Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together
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GREAT has many leaders, who provide the energy and ideas needed for each of our projects.
Our Steering Committee (which has exists in place of a typical "Board") guides the overall vision and values of the organization:
Marie-Monique Marthol
Marie is on the Steering Committee of GREAT and provides key project and event support. She is a guiding light and visionary for GREAT, having been deeply involved for several years, shaping the mission, vision, and core values & guiding principles deeply. Marie's background spans many areas- art, theater, older adult services, research, and presently she works in the Philadelphia Carpenter's Union. She's a strong proponent of building Beloved Community and a Living Economy in Germantown. Marie was formerly the President of the Pomona Cherokee Civic Council in Germantown and helped make the Holman Field water project happen which guaranteed Holman Field to remain a public community space for decades to come.
Howard Bailey
Howard Bailey is an economic alternatives enthusiast. He brings many concepts and tangible ideas into GREAT, intent on building community resilience to disasters and coming transitions. Howard became involved with GREAT first through a Learning Circle in 2019. He has helped to inspire initiatives such as the Library of Things, Seed Exchange, Canning Parties, and Emergency Preparedness Committee. He serves on GREAT's Steering Committee and Emergency Prep Committee, and also works with other organizations including Transition US and the Weavers Way New Economy Incubator Committee. Howard has a rich life history as a Veteran, farmer, truck driver, and more. He builds community within his own family network, and lives with his daughters and grandchildren in Germantown.
Lindsay Stolkey
In 2017 I started having conversations and convening folks in the neighborhood to talk about creating a community land trust. That conversation evolved to what became GREAT. I do a little bit of everything in my role which is now paid-- event and meeting coordination, grant writing, facilitation, spreading compost on the cooperative farm.. One of my favorite things is developing structures and content for facilitated events. I feel grateful to and inspired all the time by folks in this group. I've learned a lot about caring, sharing, and having an energetically-guided / adaptive / emergent organizational journey. I moved to Germantown on 12-13-14, and first moved to Philadelphia in 2009, inspired by a visit during the American Planning Association Conference. My hometown is in the suburbs of Detroit.
Maleka Fruean
Maleka Fruean is a community organizer and a community reporter for Germantown Info Hub, a community centered newsroom sharing stories and information in the neighborhood. She has lived in Germantown for 17 years, and has raised her three teens and toddler here. She works with GREAT as a steering committee member and helps facilitate discussions and dialogue on housing justice, the beloved community, and any other topics that help us meet our material and non-material needs, sustain ourselves and our community, and thrive outside of capitalistic and extractive systems. She is a writer, artist, and believes deeply in the power of people.
Dionne Chambers
Dionne strives to create a space for her neighbors to live in a beloved community by serving on the Steering Committee of GREAT. Dionne also served on GREAT's Housing Committee for a few years and was a co-organizer of the 2024 Fire Safety & Prevention workshop. Outside of GREAT, Dionne has over thirty years of experience working in the early childhood and elementary educational field. Her own personal story of educational liberation ignites her passion for education. She collaborates with abolitionist organizations as an agitator by utilizing intellectual work and direct action to create a living economy based on the Movement Generation Justice & Ecology Project. Her work as the lead co-chair of the education committee for The National Council of Negro Women (Philadelphia Chapter) focuses on the organization’s mission to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families and communities.
Additional leaders / organizers / members are a key part of other GREAT committees and projects which are the basis of what we do:
Yonique Myrie
Yonique has been involved with GREAT since the beginning, working on housing, mailings, and writing. She now has a part-time compensated role as Housing Organizer for GREAT. Her interest in housing work was fueled by her own housing instability and the general lack of low income / affordable housing. She believes that access to safe, affordable, and stable housing is a fundamental human right that underpins overall well-being and community health. Without housing stability, individuals and families are not able to effective in other areas of life. By advocating and educating about housing, she hopes to empower people to be advocates for their themselves and the community while shifting the focus to housing that meets that is not only in reflective of realistic income affordability of the vulnerable population but also embraces the uniqueness and history of the Germantown Community. Yonique also likes writing poetry and stories.
