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Meet the Board
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika is President and Cofounder of the Growing Love Community Garden. GLCG was established in 2017 and officially opened in 2018. Erika has a Masters of Social Work from Adelphi and Certificate in Organic Gardening from Cornell Cooperative. She has lived in Port Washington for 24 years with her husband, Richard, 5 kids and 2 golden retrievers.
Amanda Khalil, Vice President
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Amanda has been a dedicated community advocate and culture driver on Long Island for over a decade. After a career in private banking and management consulting, Amanda left the corporate world to focus on her family. Soon after, she launched Port Washington Mama, a website and social media account highlighting insider tips, local events,
Amanda has been a dedicated community advocate and culture driver on Long Island for over a decade. After a career in private banking and management consulting, Amanda left the corporate world to focus on her family. Soon after, she launched Port Washington Mama, a website and social media account highlighting insider tips, local events, and more that’s become a trusted resource for thousands of followers. She also founded the Momtrepreneur Fair, a first-of-its-kind event to promote mom-owned businesses.
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Ed Janoff, Secretary
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Gina Ciorciari, Treasurer
Deputy Director & Chief of Staff of Union Square Partnership and an expert in park and streetscape planning and public-private partnership administration. Prior to joining Union Square, Ed held positions at Street Plans, NYCDOT, NYC Parks, and the Bryant Park Corporation/ 34th Street Partnership, among others, and has orchestrated many d
Deputy Director & Chief of Staff of Union Square Partnership and an expert in park and streetscape planning and public-private partnership administration. Prior to joining Union Square, Ed held positions at Street Plans, NYCDOT, NYC Parks, and the Bryant Park Corporation/ 34th Street Partnership, among others, and has orchestrated many dozens of projects developing and managing signature public spaces citywide.
Gina Ciorciari, Treasurer
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Gina Ciorciari, Treasurer
Gina has called Port Washington home since 1997, where she has raised a family and thrived in this beautiful and diverse community. With over 30 years of experience in media sales, Gina is now honored to contribute to a space dedicated to empowering members to cultivate their own healthy food. She is deeply grateful for the support and opportunities Growing Love community has provided.
Steph Alongi, Social Media & Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Steph loves the beautiful Port Washington Community, and always looks for reasons for her and her son to be involved.
She takes great advantage of the nature the Port Washington area has to offer and spends a lot of time outdoors (especially with their little pup, Delilah).
Growing Love Garden has given her so many wonderful opportunities to help out in the community and make amazing friends!
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Bio Coming Soon...
Analia Flores - Outreach Liaison
Analia Flores - Outreach Liaison
Analia Flores - Outreach Liaison
Professional interpreter
Analia is the proud mom of two daughters.
She is in love with Port Washington's diverse community, and has strong beliefs about nature , music, art, and gardening.
The Growing Love Garden is the best place to connect with nature and cultivate friendship.
“I want to talk about my land,
I want to talk about the riv
Professional interpreter
Analia is the proud mom of two daughters.
She is in love with Port Washington's diverse community, and has strong beliefs about nature , music, art, and gardening.
The Growing Love Garden is the best place to connect with nature and cultivate friendship.
“I want to talk about my land,
I want to talk about the rivers and celestial dreams
I want to talk about time and its songs,
about the love of flowers for the wet dirt."
--song by Los Kjarkas
Meet the Committee
Vanessa Alvez, Outreach Liaison
Vanessa Alvez, Outreach Liaison
Vanessa Alvez, Outreach Liaison
My name is Vanessa Alvez, and I have lived in Manorhaven for 23 years. The garden has been an incredible addition to our neighborhood. As a mom of three girls, I've truly enjoyed watching it flourish over the years. I've been involved with the garden since its inception, contributing to outreach efforts. Being bilingual has been especially helpful in bridging any language barriers
Khris Murphy, Garden Educator
Vanessa Alvez, Outreach Liaison
Vanessa Alvez, Outreach Liaison
Kris Murphy is a third-generation resident of Port Washington and a Maker/Artist who creates pieces exclusively from materials found naturally on Earth today. Her work includes using locally grown herbs like rosemary and mint to process and print film, as well as incorporating tannin-rich flora from our area into eco prints on reused silk
Kris Murphy is a third-generation resident of Port Washington and a Maker/Artist who creates pieces exclusively from materials found naturally on Earth today. Her work includes using locally grown herbs like rosemary and mint to process and print film, as well as incorporating tannin-rich flora from our area into eco prints on reused silk and bamboo fabrics. After retiring from a 33-year career as an Art and Photography teacher at Paul D. Schreiber High School, Kris has continued to build her own photography portfolio and volunteers at The Growing Love Community Garden in Manorhaven and The Science Museum of Long Island.
Irene Candela, Garden Events
Vanessa Alvez, Outreach Liaison
Irene Candela, Garden Events
Hi! I’m Irene Candela and I moved to Port Washington in January 2021 and found Growing Love Garden through an Oh My Goodness kids gardening class with my daughter, Maddie. We both immediately fell in love with this beautiful hidden gem upon arrival and have visited for events, garden classes, yoga classes and to simply sit in calm many
Hi! I’m Irene Candela and I moved to Port Washington in January 2021 and found Growing Love Garden through an Oh My Goodness kids gardening class with my daughter, Maddie. We both immediately fell in love with this beautiful hidden gem upon arrival and have visited for events, garden classes, yoga classes and to simply sit in calm many times since. As I familiarize myself more with our town and community the more I fall in love with all we have to offer, especially through the Garden.
I’m beyond excited to join this team of incredible humans and help plan and execute the to help plan and execute events at the garden.