About ReTreeUS

Richard is the Founder and Program Manager of ReTreeUS. He became inspired to create orchards in schools through many experiences as an outdoor educator and farmer in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, California and Costa Rica. He is dedicated to empowering the younger generations to grow their own food sustainably and care for the environment. Richard has a degree from the University of Vermont, a certified Permaculture Designer, Master Gardener, and graduate of Maine’s Sustainable Food System Leadership Institute.

Rachel Lyn is Regional Program Manager at ReTreeUS. She has a deep commitment to ecological education. She has collaborated with schools across Maine to integrate agroforestry into learning, and eating, fostering sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. With a master’s in Applied Behavioral Science and advanced certifications in Permaculture Design and Soil Food Web, Rachel brings expertise in participatory action research, holistic orchard management, and resilience-building to her role. She is passionate about empowering communities to take collective action for a sustainable future.  

Sean is a Community Tree Steward with ReTreeUS. He’s originally from Brooklyn, NY, and has a B.A. in Urban and Regional Studies from Cornell University. Before ReTreeUS, he was a gardener in New York City working for Flo’s Gardens and served as a board member of The Brooklyn-Queens Land Trust. 

Prisca is a Community Orchard Steward at ReTreeUS. She is Congolese-American, and recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History and International Political Economy. Prisca has previously worked with the Youth Conservation Corps and the National Forest Service. Previous to her work with MobilizeGreen, she worked as a Linguistic Support Specialist at Garfield Elementary Community School in Boise, ID. In addition, she served as an AmeriCorps Basic Needs Coordinator for Boise State University (BSU),  providing resource referrals for students, ensuring food security, and other student basic needs. ​

Rebecka supports ReTreeUS' marketing and communications efforts​. For the past 10 years, the heart of her work has been designing mission-led outreach and communications strategies, building fruitful community partnerships, leading events and programs, and crafting impactful stories that drive meaningful change – all while keeping her hands in the soil in orchards and gardens both personally and professionally. A lifelong gardener/food grower, she is passionate about ecology, food sovereignty, and environmental education.

Leyla is a Public Health and Systems Improvement Specialist with a background in medical anthropology and Indigenous history. She is completing her B.A. at the University of Denver with plans to earn an MPH focused on community health. Leyla first joined ReTreeUS as an intern in 2024 and brings experience in systems-level planning, outreach, and evaluation. She recently worked with a nonprofit in Rajasthan, India, to support health in remote tribal communities through grant writing and community education focused on rewilding traditional landscapes and increasing access to Indigenous foods. She is passionate about long-term, community-driven approaches to well-being that integrate environmental sustainability with public health equity.