Genea Foster

Genea Foster is an accomplished urban planner and environmental justice organizer based in Brooklyn, New York. As the Director of Climate Resilience and Land Use at Groundwork USA, Genea brings a wealth of experience in environmental justice, city planning, land use, community development, and equity.1

Background and Expertise

Genea is a New York City native with Afro-Caribbean ancestry, which has shaped their deep commitment to environmental and social justice.1 They hold a Master's in City Planning from MIT and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College.6

Professional Experience

Throughout their career, Genea has worked extensively with youth, communities of color, and municipalities to promote:

• Environmental justice
• Climate resiliency
• Health equity
• Food sovereignty

Their approach involves community-based planning, organizing, and popular education.1

Notable Roles

1. Director of Climate Resilience and Land Use at Groundwork USA (current position)
2. Project Development Coordinator at NYC Department of Parks & Recreation's GreenThumb program (Sep 2018 - Jan 2021)
3. Board Member at Alternatives for Community and Environment (Oct 2015 - Oct 2018)1

Key Contributions

At GreenThumb, Genea coordinated an interagency partnership between NYC Parks and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to provide technical assistance to 50 NYCHA community gardens across the five boroughs.1

Genea has also been involved in various initiatives focused on:

• Community-led planning
• Industrial retention
• Green jobs
• Mitigating displacement and gentrification1

Recent Activities

Genea is actively engaged in sharing their expertise through webinars and presentations. They have recently presented on topics such as:

• Connections between redlining, brownfields, and climate resilience23
• The role of anti-displacement and placekeeping in equitable development4
• Innovative land reuse solutions for parks, playgrounds, urban farms, and affordable housing5

Genea Foster's diverse background and extensive experience make them a valuable contributor to the fields of climate resilience, land use, and environmental justice.