Anthony Webb
Lived in Germantown for over 35 years. Involved in the cooperative farm project, and food committee. I have always been interested in improving where I live.. gardening, writing, sitting quietly. Webb also led the At-Home Container Gardening project in 2023.
Susan Christian
I’ve lived in Germantown for 25 years, since moving here from Brooklyn. My neighborhood organizing and community development work dates back to 1978 in Michigan. What attracted me to GREAT years ago was finding out about the learning circles. But I became involved during the pandemic when GREAT formed the Germantown Mutual Aid Fund. I helped raise money for the Fund, helped plan decision-making processes and helped screen and approve applications. I’m very proud of what we accomplished with the GMAF. My current volunteer involvement is with the Emergency Preparedness initiative, and I also work very part time as GREAT’s bookkeeper.
Ted Stones
I am called, Ted Stones. My passion, to help create a nourishing self motivating self aware and enlightened substainable community. As a resident of gtown of thirty four years my endeavor to assist in accomplishing this goal motivated me to become a block captain for all of thirty years, volunteer basket coach, won championship 1989 for wister warriors ball club 14 to 16 year olds. founder and president of wister playground advisory board, committee person, ward leader, member, UNIA, (Universal Negro Improvement Association), PAFO, (Pan African Federation Organization), Awarded three certificates of completion for three courses of civics beyond the classroom organized by Federal Judges of Phila. and Community College of Phila. Prince Hall Past Master, and father, brother, Husband, and enlightened member of the Philadelphia community. The Leaders Prayer If I wounded one soul today If I lead one foot astray If I walked wilfully on my way For Give Me. P.S all my activities are geared towards a greater individual leading towards a greater society and greater humanity. Ted is active with GREAT's Emergency Preparedness Committee and Water Working Group.
Jeannie Gerth Guido
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Melissa Lotus
Passionate Gardener, Budding Farmer, and Community-Oriented I am deeply committed to giving back and nurturing my love for agriculture, gardening, and community. As a proud member of the GREAT community, I’ve found a way to combine these passions and make a positive impact. My journey with GREAT began through a seed exchange invitation. Since that moment, I’ve actively participated, exchanging seeds and knowledge with fellow gardeners, novices and the Germantown community. It’s incredible how a simple seed can connect people and foster growth! Currently, I’m actively involved in the Food and Seeds Committee. When I’m not doing committee work, you’ll find me at the People’s Lot. There’s something magical about nurturing plants, watching them thrive, and sharing the harvest with our community. It’s a beautiful cycle of giving and receiving.
Todzsa English
I love spending time in my garden growing herbs and foods to benefit my family and my neighbors’ health and wellness. Anything related to being self sufficient, sharing knowledge and helping others and Im in. I also love helping the community and leading workshops and classes on basic lifestyle skills such as gardening, sewing and home repair.
Celeste Preston
Celeste is an award winning Environmental Designer, Lady Landscaper, Gardener and Urban Farmer. She is also a crochet artisan, fashion designer and lifelong community builder. She started her community work as a caregiver in the nursery, a leader of children’s church and active member of the junior usher board at her home church, Canaan Baptist Church. Her roots run deep in Germantown as a former student of Lotus Academy and graduate of Imani Education Circle Charter School. She has helped build community as a student and FFA (Future Farmers of America) member at W.B. Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences. She continued her work as an activist for minority affairs at Delaware Valley University (formerly College). She is a proud member of GREAT and also serves as the Food & Seeds Organizer and learning circle Facilitator.
