Meet the Team

Staff

Christopher Hartsfield

CS' Programs Director

Bio

Christopher Hartsfield is CS' Programs Director. From 2015 - 2018, Christopher led CS' Outdoor Play programming for 7-24-year-olds, including teaching afterschool children and youth interns how to co-lead cycling adventures, fitness circuits and testing, JungleGym (CS' obstacle race and active-living fair), and over 35 single-day play events per year. In 2019, Christopher transitioned to Programs Manager, leading program service delivery. Christopher earned a B.S in Health & Physical Education from Elizabeth City State University, and has a Wilderness First Aid Certification from SOLO, a Middle Manager Certificate from the American Camp Association, and Outdoor Leadership Training from the Appalachian Mountain Club's Youth Opportunities Program. In 2019, Christopher completed the Developing Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals at Columbia Business School and the Family Development Credential for Leaders with the NYC Department of Youth. Prior to joining CS, Christopher was a fitness coach and floor trainer at the YMCA Armory in Park Slope instructing 4-18-year-olds in various sports classes and the youth basketball league. He is a licensed security and fire brigade officer, and demonstrates a serious commitment to safety.

Claire Farnan

CS' Garden Educator + Project Developer

Bio

Claire Farnan, CS' Garden Educator & Project Developer, earned a BS in Environmental Science from Stonehill College where she was a Research Scholar. Claire was an active volunteer in land restoration and seasonal planting and distribution of fruits and vegetables for 200 hours at The Farm at Stonehill. She was also the President of the Food Truth Club at Stonehill, advocating for the incorporation of organic produce to be purchased by the university, and for a greener system of take-away food from the cafeteria. She co-facilitated a one-credit course on food inequalities and the modern-day food system. Claire coaches gymnastics, cycles, and is a trapeze artist outside of work.

Mac Levine, MPH

Executive Director

Bio

Executive Director Mac Levine, MPH, founded CS in 2008 with 16 East Harlem children, and has since grown the organization to serve over 13,000 children, youth, and families. She earned a Masters of Public Health from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in the Built Environment Track, where she won the John and Kathleen Gorman Public Health Humanitarian Award. Mac also graduated cum laude from Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in music industry and a minor in sociology. Mac is a Senior Fellow at the Environmental Leadership Program and a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School. She holds a Camp Director Certificate of Added Qualification from the American Camp Association. She was recognized in CUNY's 2017 Class of 40 Under 40: The Rising Stars in New York City Food Policy. She has guest lectured at Columbia University, New York University, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, The New School, and Northeastern University, and presented at the Just Food Conference, and the American Community Gardening Association. Mac is a member of the Land & Water Conservation Fund Coalition and was a member of the now defunct No Violence Initiative of the New York County District Attorney's Office. She is a co-author of "Closing Health Disparities Through A Multi-Level Approach," published in the International Journal of Child and Human Development as well as in the book Environmental Health Disparities: Costs & Benefits of Breaking the Cycle in 2016. Mac was the first solo female to stand-up paddle (SUP) the Hudson River Water Trail without assistance from Albany to Manhattan in June 2014, and the first person to SUP all five boroughs on the NYC Water Trail in 2015.

Phylisha Villanueva

Education Coordinator

Bio

Phylisha Villanueva is CS' Education Coordinator. Phylisha serves as the community liaison, communicating with youth and families as well as partner schools and community-based organizations to assist them in achieving healthy lifestyle goals. She is responsible for facilitating staff trainings and job readiness workshops. Phylisha studied Communications at Borough of Manhattan Community College. She holds certificates in Trauma Informed Care, Mental Health First Aid, and Undoing Racism. Phylisha is continuing her education to earn a bachelor's degree in Sociology. Prior to joining CS, Phylisha worked at Blue Door Art Center for 10 years departing as the Director of Children's Programming for a seat on the Board of directors. She worked as the Youth and Family engagement specialist for Yonkers Community Action Program. Outside of work, Phylisha continues to be a force in her community and serves as a board member of Bravehearts Move NY. Phylisha is a mom, author, spoken word artist, fem-ninja from Yonkers, New York. She has performed and taught spoken word for over eight years. She performs with a group called "Jazz and Poetry Choir Collective."

Youth Committee 2020

TBD

Directors & Officers

Chair Michael Woolley, Retired Attorney
Mandy DeRoche, Deputy Managing Attorney, Coal Program, Earthjustice
Mac Levine, MPH, Executive Director
Anthony Edgar, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley
Secretary & Acting Treasurer Naeemah Ruffin, DPM, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Brooke Stover, Native Sales Director, Verizon Media

Advisory

Leslie Boden, MSUP, Community Health Planning Consultant
Natalie Chacin, Digital Marketing Manager, O.N.S
Tulip Lim, S&P Global Ratings
Priscilla Ma, Head of Sales and Business Development, PayQwick
Malisa McCreedy, AICP, Director of Mobility, City of Gainesville
Michelle Ramos-Lopez, MPH, Program Manager, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Perry Sheffield, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Preventative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Arthi Yerramilli, Consultant, US Corporate Strategy, Deloitte LLP