Meet our team
Natalie Jakub
Executive Director
Natalie has been working with Green Living Science since 2013. She started as the Volunteer Coordinator through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, transitioned to a Program Manager, until taking the role of Executive Director in 2018. Natalie is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where she holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Marketing and a Master’s degree in Social Foundations – Eco-Justice Education.
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Natalie has dedicated over a decade to sustainability efforts in Detroit. As a certified TRUE Advisor, she has been helping facilities achieve zero waste and assisting businesses in reducing waste and establishing sustainable recycling programs.
Natalie also serves as the chair of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Committee with Detroit City Council’s Green Task Force. Natalie is an alumnus of the MSU Extension Great Lakes Leadership Academy - Leadership Advancement Program and the Environmental Leadership Program.
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Contact her at Natalie@GreenLivingScience.org
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.
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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
Kamryn Gardner​
Community Engagement Program Manager
Kamryn began working with Green Living Science in 2022. She earned her Bachelors of Science from the College of Natural Resources at Michigan State University with a concentration in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. She is a Detroit native who is passionate about enhancing the environmental health and beauty of the city. Kamryn joined sustainable efforts with her hometown in mind and finds fulfillment in conversation with Detroit residents of all ages!
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Kamryn enjoys expressing creativity through artistic avenues such as painting, drawing, and even upcycling old articles of clothing by adding her own painting twists to traditional pieces. She believes that nature's beauty is the greatest art that has been produced, and we must consciously take steps to protect the environment and conserve its beauty for future generations.
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Contact her at Kamryn@GreenLivingScience.org
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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.
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Reach out to her at justine@greenlivingscience.org.
Operations Team
Accountant -
Development -
Community Engagement Intern -
David O'Brien
Allison Quast
Isabel Redmond
Recycling Ambassadors
Patricia Taylor- Braxton
Lois J. Robinson
Rhonda Askew
Naimah Muhammad
LaTonya Thomas
Jason Philpot- Dixon
Trevor Karty
Michelle Jackson
Lula Gardfrey
Jennifer Spivey
Janis Hazel
Patricia Little
Denisse Avilla
Laura Wright
OBD Park Champions
LaTonya Thomas
Walter Bailey
Kaytea Moreno Elst
John Myers
Denisse Lopez
Lesley Gant
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sara sanders
President
United Way for Southeast Michigan
leatrice thompson
Vice President
Georgia Tech Alumni Association
Robin mcferrin
treasurer
Stellantis
Ashley Kongs
secretary
AstraZeneca
