Folashade Cromwell Solomon is an Associate Professor of Education at Framingham State University, and a Senior Scientist at TERC, a STEM think tank. She has over 25 years of experience in education serving in many roles including elementary classroom teacher, faculty professional developer, whole school change coach, and researcher. Her teaching and research focuses on learning, identity and exploring the connections between the arts and STEM. Her recent National Science Foundation-funded project, Embodied Physics: Using the Lenses of Physics and Dance to Investigate Learning, Engagement, and Identity Development for Black and Latinx Youth, is a three-year national research study that partners with community-based dance organizations in Boston, New York City and Gary, Indiana. This research investigates approaches for teaching physics through dance, paying special attention to the funds of knowledge Black and Latinx students call upon. This study will be featured a Journal of Learning Science special issue. She received a PhD in Administration, Planning & Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2011. She also holds an MS in Education from Wheelock College and a BA in Theater Arts from UMASS Boston. Folashade looks forward to bringing her strong love of her community and skills in education, and her newfound love of farming to the UFI board. She is a 2021 graduate of the Farmer Training Program.

After holding various roles at the company, Lucia is now a Managing Director for Boston Trust Walden an employee owned investment company. She is a member of the Board of Directors and serves as President and Director of the firm’s investment advisor subsidiary. She is Chair of Audit & Risk Committee and a member of the ESG committee. Her investment career began at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Lucia has a BA Cum laude from Connecticut College and an MBA from Boston University. She was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and she serves as the Financial Advisor to the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Bing Broderick has many years of experience in niche marketing, community organizing, and nonprofit management. Early in his career, he marketed and sold music into niche outlets across the country (including bookstores) as Director of Special Marketing for the Cam-bridge-based record label, Rounder Records. Mid-career, Broderick shifted his focus to food justice, arriving at the Boston-based nonprofit Haley House to manage the newly launched social enterprise Haley House Bakery Cafe. Located in Nubian Square, Roxbury, the Cafe provided hearty heathy food, a vital community space, and a workplace for men and women who faced significant barriers to employment. In December 2013, Broderick succeeded Haley House’s founder as Executive Director of the non-profit organization, stewarding (in addition to the cafe) its soup kitchen, food pantry, housing, farm and educational programs. Bing transitioned out of this role in April 2022, having welcomed and oriented the new Executive Director, Reggie Jean. He is now partnered with Boston’s Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola in opening JustBook-ish, a community bookstore in Dorchester’s Fields Corner neighborhood.

Shoma Haque is the owner and founder of SHaque Designs, LLC.  SHaque Designs focuses on creating sustainable, eco-friendly and place-centered gardens in greater Boston.  After a 25-year career, she made a transition from leading educational nonprofits to becoming a garden designer.  Shoma holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from MIT, a consultant certification through the Landscape Design School at the National Garden Club, is certified in Native Plant Studies through the Native Plant Trust, and is a Certified Massachusetts Master Gardener.  She volunteers as a board member for the Urban Farming Institute and a Master Gardener Project Manager for the Loring Greenough House. Shoma lives in Jamaica Plain with her husband, two children, and rescue dog. 

John Smith is the Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI). Prior to that, he was the Director of Programs at TSNE MissionWorks. John brings extensive experience in the nonprofit, government, education, and advocacy fields to his role at DSNI. He served as the Policy Analyst in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development for the City of Boston, where he managed major economic development policy initiatives. Before his government experience, John also worked at the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, the Hyams Foundation’s Youth Policy Initiative, the Tennessee Department of Health, and at several universities, managing service learning and other student-centered programs.

Kim Szeto (she/her) is Senior Program Director for Public Art at the New England Foundation for the Arts.  Kim joined NEFA in 2015, where she has had the privilege of working with artists and communities across Massachusetts to foster more vibrant and just public spaces through the arts. Prior to NEFA, she worked with Boston Public Schools to launch a districtwide Farm to School Initiative to bring healthy locally grown foods to kids across the city. Kim has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Wheaton College, and is a lifelong Boston resident.

Former Vice President of UFI and Executive Director Minority Business Enterprise Initiative at Eastern Bank. After serving over 20 years as Co-Founder and CEO of City Fresh Foods, Inc. brought his extensive experience growing businesses and in food sustainability to his former role as Managing Director of Boston Impact Initiative. Mr. Lloyd, has served on several boards including the Red Tomato, The Food Project, Dorchester 4 Corners Association and most recently on the Boston Mayor’s Food Council.

He is currently a Fellow at Boston Rising, an anti-poverty initiative of the Ethos Foundation and on the Advisory Board Lead Boston—an organization that focuses on social justice. Mr. Lloyd is also co-founder and interim Chief Executive Officer of City Growers, LLC.