Meet our team
Natalie Jakub
Executive Director
Natalie has been deeply committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship in Detroit since 2013. Starting as the Volunteer Coordinator with Green Living Science through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, she rose to become Program Manager and later assumed the role of Executive Director in 2018. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Master’s in Social Foundations – Eco-Justice Education from Eastern Michigan University, shaping her journey toward sustainability.
​
With over a decade of service in Detroit, Natalie’s work as a certified TRUE Advisor focuses on helping organizations achieve zero waste, reducing environmental impact, and creating meaningful, lasting change. She believes that protecting our planet is an investment in a future where her young son, Ezra, and generations to come can thrive.
​
As the chair of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Committee within Detroit City Council’s Green Task Force, Natalie continues her work as an advocate increasing access to recycling and reducing waste in the city. Natalie is also an adjunct professor at Wayne State University teaching Environmental Health to undergraduate students. She is also a proud alumna of the MSU Extension Great Lakes Leadership Academy’s Leadership Advancement Program, the Environmental Leadership Program, and Leadership Oakland XXXIV, empowering her to lead with compassion, responsibility, and a vision for a greener tomorrow.
​
Contact her at Natalie@GreenLivingscience.org
-min.png)
Curtis Schabath
Director of Education
Curtis Schabath is a third-generation Detroiter, adjunct professor, pup parent, and nonprofit supporter who has been volunteering in the environmental and justice spaces for most of their lives. Pulling passions and knowledge from lived-experiences, community involvement, and a Master of Science and MBA from Walsh College lead them gratefully joining GLS as the Director of Education in October 2023.
They look forward to helping make a continued difference in the environmental, recycling, and educational shared spaces through meaningful relationships with, and inspiration from, educators and the youth/future leaders of this beautiful city.
​
Catch Curtis on Belle Isle year-round, at a DCFC match, enjoying all the amazing food, venues, festivals, parks/skateparks, and small businesses across all of Detroit, shooting photos, crate digging/DJing, road tripping, and celebrating the accomplishments of the city and its people.
Contact them at Curtis@GreenLivingScience.org
Justine abbo​
Recycling Program Manager
Justine’s first memory in Detroit is riding the People Mover to a Red Wings game as a child, but the city has always been a special place for her. Her family immigrated to Detroit from Iraq in the 1950’s, starting small businesses and creating an intergenerational entrepreneurial spirit within the city’s bounds. Justine is passionate about representing and strengthening the relationship between Chaldean-Americans and native Detroit communities with compassion, sustainability and creativity at the forefront of our work.
Justine attended the University of Michigan where she earned a Bachelors in Fine Arts with a focus in Industrial Design, and a Minor in Entrepreneurship. She is a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor and has worked with non-profit organizations in Detroit since 2016, engaging with communities in Brightmoor and East Side neighborhoods. She is passionate about educating others on zero waste practices to increase financial vitality, particularly with small and minority-owned businesses.
​
Reach out to her at justine@greenlivingscience.org.
MAdison Gladney
Community Engagement Coordinator
Madison has a deep-rooted passion for social justice, with a particular focus on climate justice, which began during her early education. This interest led her to concentrate on Environmental Policy courses while earning her Social Relations & Policy degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University. Madison has been actively engaging Detroit residents to raise awareness about climate change and promote green infrastructure, particularly in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood through her service with AmeriCorps' Climate Corps.
​
She aims to make Detroit a cleaner, greener, and safer city for all through the promotion of community engagement, recycling, and park stewardship.
Madison has been actively engaging Detroit residents to raise awareness about climate change and promote green infrastructure, particularly in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood.
​
Outside of work, Madison enjoys diving into mystery and fantasy novels, staying active at the gym, and exploring the Metro Detroit area with her friends.
Reach out to her at madison@greenlivingscience.org.
Izzy Redmond
Education Coordinator
Izzy’s passion for the environment runs deep, sparked by a childhood spent outdoors, where she developed a profound love for nature. Izzy and her family have always been highly passionate about environmentalism, and she was introduced to the world of recycling and conservation at a young age. Growing up she even became known for frequently dropping fun, eco-friendly facts into conversations with her friends, she quickly earned a reputation as the “recycling guru” among her peers.
​
Her journey led her to Arizona State University, where she graduated with a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology. There, Izzy realized that environmental issues often disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, leading her to combine her love for science with activism in the realm of environmental and social justice.
​
This passion has led her to partner with Green Living Science as an AmeriCorps VISTA before becoming Education Coordinator. Driven by a desire to not only raise awareness but also to advocate for environmental change in diverse community spaces, Izzy is excited to inspire the next generation to care about nature, engage with their neighborhood to create a more sustainable future, and discover new solutions to make the community a greener and cleaner place to live.
​
Reach out to her at izzy@greenlivingscience.org.
​
Emma Belanger
AmeriCorps VISTA, Outreach and Communications Coordinator
Emma is a passionate place-based educator, writer, and artist who is invested in co-creating a more resilient and just world through community building and collective ecological reciprocity. They grew up in a suburb of Detroit, learning love from the deciduous woodlands and diverse wetlands of the Great Lakes ecosystem network. In 2021, they graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Environmental Sciences and Neurosciences. After spending a year working in community education and outreach in Northern California, they began to see a role for themselves as a community educator and pursued an M.Ed. in Science Instruction and Curriculum at the University of Washington. They graduated in 2024 and have since served in several roles in the outdoor and informal education field.
This background in education enables Emma to connect with youth, families, adults, and communities, inspiring deeper relationships with the living world through ecological compassion and care. They are thoughtful about communication and building authentic relationships within and between communities. In their current role with Green Living Science, they are excited to work with the people of Detroit and build our shared capacity for a future full of care and kinship.
In their free time, you can find Emma birdwatching, reading, making art, writing poetry and short stories, exploring local green spaces, or enjoying quality time with friends and family!
​
Reach out to them at emma@greenlivingscience.org.
Operations Team
Accountant -
Development -
David O'Brien
Allison Quast
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
madison Opperthauser
President
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
chad rogers
secretary
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Robin mcferrin
treasurer
Stellantis
leatrice thompson
Vice President
Georgia Tech Alumni Association
Sara sanders
BasBlue