Calli Blau
Calli has been involved with GREAT's Food & Seeds Committee for several years now, as well as creating the initial foundation for Germantown Time Bank. She's led or co-led a backyard medicinal garden tour and canning parties, and is a garden organizer in the People's Lot. She also shares her knowledge of plants, medicine, and cooking via a monthly postcard: www.themeritofeverything.com/#/flourish/
Regina Robinson
Regina Robinson is an adult educator who believes that community serves all residents best when everyone participates in its development. She lives in the Germantown section of Philadelphia with her husband, John, and their rescue dog, Iggie. Regina co-organized GREAT's Fire Safety & Prevention workshop in 2024, and was part of a Housing Learning Circle.
Craig Fulmore
Craig is part of GREAT's Housing Committee, doing a lot of community outreach so that he can share information with people about how to keep their homes. He is interested in community owned land to stop gentrification and displacement. Craig is also part of Men Who Care of Germantown and the ACES Veterans Museum in Germantown.
Blew Kind
blew is a black woman, mother, artist, entrepreneur, and aligned-being advocate. From orphaned to owning multiple community based businesses, she guides folks through their transitions toward their highest self. blew regularly mentors small business owners, teams, and women in leadership roles for the past 3 years. She currently supports leaders and the Fire Safety Community Connectors within GREAT. blew also owns and operates d’griot, a gallery + herb shoppe in Philadelphia, soon to be café. blew was also a founding Steering Committee member for GREAT.
Christina Smith
Germantown resident for over 10 years, went to Saul High School. Involved with GREAT and the Seed Exchange 2022, the People’s Lot 2023, and the Water Working Group. I am a part of this organization to give back to my community, be a leader that makes a difference, empower and educate others paying it forward ….
Dagmar Iris Holl
I was born in Southern Germany near the Black Forest region in 1948, in a small village, where I spent my childhood foraging with my Grandfather and tending to his fruit trees. When I was a young woman, I lived communal in Vermont in the early 70's where we grew our own food, learned to "put food by" and partnered with a local food co op. Being an Earth Steward most of my life, I value cooperation with humans and Earth's Bounty. I joined Great during the recent Pandemic where we gathered to create positive, creative ideas to foster hope. Hence, the Germantown Seed Saving initiate began and is now in its 4th year of Seed Exchange events. I'm happy to be a member of GREAT and it's vision to foster hope and creativity. Wanishi
Tracey Rockmore
I started gardening off and on when I moved to the area 13 years ago. While challenging I continued to "practice" to enhance my skills by joining gardening groups, foraging and experimenting. I now enjoy utilizing my two raised beds. My community involvement includes working with G.R.E.A.T., Germantown Community Fridge, WewlkPHL, Center in the Park and a local Scout troop. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, crafting, traveling, volunteering, and doing home improvements. Tracey is part of GREAT's Food & Seeds Committee and helps organize Swap / Giveaway events.
Darvin Martin
Darvin has been involved with GREAT since 2018 and took a brief hiatus following COVID, but has come back to support the community giveaway events. He has an interest in helping people discover new ways to live, think, and prosper that don't do harm and believes community sharing is a perfect way to do it. Recycle, reuse, and repair are critical values he learned from his parents and is always happy to see others doing the same.
Heather Bowlan
Heather Bowlan is a writer, artist, and community organizer born and raised in NW Philly with deep roots in Germantown. She believes in hope as alchemy and collaboration as the philosopher's stone. Heather is 1/3 of Philadelphia Small Works Gallery, a space for underrepresented artists and performers to share and grow their skills and talent. Her collection of self-erasures and collaborative poems, Highlights & Blackouts, was published by _mixlit press in 2023. Heather is part of GREAT's Housing Committee.
Maggie McGinty
Maggie has lived in Germantown for the last 6 years and helps GREAT coordinate the farm cooperative at Awbury Arboretum. Currently, her day-to-day work is with pregnant and parenting folks with substance use disorders, however her previous experience is primarily in food justice. She has worked as a farmers market manager, for food banks and pantries, and helped create a free food box program for pregnant folks in Philadelphia. Maggie is excited to get to bring people together to grow food with GREAT. Outside of her work, Maggie enjoys sewing, sci-fi, building things, backpacking and will soon be pursuing training as a birth doula.