Board of Directors

Tom Klitzner, Chair. Professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Renee Meshul, Treasurer. UCCE Master Gardener. MEd in Counseling Psychology. Child development specialist. Entrepreneur

Robin Conerly,  Retired Executive Director, West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation.

Jill Matteson, Environmental & Nonprofit Professional; UCCE Master Gardener; Regenerative Agriculture & School Garden enthusiast, Master of Environmental Science & Management.

Advisory Board

Rick Perdue, MBA - President of Rosewood Property Company, Dallas, TX. BS Civil Engineering from Auburn University, MBA from Tulane University. CFA charter holder since 2011, LEED Accredited, and Licensed REB in Texas.

Marianne Brown, MPH, Founding member of Seeds to Plate

Mary Siewert,  Director of Audits and Grant Administration at Venice Family Clinic

Cambria L. Garell, MD, Associate Program Director for the UCLA Pediatric Residency Program and directs the Primary Care and Public Health Track (PHABB - Public Health Ambulatory Basics and Beyond)

Patty Kestin, Founding member of Seeds to Plate, M.B.A., J.D., Community Activist and School Garden Advocate, UCCE Master Gardener

Sharon Cech, MA-UP, Regional Food Systems Director, Occidental College; Chair, Farm to School garden subcommittee, LA Food Policy Council

Elizabeth Benson Forer, MSW, MPH, Chief Executive Officer at Venice Family Clinic

Chaka Forman, Volunteer Outreach Committee

Bob Gottlieb, Retired Executor Director of the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI) at Occidental College  

Linda Lucks, Special Events & Community Outreach, Venice Community Housing 

Kerry Olinger, Program Development and Teacher Liaison.Teacher at Mark Twain Middle School

Wendelin Slusser, MD, MS Associate Vice Provost of UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative and Clinical Professor at UCLA School of Medicine and Public Health

Rachel A. Surls, Ph.D., Director of the Los Angeles County Cooperative Extension (Master Gardener Program)

Mitesh Popat, Chief Executive Officer at Venice Family Clinic

Neil O'Hanlon, Attorney and Arbitrator, member of the American Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitration Panel

A week to remember. Four years ago under the direction of the talented Ms. Angela Hughes, one of our favorite collaborations-a pop up restaurant! Students were able to learn culinary skills and hospitality pro tips to create a garden lunch for their
"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own." Charles Dickens Our schoolyard habitat is thriving- not only is it beautiful, but it continues to provide food for families in need.
Life in the garden without students is different- seeds that were dropped or scattered by kids or critters have taken root with no foot traffic. Happy accidents! What has remained unchanged are the cycles of the natural world. Our thriving garden wil
Happy Earth Day from Seeds to Plate. The planet, and the food cultivated on it unify us all. Mother Nature teaches us impermanence, renewal, hope, connection, independence beauty, generosity and so much more. Sharing opportunities to connect students