Nutrition Educator & Mentor

Dr. Madelyn Schloss is a retired ophthalmologist based in Brooklyn who serves as a volunteer educator and Lifestyle Mentor. She became a vegan in 2012 after watching Forks Over Knives. She encouraged her patients to include lifestyle changes as “good medicine” and got fantastic results. In her retirement, she has continued to pursue food education and enjoys sharing it with others.

Ann Ramsay

NYC Organizer

Ann Ramsay, RN, MSN, L.Ac is a retired nurse educator and Chinese Medicine educator and practitioner from Vermont. She lives half-time in NYC on the Upper West Side and half-time near Burlington, Vermont. Ann has been moving toward a whole food, plant-based lifestyle for several years because of her knowledge of Chinese Medicine which emphasizes food as medicine. She fully adopted the lifestyle when diagnosed with acid reflux in 2024 and joined PPMNY’s network to help in whatever capacity she can. She is also active in a vegan group in Vermont. Continuing her quest for knowledge and health through diet and exercise is her main focus in retirement.

Karla Rodriguez, DNP, RN, CNE, DipACLM

Nutrition Educator & Mentor

Karla Rodriguez serves as an advisor to PPMNY in addition to volunteering as a Lifestyle Mentor and educator. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She has been a Registered Nurse since 1999, with experience in the medical-surgical specialty for adults and children. Karla thoroughly enjoys working with both demographics and their transition back into the community after hospitalization. Her nursing doctorate was focused on population health. She has always been interested in nutrition and the negative impacts of the food industry’s influence on how we eat. Karla has been a vegan for over eight years. She became more interested in whole food, plant-based nutrition because it just makes sense to consume foods in its most natural form. Karla received a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies in March 2020.

Roxanne Naiman Roloff

Maryland Organizer

Roxanne used to follow the standard American diet, which left her tired, overweight, and lacking vitality. After learning about plant-based nutrition, she transformed her health by embracing whole, nutrient-dense foods. Now, as a Maryland-based organizer for PPMNY and as a certified plant-based coach through the Food Revolution Network, she helps others do the same — offering simple guidance, practical tips, and delicious recipes to support a healthier, more energized life.

Vanessa Sossa Sánchez

Food for Life Instructor

Vanessa Sossa Sánchez serves as a culinary educator for PPMNY and is a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She was born in Bogotá, Colombia. Vanessa grew up believing in the power of food as medicine and discovered vegetarianism through the Hare Krishnas in Bogotá. Volunteering at their farm, she learned about plant-based cooking and decolonizing consumption habits. While studying psychology in 2016, she connected nutrition to mental health and became an advocate for food justice and animal rights. Launching Alegria Vegana during the coronavirus pandemic, she educates people to get involved in their own kitchens and supports individuals transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. Now in New York, she’s expanded her project with La Bakeria, a bakery specializing in plant-based Colombian treats. Vanessa’s main goal is to inspire people to take charge of their food choices and make decisions that promote their health, benefit animals, and protect the planet.

Kim Siansky

NYC Organizer & Mentor

Kim Siansky, CHWC, VLCE, joined PPMNY’s network of volunteers in 2019 and serves as an organizer and mentor. She was a vegetarian for many years but developed serious inflammation in her knee. After declining anti-inflammatory drugs to treat it, she embarked on her own food experiment to fully reduce the inflammation. Kim is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach, holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, and is a certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach & Educator. She is also a certified shiatsu practitioner and a certified yoga instructor. She loves the challenge of cooking up delicious meals in a tiny NYC kitchen. Kim enjoys combining her love of movement with energy healing practices and sharing her knowledge about healthy plant-based foods with her clients, family and friends. She engages with environmental organizations and participates in working on green solutions for our planet.

Maddie Sobel

Food for Life Instructor

Maddie Sobel is a food and nutrition educator and wellness coach. Her specialties include cancer prevention and survival, weight loss, corporate wellness, and diabetes management through plant based diets. Maddie’s work includes supporting schools, corporations, and other institutional food services in redesigning their food offerings to be inclusive of health-promoting options and dietary restrictions. Maddie volunteers with projects in Connecticut with Plant Powered Metro New York and is a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Anthony Spino

Lifestyle Mentorship Coordinator, Food for Life Instructor, & Mentor

Anthony Spino is the volunteer coordinator of our Plant Powered Lifestyle Mentorship program, matching our trained mentors to work with community members on lifestyle change. He is also a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Anthony grew up in the Midwest and learned to cook in his family’s Italian restaurant, Anthony’s, in Kansas City. He went to culinary school at Johnson County Community College. He moved to New York in his early 30’s as he was shifting away from the traditional American diet. After years of struggling to find a healthy vegan diet, he found Plant Powered Metro New York, learning from others in the community as well as the leading plant-based doctors. He went back into the kitchen and learned how to cook without milk, egg, cheese, and butter from some of the best vegetarian and vegan chefs in New York City.

Anthony has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, and he is a chef for Wellness in The Schools, an organization that has partnered with New York City Public Schools to bring scratch-made, plant-forward and less processed meals to students across the city. He also continues to serve vegan versions of his family’s recipes in New York through his catering business, Anthony’s Eastside.

Krutanjali Thakar

New Jersey Organizer

Krutanjali Thakar serves as a New Jersey-based organizer. Her life changed drastically after switching to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle. As a Karate black belt, avid sports enthusiast, and a Mallakhamb coach, she saw her recovery periods after strenuous workouts were shorter and quicker. This led her to research and explore the WFPB lifestyle and learn its preventative benefits against various diseases and disorders. Currently, Krutanjali is working on integrating the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda in establishing WFPB nutrition as a gold standard remedy to many health problems like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancers, and gastrointestinal issues. While doing so, she is working on reviving ancient cooking styles in Asia and Southeast Asia and some of its lost recipes which emphasized whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and seeds in most of its natural form.

