Anna has been the architect of many successful educational programs for children and young adults, in both academic and community environments. She came to The Sylvia Center in 2009 with a mission to transform the way children eat by creating and implementing farm-to-table programs with a focus on the table – what happens to vegetables after we grow and harvest them. She is particularly interested in issues of access regarding food – who gets to eat what; good food as a choice, not a privilege; putting basic cooking skills back into children’s lives so that they can choose to eat well.

Most recently, Anna worked as a political speechwriter and community organizer in New York City and Rockland County. Prior positions include deputy director for education, programs, and public affairs at the Yale University Art Gallery (2003-2008), and director of writing services for the Museum of Modern Art (1997-2002). She has published numerous articles and essays, directed over a dozen public art projects, and co-written a non-fiction children’s book about a community project intended to integrate children with diverse backgrounds in a neighborhood in the South Bronx.

Ms. Hammond graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a degree in classics and archaeology. She is A.B.D from University of Chicago, in South Asian Languages and Civilizations, and in 1995 earned an M.F.A. in painting from Hunter College, New York. She is currently studying for a certificate in biodynamic agriculture from the Pfeiffer Center.

Julie Negrin, M.S., is a certified nutritionist, cooking instructor, and author of Easy Meals to Cook with Kids. She has been teaching adults and children how to cook for fifteen years. Julie is thrilled to bring her teaching, program development and curriculum writing to the Sylvia Center as the Director of Education and Learning Strategies. She spent five years as the Director of Culinary Arts at the JCC in Manhattan where she developed recipes and curricula specifically for children. Julie teaches at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), Natural Gourmet Institute, Home Cooking New York, New York City public schools, and consults for not-for-profit organizations. She has appeared on Sesame Street and the Today Show with Al Roker.

After graduating from Georgetown University in the spring of 2010, Miranda joined The Sylvia Center team on-site in New York City. With strong experience working for not-for-profits, Miranda was excited to combine this background with her love for cooking and working with children.

While working to create a more simple and sustainable lifestyle for herself, Julie finally discovered real food in 2007. She never felt better, and never looked back. Since then, she has been spending each year growing her own food, cooking whole foods with the seasons, living simply and healthfully, and working to create welcoming spaces where others can learn to do the same. With a B.S. from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and after several years of experience in the fields of outdoor education and farming, Julie joined The Sylvia Center in February 2011 as the Education Director and Garden Manager at Katchkie Farm.

“This is my dream job.” Julie loves teaching, learning, growing (and eating!) with The Sylvia Center.

A cordon-bleu graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, Nina Simmons began at The Sylvia Center as a Chef Instructor in 2008. Former Education Director, she developed The Sylvia Center’s programming both on–site and off-site  in New York City.

Raquel graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education culinary program and soon after created A Pinch of Salt a company offering private cooking classes to food lovers of all ages. After being invited by City Harvest to attend the launch of Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, Raquel began focusing on teaching children and families how to cook healthy, easy and deliciously satisfying meals at home while keeping within a budget.

Andrea Sperling is a photographer and writer whose mission in life is to photograph and eat her way around the world. She is the photographer of several books, including Greenmarket, written by Pamela Thomas, and is active in various New York programs that help children learn about healthy eating. She believes if you get a child cooking at any early age, they will grow up passionate about food and will automatically eat well. She blogs about eating with kids at www.EatingWIthGrace.blogspot.com. She received a certificate in health supportive cooking at The Natural Gourmet Institute last summer. She is also on the board of the New York Women’s Culinary Alliance. She is honored to be involved in The Sylvia Center’s cooking program.