A_JUST_HARVEST - Key Persons
Curtis joined A Just Harvest in March 2019. He grew up in the Rogers Park area and is excited to give students at the Gale Academy the opportunity to learn more about gardening and plants overall. His favorite plants are canna lilies, purple queens, and sunflowers.
Job Titles:
- Director of Food Services
David is the second longest-serving staff member of A Just Harvest, started in 2009. David leads the Community Kitchen and has been instrumental in helping the organization open on more than 9,000 consecutive nights as well as managing the efforts of tens of thousands of volunteers.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of a Just Harvest
Kim leads A Just Harvest's work to advance state and federal programs that fight climate change and remove barriers that have historically left under-resourced communities out of the renewable energy economy. Illinois' new Climate & Equitable Jobs Act contains many programs designed to redress historical inequities, and Kim works to ensure these programs function well and stay true to their purposes. Kim also works to advance food policy priorities that reduce hunger and poverty while promoting community and economic development.
Leslie joined a A Just Harvest in April 2021. Starting out as a volunteer with the AGUA team, Leslie has been working in the AJH gardens for quite some time. He loves to learn more about all the different plants in the garden spaces. His favorite plants are okra and bok choy.
Job Titles:
- Community Kitchen Manager
Job Titles:
- Community Resident Director of Development
Job Titles:
- Member of the Sustainers Board
- President of Magnuson Group Member, Winnetka Covenant Church
Job Titles:
- Community Resident Principal Consultant
Job Titles:
- Member of the Sustainers Board
- President of Petersen Aluminum Corporation Member, Kenilworth Union Church
Job Titles:
- Retired Director of Marketing, Morton Salt Member, Winnetka Congregational Church
Job Titles:
- Patron, Community Kitchen Member, Good News Community Church
Job Titles:
- Community Resident Retired Senior Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Sustainers Board
- Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy Member, Good News Community Church
Job Titles:
- Member of the Sustainers Board
- Principal of DoGone Fun! Member, St. Pauls UCC
Job Titles:
- Branch Manager With Wintrust Community Bank, Rogers Park
Job Titles:
- Community Resident Owner / Partner
Job Titles:
- Director, Multi - Faith Veterans Initiative, Egan Office for Urban Education and Community Partnerships
Myriam joined A Just Harvest in August of 2021. Currently she is attending The Chicago School of Professional Psychology to receive her BA in Psychology. She is fascinated with the subject because she can emphasize the need for restorative justice, art therapy, and many other holistic therapies to heal trauma. In like manner this passion is rooted in her community through working previously with nonprofits as a Youth Mentor, Youth Facilitator., and Event Coordinator. She also prides herself in her community because it has nurtured who she is today. Therefore working in the community is not enough to show her gratitude and to see her community prosper to its potential. So she volunteers as a Community Representative on her LSC, treasurer to her local IPO, and she organizes her annual Block Party. In her free time, she loves to eat fresh food, create art with her son, sit out in the sun, listen to music, have movie therapy with her family, power walk, and take care of her rooster and plants. FYI her favorite color is red.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics and Society, Chicago Theological Seminary
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Ex - Officio
Reverend Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks has served as Executive Director of A Just Harvest since October, 2002. Rev. Pagán-Banks was instrumental in leading A Just Harvest through a growth period whereby the organization added advocacy and economic development programming targeting the root causes of hunger. An ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ, she is a resident of Chicago and enjoys yoga, writing, dance, and her grandkids. Rev. Pagán-Banks also serves as an Adjunct Professor with McCormick Theological Seminary and Garrett Theological Seminary and is a joyful contributor of Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education
- Director of Education & Community Development
Simone is the Director of Education & Community Development. She joined the team in
May of 2019. Simone has been engaged in urban agriculture and organic farming for 10 years, including
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Operations