Lature Van Duren

Fitness & Wellness Educator

Lature Van Duren is a Brooklyn-based volunteer and wellness educator. As the founder and CEO of the wellness center and online coaching community NuCellf, he dedicates his time to professional health coaching, drawing on a 15-year journey in health and wellness. Lature’s expertise lies in crafting personalized health programs that guide individuals toward achieving their health aspirations, encompassing movement practices like qigong, calisthenics, yoga, kettlebell training, mobility, functional training, and animal flow. He also offers plant-based nutrition guidance, including meal planning and cooking demonstrations, alongside healing arts practices such as meditation, sound journeys, breathwork, and bodywork. Witnessing individuals embrace new challenges, learn, and grow is profoundly rewarding for Lature.

Kelly Weichsel-Arya, RN, DipACLM

Nutrition Educator & Mentor

Kelly serves as a Nutrition Educator and Lifestyle Mentor for PPMNY. She is an enthusiastic Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and also co-founded Plant Yourself Healthy, based in Westchester County, with Florence Hovy. She is a Registered Nurse eager to educate and can tout the myriad benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet and lifestyle switch which she began back in 2006. Kelly knows all too well the importance of a balanced life, as she is a stage 3 cancer survivor and loves to encourage others to achieve their best health through knowledge. She especially loves to teach the science-related “why” behind important habit changes and can cater teaching to many levels of interest. She has completed numerous other certifications, including the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies’ Plant-Based Certificate program and Rouxbe culinary courses, as well as attending most of the major WFPB-related medical conferences in the US. Kelly volunteers in her community as an EMT and WFPB educator amongst her work with physicians’ patient referrals.

Ludmilla Wikkeling Scott, DrPH, MPH

Food for Life Instructor & Mentor

Dr. Ludmilla Wikkeling Scott is a Public Health and Policy Expert who spent the last 20+ years cracking the code to a life of abundant health, inside and out, underscored by her belief that “to whom much is given, much is required.” Her passion is to educate the masses on whole food, plant-based lifestyle and create healthier communities. Dr. Ludmilla pursued her calling to create healthier communities after she lost her father due to complications from cholesterol medication, a devastating event, especially since her father had no other chronic disease issues. Turning her grief into celebrating her father’s life, she honors his legacy by raising awareness of a whole food, plant-based lifestyle to reduce chronic disease, especially among 50+ communities. Dr. Ludmilla holds a Master and Doctor of Public Health from Morgan State University and is a licensed Food for Life Instructor of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and received her Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. She is married to Bryant Scott, an Air Force Veteran, and the proud mom of one daughter Maria-Del-Mar.

Myron White

Long Island Organizer

Myron White serves as a volunteer organizer in Long Island. His lifestyle journey began when he noticed that many members of both sides of his family were dying early, some even before their 50th birthday. The search to find the genesis and remedy led him to begin researching the fields of nutrition and lifestyle changes. Attending numerous events and conducting in-depth research led to a love of nutrition science. He quickly adopted a vegan diet, then transitioned to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, and finally a WFPB diet without added salt, oil, or sugar (“SOS-free”). The results were the end of heart palpitations, more energy, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, loss of joint stiffness, and many other health benefits. As a compassionate lifelong serial entrepreneur, Myron is blessed with numerous contacts, friends, and personal skills. He’s very passionate about nourishing and developing the body, mind, and spirit. His primary goal is to help people learn how to get and maintain optimal health. Being an at-large organizer for PPMNY, and an active leader in various other groups and organizations in the vegan community, enables him to give back to the NY Metropolitan area. He’s proud to be a son, brother, father of four, and grandfather of two precious boys.

Judith Zerden

Cardiovascular Health & Westchester Organizer

Judy Zerden raises awareness about plant-based nutrition to support people affected by cardiovascular disease and in her home base of Westchester County. She is a co-creator and co-producer of PPMNY’s Heart to Healthy Heart livestream series. Inspired by Dr. Robert Ostfeld’s “Confessions of a Reformed Cardiologist” and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s work on preventing and reversing heart disease, Judy embraced a whole food, plant-based diet in 2019. Their message that simple changes in what you eat each day can profoundly affect your health was both appealing and empowering. She’s since been encouraged by improvements in her own health and by the robust body of evidence regarding the potential of whole food, plant-based eating to help prevent and treat a wide range of diseases. Drawing on her research background from many years as an attorney, she strives to explore the medical literature regarding the impact of diet on inflammation and chronic illness.

Natalie Zolotareva, RN

Organizer, Nutrition Educator, & Mentor

After 22 years as an ICU nurse caring for some of the sickest patients, Natalie Zolotareva began asking herself: “Is there a better way?” This question led her on a journey to discover alternatives to the traditional “pill for every ill” model of healthcare. Through extensive research and personal experimentation, Natalie found the whole food, plant-based lifestyle. Inspired by the profound impact of diet and lifestyle changes, she became a board-certified Nurse Health Coach and earned advanced training in diet and lifestyle through Wellness Forum Health. She also became a certified meditation teacher, blending mindfulness with her clinical expertise to create a holistic approach to wellness. Today, she combines her nursing background with evidence-based lifestyle interventions and WFPB eating and cooking to help individuals prevent and reverse chronic conditions, achieve vibrant health, and live their best lives. She works with clients one-on-one and leads a group coaching program designed specifically for women over 40 who want to lose weight sustainably and improve their overall well-being. Natalie is deeply passionate about empowering others with the tools and knowledge to embrace plant-based living, fostering a healthier, happier world for everyone.