Staff

Gregg Davis – Interim Executive Director

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Gregg works, in an interim capacity, to ensure that the Land Trust is advancing its mission of providing community gardening spaces, preserving open spaces and educating New Haven residents about the environment. Gregg grew up in New Jersey and now lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with his wife and two teenage daughters. He has founded or co-founded two nonprofits and a for profit social enterprise and consults widely with nonprofits on strategy, executive transitions and mergers and partnerships. Gregg received a BA in psychology from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee and an MBA from the executive program at Columbia University.

Alex Shaheen - Operations Manager

alex.shaheen@newhavenlandtrust.org

Alex is the operations manager for the New Haven Land Trust, helping to keep the office running smoothly. Alex has lived in New Haven for 12 years and enjoys being an active member of the New Haven arts community. After studying English at Albertus Magnus College, Alex worked as a substitute teacher prior to gaining her administrative and operations experience at an Engineering company. Alex prefers to spend her time outdoors and loves warm weather. In her spare time, Alex likes to repurpose old treasures, creating and selling various forms of mixed media art. 

Bradley Fleming - Community Gardens Manager

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Bradley oversees the Land Trust's 55 community gardens throughout New Haven. He is an Elm City native who has worked on farms both urban and rural, as well as numerous food access and community building projects. Most recently, Bradley managed the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm. He is passionate about healthy living and is excited to bring his knowledge and expertise back home to share with the New Haven community. 

Esther Rose-Wilen - Garden Education Coordinator

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Esther Rose-Wilen is a New Haven native with a degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University. She has been volunteering with agriculture projects and community gardens since the 8th grade in Connecticut, New Jersey, Argentina, and Spain. She is incredibly excited to help manage both the Growing Entrepreneurs program and the Incubator Gardens program at the Land Trust. In her free time, Esther might be reading in a hammock, playing with her cat Miel, or eating tacos at Long Wharf. 

Cori Merchant - Schooner Camp Director and Preserves Coordinator 

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Cori is Preserve Coordinator and Schooner Camp Director for the Land Trust. She comes from a background of over 15 years of working with youth in environmental, camp and recreational programming in eight different states. She grew up near Madison, WI spending much of her time outdoors and at her grandparent's dairy farm. She has a strong interest in helping others build a love of the outdoors and looks forward to spending her summers with the youth of Greater New Haven! When not working, she spends time with her dog, Chase, or playing competitive adult kickball in leagues around New Haven and Hartford and traveling to kickball tournaments throughout the US.
 

Anna is a rising junior at Quinnipiac University working as the Community Gardens/Opterations Intern for the Land Trust. She grew up in Naugatuck, Connecticut, however, attended middle school and high school in New Haven. She is passionate about giving back to New Haven and enjoys learning more about urban food systems. At Quinnipiac, Anna studies both English and Environmental Studies, and is a student employee at the Albert Schweitzer Institute. In her free time, she loves to write poetry, garden, and spend time with her family.

Leany Munoz - Community Gardens Intern 

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Leany is a Community Gardens Intern at the New Haven Land Trust. She grew up in New Haven, CT and enjoyed the outdoors every chance she got. She is a rising sophomore at the University of Vermont, majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Ecological Agriculture. She aspires to a career that blends her love of nature, agriculture and other living beings with the opportunity to educate others.

Growing Entrepreneurs 

Nayeli Cruz 

Nayeli Cruz is a Junior at Wilbur Cross. She is in the Honors Academy. She plays volleyball in the New Haven Volleyball Academy. This is her first job. She wants to study criminal justice at Yale University. One of her ideas for this job is to grow tomatoes as a small business and sell them. She is excited to learn from the job how to be a respectful, responsible, good employee. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nina Javier 

 

Nina Javier is a Junior at Wilbur Cross. She hopes to one day open her own business or work with animals. She is working with the Land Trust to gain business and agricultural skills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camila Mendes is a 16-year-old Junior at High School in the Community. After graduating, she plans to go to art school or become a police officer. The Land Trust sparks inspiration and ideas on future artworks and has taught her responsibility and leadership skills.