Staff & Board of Directors

STAFF

​EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
​Sarah Perry

Sarah Perry was born and raised on farmland near Tappahannock, Virginia. She attended the University of Mary Washington, where she majored in Studio Art, concentrating in Sculpture. During her first year of college, she began volunteering at Downtown Greens. She has been serving in the Executive Director position since July of 2013. In November of 2014, she co-founded Good Turn Earth Company, with the mission to rescue food waste from landfills and turn it into a premium organic soil conditioner. She has found her home in the outdoor oasis of Downtown Greens.

education coordinator
Savannah Steblein

Savannah is a Northern Virginia local who graduated from University of Mary Washington with a degree in English and minor in Environmental Sustainability. Her family cultivated a love for the outdoors within her and she grew up with her hands in the soil and feet on hiking trails. She is especially passionate about edible native plants and will happily tell you all about her favorites. After working as a Park Ranger and volunteering as a Tree Steward, Savannah is excited to share her love of the outdoors with the community as Downtown Greens’ Education Coordinator!

Assistant Educator
​khalilah brooker

Khalilah grew up in Philadelphia and joined the military reserve before traveling the country with her family, where her love for gardening blossomed. She took horticultural classes at College of Lake County and finally settled in VA. 

She is fascinated by succulents and loves the challenge of growing anything unique or different. She loves growing flowers and veggies; the joy of taking a tiny seed and getting a large plant to either eat from or admire makes it worthwhile. Passing that curiosity to children and adults is something she enjoys.
  

Media manager
Janet Douberly

Janet Douberly is the Media Manager at Downtown Greens.  She has lived in the Fredericksburg region for most of her life besides a brief stint in Texas where she studied Horticulture with an enthusiasm for soil science and vegetable production.  Working at Downtown Greens has been a dream of hers for years and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to the community by creating informative and entertaining content.  Janet’s favorite plants tend to be the ones she can eat.

​OFFICE Coordinator
Marianne Tokarz

Marianne began working with Downtown Greens in April 2019 as a recent VCU grad and intern, earning hours for VSU's Certificate Program in Urban Agriculture. Although her green thumb has a ways to go, she's had the opportunity to learn about all the moving parts that make this special place run. She is excited to extend her experience as an intern into her position as Office Administrator, and continue to be part of the magic and mission of Downtown Greens. ​

garden coordinator
​Em ford

Em was born and raised in South Florida and has been a resident of Fredericksburg since August 2020. They received their bachelors in science, majoring in Environmental Science, with a special focus in physical science, environmental restoration, and preservation. Through this Em was able to study unique habitats, plants, soil, and everything in between. Em moved to Fredericksburg with their chickens to finally experience seasonal changes and a new landscape to learn about. They have a special interest in tropical carnivorous plants, terrariums, and having way too many house plants.

Farm Manager
Beth mcclain

Beth has worked for Downtown Greens as the Garden Sprouts teacher and loved working with the younger kids. She is excited to be back working in the dirt and with the Downtown Greens crew!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President
Brad smith

Brad Smith has lived all over the world but now calls downtown Fredericksburg home. His grandmother instilled a practical and romantic appreciation for nature in him. He studied Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. He is passionate about mental health, sustainability, veteran issues, youth advocacy, citizen diplomacy, writing, and food. He has volunteered with Downtown Greens for several years and is excited to serve on the board.

Treasurer
​Larry Bramlette

Larry Bramlette, Treasurer of the Board of Directors is a retired US Army Colonel and currently works part-time as an engineering consultant for EOIR Technologies, Inc. He serves on the Spotsylvania County Board of Zoning Appeals and volunteers around the corner at Hazel Hill Healthcare Project where his wife, Kathie just retired as the community nurse.

​JAVONNE KIRBY

Javonne was born and raised in New Jersey but is a long time Fredericksburg area resident where she lives in an intergenerational household with her mother and daughter. Coming from a long line of change-makers--having family that led the way for desegregation and equality education in King George County--she has a passion for helping individuals struggling with addiction and for fostering safe spaces for people on the margins. When she's not brightening Downtown Greens, she maintains her own garden, works in the food service industry,  and is an avid artist with many ties to the local art and music community. ​

Emerald payton

Emerald is the staff nurse for the Hazel Hill Healthcare Project, located next to Downtown Greens. She is excited to continue building the relationship between Downtown Greens and community members at Hazel Hill. She has a BSN from Delaware State University and over 9 years experience as a registered nurse working with mental health, chronic/acute disease management, home health/infusion, and now community health.

Kimberly cartier

Kimberly was born in California and raised mostly in Northern VA. She went to school to pursue a career in Laser Skin Care which led her to the banking world, insurance, to where she’s at now working for a local nonprofit in the FXBG area. As a Rappahannock Rotarian, Kimberly has a passion for serving her community and giving back. She is passionate about plants, sustainability, mental health and wellness, women’s rights, and good food. When she’s not standing on her head, running along the canal path, or teaching terrarium classes with Planty of Happiness you can probably find her serving drinks at Fredericksburg Square or supporting local businesses here in the burg.
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​Christie hoerneman

Christie is a passionate advocate for education, especially continuing education of adults. She has worked for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library and played active roles with the VA Library Association and the American Library Association. One of her favorite duties as a librarian was creating programs to help educate the community and to bring people together over a common interest. She is a passionate advocate for native plants, which she believes are absolutely essential to help combat insect decline. She would love to see the general population learn how they can use native plants and sustainable gardening practices on their properties.

Josie Ramos

Josie works with Micah Ministries as a Housing Locator, with the goal of ending homelessness in the area. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she has served as a financial advocate in the area since 2000. An active member of the Fredericksburg community, Josie has also worked with Hope House, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Empowerhouse, Fredericksburg Continuum of Care, and the Boys and Girls Club, and other local organizations. Josie considers herself an advocate and resource to her neighbors in the area that do not have an established community or family. 

Joy Crump

Joy is Co-owner and Executive Chef at Foode, Mercantile and 718 Venue. She's excited to get more involved and network with the national organization No Kid Hungry of which she is a part.

​Jane Yaun 

Jane has worked nearly 34 years in community mental health work, most recently serving as the Executive Director for Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB). She has also worked at Snowden at Fredericksburg and in Richmond with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. She currently serves on the Vestry at St George's Episcopal Church, is a member of the Women and Girls Fund of the Community Foundation and is on the Board of the Rappahannock United Way. She believes in the mission of community involvement, environmental stewardship and youth education -- and that integrating all these factors can lead to greater community health and opportunities for all.