Meet the 2025 NYC Urban County Committee

DK Kinard

Chairperson | Manhattan Representative

DK Kinard is a multi-hyphenate Urban Agriculture and Culinary professional whose main area of focus is Food & Social Justice Advocacy for the historically underserved and disadvantaged. A native New Yorker and multigenerational Washington Heights resident, DK is an experienced program creator & facilitator, farm educator, culinary instructor, classically trained pastry chef and more. Focusing on food security, environmentalism, city agriculture education, green skills job training, and establishing community garden spaces city-wide, DK has spent many years devoted to elevating city agricultural landscapes and the communities that steward them. Known in both the private industry and nonprofit sectors for her cross-industry experience, resourcefulness, unwavering determination and drive for community change, DK is passionate about fostering programs & initiatives that provide culturally positive and inclusive representation for people that are oftentimes under-resourced, underserved and misrepresented. DK Kinard is the Chair of the Urban County Committee for the USDA Farm Service Agency NYC, the FSA Manhattan Representative, an International Rescue Committee (IRC) Food & Agriculture team member, a state & citywide keynote speaker and task force member across multiple NYS policy and agriculture organizations. DK is the co-creator of a widely known NYC based green skills training program and continues to serve as a facilitator and collaborator with, but not limited to: GrowNYC, The Horticulture Society of NY, New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), New York Restoration Project (NYRP), GreenThumb, Bronx River Alliance, Cornell Cooperative Extension, The Mayor's Office of Urban Agriculture, NYS Agriculture & Markets and the Court Center For Justice Innovation.

Justin Baker

Vice Chairperson | Staten Island Representative

Justin Baker is a Staten Island-based urban agriculturist, youth developer, and an anti-oppressive leader. Justin is the Senior Coordinator of Eco-Hub Expansion/Youth Developer at Green City Force (GCF). Before this role, Justin ran the Mariners Harbor farm, which harvested and distributed over 18,000 pounds of produce over 5 growing seasons. Justin is co-creating food justice programming for high school students at Forgotten Foods, a Staten Island organization that trains the next generation of anti-oppressive and liberated leaders. He is committed to strengthening Staten Island’s urban gardens and farms as sites of food access for neighborhoods most impacted by food insecurity. 

Francisco

Bronx Representative

Bio coming soon!

Ciara Sidell

Queens Representative

Bio coming soon!