Mariska Goswami Pronouns: she/her/hers Mariska is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Originally from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, she moved to Pittsburgh for college, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Computational Biology with minors in Spanish and Chemistry. She is passionate about advancing health equity and environmental justice through community-engaged research focused on the social and environmental conditions that influence health. This summer, Mariska is excited to complete her MPH practicum…Read More
Marquise Wheeler Pronouns – he/him/his Marquise Wheeler is a community development and environmental justice professional, entrepreneur, and lifelong learner based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He currently serves as Director of Programming at Grounded Strategies, where he leads initiatives focused on youth engagement, community revitalization, environmental stewardship, and equitable access to land and green space. Marquise also serves as the Community Connector for Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh where he helps lead and support the development of organizational community partnerships and activations. Before joining…Read More
Grayson Skupin Pronouns – they/them/theirs Grayson Skupin is a sustainability and food systems professional with a background in events planning, volunteer engagement, workshop facilitation, and grants management. As a gulf south native, they grew up steeped in a culture of mutual aid and community support in the face of systemic divestment, which have carried through as guiding principles in their contemporary work. Grayson has a BA in French and Francophone Studies and Organizational Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and…Read More
Adriana Bowman Pronouns – she/they Adriana Bowman is a Senior Planner at the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning. During her time at the city, she has worked to advance projects in economic development, parks and recreation, and vacant land stewardship. She received an Economics degree from the University of South Carolina before studying community and economic development for a year in India. She received a Master's in Public Administration with a major in Urban Affairs and Planning from the University…Read More
Moses Wamalwa Pronouns: he/him/his Moses Wamalwa is an educator, builder, and creative strategist with over a decade of experience designing transformative programs for youth and communities. As Youth Engagement Project Manager at Grounded, he brings an unwavering belief in the brilliance of young people and the responsibility of adults to create space for that brilliance to shape the world around us. Moses’s work has always lived at the crossroads of identity, justice, and imagination. He has developed student-led civic initiatives, taught in…Read More
Jazmary Morales Pronouns: she/her Jazmary Morales is an undergraduate student of urban studies and sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh. She is from and grew up in Lebanon, PA alongside her two sisters. Being a child of immigrants, it is easy to see how our cities leave them behind, and I would like to change that. For her, GIS isn’t just a tool to produce maps about tree canopy distribution, heat vulnerability, bus routes, etc. It is a lens that allows us…Read More
Nissa Johnson Pronouns: she/they From Pittsburgh’s paintball fields to the rhythm of everyday life, Níssa moves with purpose, passion, and a whole lot of heart. You’ll catch them on the field with The Command Bros, not always front and center—but always bringing energy, creativity, and that unmistakable fire. That says just as much about their spirit as their game does. Beyond the splatter and strategy, Nissa is rooted in family and fueled by love. A proud parent of six—including bonus babies they…Read More
Kris Chandler Pronouns: he/him/his An artist with a passion for public policy, Kristopher (Kris) hails from Erie, Pennsylvania! With a background in writing, film, community engagement, non-profit management, and transportation advocacy, Kris is driven by connecting his passions to discover solutions to some of the most pressing policy issues of today. He strives to meet people where they are at, in order to better understand who they are, what they need, and how best everyone can work together. As the Land Use…Read More
Jim Langton Treasurer Pronouns: he/him/his Jim Langton is an experienced financial services leader with over 40 years of experience with major financial institutions. Most recently, was a Director at Bank of America in treasury services and commercial banking roles. Jim also held leadership roles at JPMorganChase in global treasury services, business management, and client onboarding. Earlier in his career, he worked at Mellon Bank in cash management, wholesale banking and private wealth management roles. Jim started his career in the audit department…Read More
Ra Heggins Pronouns: she/her Rashelle (Ra) was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and has been stationed at many bases across the United States, which has given way to her being a chameleon and being able to thrive in many arenas and atmospheres. Originally an army brat from Fayetteville, North Carolina, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in February of 2016 to continue her community organizing in the nonprofit sector. She attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia, majoring in sports medicine and minoring in psychology while also having scholarships…Read More