Julie Block joined the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council for a one year appointment to provide Administrative Support. Julie has a background in community nutrition, having received her BS in Nutrition & Dietetics from University of Pittsburgh before serving as a nutrition educator with ACHD’s WIC program. Most recently she was focused on strategic business development for 4moms, a Pittsburgh based tech startup. Julie is eager to apply her learned project and operations management skills to support the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council and the city of Pittsburgh as we work towards a just and sustainable food system.
Sarah Buranskas, Food Access Coordinator
Sarah Buranskas, MPH joins the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council for a one year appointment as Food Access Coordinator. Sarah will provide outreach, coordination and research support to the Council’s Food & Health Equity Working Group and Food Access Initiatives subcommittee and related projects. Previously, she worked as an AmeriCorps Community HealthCorps member at several Federally Qualified Health Centers aiding patients with state benefit applications, as well as a volunteer and site coordinator at urban gardens in both Lansing, MI and Santiago, Chile. In Chile, she was a research assistant on the school food environment in Santiago public schools, specifically focusing on the free school meals program. Most recently, she completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where she focused on health behavior and food systems.
Karlin Lamberto, Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Karlin Lamberto joined the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council for a one year appointment as Urban Agriculture Coordinator. Karlin will provide outreach, coordination and research support to the Council’s Urban Agriculture Working Group and related projects. Most recently, Karlin worked for seven years with the Penn’s Corner Farm Alliance, a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative and Council member organization. In that position, she managed sales, marketing and distribution as well as program development and grant writing/administration in support of the 30+ farm owners throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Prior to that Karlin worked as an environmental consultant for 10 years with a focus on the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act (and project management) for the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona.
Dawn Plummer, Director
Dawn Plummer joined the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council in early June 2014 as its first Director. Over the past 15 years, Dawn has served in a variety of leadership roles including coordinator of national and international networks, coalition builder, fundraiser, researcher, and community organizer.
Most recently, Dawn served for over 6 years as the Development Director of the Poverty Initiative, a New York City-based organization with a mission to raise up generations of religious and community leaders dedicated to building a movement to end poverty.
Dawn received her MA in Political Science from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and her BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dawn has worked alongside grassroots community efforts and social movements in the US and globally who work to construct local food systems. Dawn served as the first staff person for Friends of the MST (Brazilian Landless Workers Movement).
As Pittsburgh emerges as a city reborn, Dawn is committed to building the region as a leader in the new economy, expanding upon the Council’s pioneering work of offering solutions to critical issues of human health and wellbeing by building a just and sustainable food system. The problems of food insecurity, unsustainable agricultural models and poverty require new models of collaboration and Dawn is thrilled to move this project forward.
Dora Walmsley, Outreach & Communications Manager
Dora Walmsley came to the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council in late July 2014 as its first part-time Outreach Coordinator. Dora comes from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, where she served for four years as the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator. Prior to that, she served as a Community Case Manager for The Brashear Association.
Dora is also the co-owner of a community based corner store in Upper Lawrenceville called the 52nd Street Market. Through the establishment of 52nd Street Market, Dora has provided consultant services to Just Harvest's Fresh Access Program and AdHawk Solutions work with Mercy Behavioral.
Her experiences coordinating neighborhood food pantries, increasing food awareness and preparation among youth and consolidating the resources available to new entrepreneurs, allows for robust contributions among Pittsburgh Food Policy Council Members and the Greater Pittsburgh community at large.
Building a Just and Sustainable Food System.
Staff
Julie Block joined the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council for a one year appointment to provide Administrative Support. Julie has a background in community nutrition, having received her BS in Nutrition & Dietetics from University of Pittsburgh before serving as a nutrition educator with ACHD’s WIC program. Most recently she was focused on strategic business development for 4moms, a Pittsburgh based tech startup. Julie is eager to apply her learned project and operations management skills to support the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council and the city of Pittsburgh as we work towards a just and sustainable food system.
Sarah Buranskas, MPH joins the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council for a one year appointment as Food Access Coordinator. Sarah will provide outreach, coordination and research support to the Council’s Food & Health Equity Working Group and Food Access Initiatives subcommittee and related projects. Previously, she worked as an AmeriCorps Community HealthCorps member at several Federally Qualified Health Centers aiding patients with state benefit applications, as well as a volunteer and site coordinator at urban gardens in both Lansing, MI and Santiago, Chile. In Chile, she was a research assistant on the school food environment in Santiago public schools, specifically focusing on the free school meals program. Most recently, she completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where she focused on health behavior and food systems.
Karlin Lamberto joined the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council for a one year appointment as Urban Agriculture Coordinator. Karlin will provide outreach, coordination and research support to the Council’s Urban Agriculture Working Group and related projects. Most recently, Karlin worked for seven years with the Penn’s Corner Farm Alliance, a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative and Council member organization. In that position, she managed sales, marketing and distribution as well as program development and grant writing/administration in support of the 30+ farm owners throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Prior to that Karlin worked as an environmental consultant for 10 years with a focus on the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act (and project management) for the public and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona.
Dawn Plummer joined the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council in early June 2014 as its first Director. Over the past 15 years, Dawn has served in a variety of leadership roles including coordinator of national and international networks, coalition builder, fundraiser, researcher, and community organizer.
Most recently, Dawn served for over 6 years as the Development Director of the Poverty Initiative, a New York City-based organization with a mission to raise up generations of religious and community leaders dedicated to building a movement to end poverty.
Dawn received her MA in Political Science from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and her BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dawn has worked alongside grassroots community efforts and social movements in the US and globally who work to construct local food systems. Dawn served as the first staff person for Friends of the MST (Brazilian Landless Workers Movement).
As Pittsburgh emerges as a city reborn, Dawn is committed to building the region as a leader in the new economy, expanding upon the Council’s pioneering work of offering solutions to critical issues of human health and wellbeing by building a just and sustainable food system. The problems of food insecurity, unsustainable agricultural models and poverty require new models of collaboration and Dawn is thrilled to move this project forward.
Dora Walmsley came to the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council in late July 2014 as its first part-time Outreach Coordinator. Dora comes from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, where she served for four years as the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator. Prior to that, she served as a Community Case Manager for The Brashear Association.
Dora is also the co-owner of a community based corner store in Upper Lawrenceville called the 52nd Street Market. Through the establishment of 52nd Street Market, Dora has provided consultant services to Just Harvest's Fresh Access Program and AdHawk Solutions work with Mercy Behavioral.
Her experiences coordinating neighborhood food pantries, increasing food awareness and preparation among youth and consolidating the resources available to new entrepreneurs, allows for robust contributions among Pittsburgh Food Policy Council Members and the Greater Pittsburgh community at large.