Our Story

The Green Beetz Story

Green Beetz was founded in 2013 by Dr. Anna Chapman, a psychiatrist, Andrew Chapman, a restauranteur, and Tracey Kemble, an entertainment veteran.

Noticing the lack of healthy food options and nutrition education in Harlem, they decided to bridge their three domains of expertise in science, food, and media to bring Green Beetz to life and engage NYC tweens in historically underserved neighborhoods about the effects of food on our health, our community, and the environment. 

Over the past ten years, the organization has grown in immeasurable ways from expansion to funding and partnerships, and adapting to the growing needs of educators.

FOUNDING
FOUNDING
2013: Founded by Anna Chapman, Andrew Chapman, and Tracey Kemble
GREEN BEETZ PILOT
GREEN BEETZ PILOT
2014-2015 School Year: Launched in 3 Harlem schools
NYAS CURRICULUM UPDATE
NYAS CURRICULUM UPDATE
2014- 2015: Update curriculum to current standards with the New York Academy of Sciences
GROWNYS PARTNERSHIP
GROWNYS PARTNERSHIP
Fall 2015: Collaborate with GrowNYC to provide curriculum through their School Garden Program
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION
Spring 2015: Impact evaluation collaboration with Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition & Teachers College
ALL 5 BOROUGHS
ALL 5 BOROUGHS
2016 - 2018: In partnership with GrowNYC, Green Beetz expands to all boroughs, reaching 23 schools
SUMMER CAMP LAUNCH
SUMMER CAMP LAUNCH
Summer 2018: Partnered with local YMCA’s to offer summer camp programming
DOE VENDOR
DOE VENDOR
Fall 2019: Granted official vendor status by NYC Dept. of Education
HOME LEARNING PROGRAM
HOME LEARNING PROGRAM
Spring 2019: Distance Learning program developed n response to COVID-19 school closures
PAID PROGRAMMING
PAID PROGRAMMING
Fall 2021: Developed a K-3 paid programming to support our free public and charter school curriculum
FOOD WASTE WARRIORS GRANTEE
FOOD WASTE WARRIORS GRANTEE
2021-2022: World Wildlife Federation Food Waste Warriors grant recipient
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTION
National and International Expansion 2022-23: Our curriculum is made 100% free & downloaded by educators around the world

Green Beetz Team

We’re creative, results-oriented individuals who are passionate about food as a means for social and environmental change.

Kira Cohen-Milo

Kira Cohen-Milo

Curriculum Consultant & Program Manager

Victoria Feltman

Director of Partnership & Programming

Board Members

ANNA CHAPMAN

MD, Co-Founder

ANDREW CHAPMAN

Co-Founder

TRACEY KEMBLE

Co-Founder

DESIREE GRUBER

Dr. Holly Phillips

Margo MacNabb Nederlander

Donville ("Donny") Reid

Eden Williams

Advisory Board

Donnovan Andrews

Founder & CEO OVERTURE Global

Dr. Nicole Avena

Research neuroscientist, author and nutrition, diet and addiction expert

Michelle Byrd

Associate National Exectuive Director, Producers Guild of America

Nancy Easton

Executive Director, Wellness in the Schools

Mark Izeman

Senior Director, New York Regional, Healthy People & Thriving Communities Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

Pashon Murray

Executive Director, Detroit Dirt

Dr. Drew Ramsey

Psychiatrist, author, and farmer

Chloe Thompson

VP of Strategic Initiatives, Bombas

Marcel J. Van Ooyen

CEO and President, GrowNYC

Partners and Collaborators

Collaborators

Healthy food is a right, not a privilege.

We talk a lot about choice, but the truth is that for many, healthy food is not always accessible or affordable. That’s why we partner with—and put our name behind—like-minded organizations advocating for better food access and affordability and for more comprehensive school wellness policies:

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Copyright © 2025 GreenBeetz. All Rights Reserved

Kira Cohen-Milo

Curriculum Consultant & Program Manager

About

Kira Cohen-Milo, M.S., has worked with Green Beetz since 2015, coming on board as the Green Beetz School Manager through the GrowNYC partnership. Kira has continued to grow with Green Beetz through the years as Green Beetz has also grown with her from 8 schools the first year to more than 75 and counting 10 years later.. Kira has a degree in Biological Science and Horticulture from the University of Georgia and became deeply connected to regional and sustainable agriculture after many years working in Farmers Markets in California’s Bay Area and New York City where her stomach was always full of the freshest produce and delightful morsels bartered for through the market community.

Victoria Feltman

Director of Partnership & Programming

About

Victoria Stein Feltman, RD is a nutritionist who specializes in family and childhood nutrition. In addition to her work with Green Beetz, Vicky teaches Food & Culture at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, NJ and counsels patients at a pediatrician’s office in Manhattan. Prior to becoming a registered dietitian, Vicky spent four years as an editor at O, the Oprah magazine, and later worked as a restaurant publicist in New York and Los Angeles. Vicky has a BA in history from Cornell and an MS in nutrition from NYU. She lives in NYC with her husband and three children.

ANNA CHAPMAN

MD, Co-Founder

About

Anna Chapman is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst serving on the voluntary faculty of New Yrok Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell and Columbia campuses.  As a physician and mother of two, Dr. Chapman is keenly interested in the role of nutrition and health and the idea of “food as medicine.” Anna is on the Board of Trustees at Rockefeller University where she is involved with the Parents & Science Program.

ANDREW CHAPMAN

Co-Founder

About

Andrew Chapman is a native New Yorker who helms Chapman Ventures, a hospitality, branding, and real estate firm. He has created some of New York’s most cherished eateries including August restaurant in Manhattan’s West Village and The Blue Parrot, a beloved Tex-Mex eatery in East Hampton. He is also the co-founded of FoodRepublic.com, a food and lifestyle website for men, and Ambessa, a tea line blending classic and contemporary flavors. He is currently developing several hospitality establishments in Port Antonio, Jamaica.

TRACEY KEMBLE

Co-Founder

About

Tracey Kemble has been a film and television executive and producer for over 20 years.  She heads feature development at Hidden Empire Film Entertainment.  Previously she was EVP of Scripted at Jesse Collins Company and before that she was the SVP for Royal Ties a production company that was founded by the actress Regina King and her sister Reina King. 

DESIREE GRUBER

Founder and CEO of Full Pictures

About

Desiree Gruber is a Peabody Award-winning leader who ignites business strategies at the crossroads of culture, content, and community. For over 25 years, Full Picture has helped leading brands in various sectors achieve their goals and build lasting legacies.

Gruber is renowned for her ability to connect people and build relationships, which has been instrumental in shaping cultural moments and creating opportunities for women in business. She co-created and executive produced Project Runway, which launched numerous brands and careers and championed diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry. Additionally, she spearheaded the Jennifer Lopez-Grameen America partnership, a $14 billion program to empower Latina-owned businesses.

Full Picture’s latest initiative is in partnership with CNBC Changemakers: Women Transforming Business, an annual unranked list spotlighting a diverse group of women whose accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the business world. The list and its April 2024 celebration recognized female leaders at companies or organizations that have crossed meaningful financial milestones and achieved significant business results within the past twelve months.

Gruber’s influence extends beyond her company. She is a sought-after speaker and advisor, serving on the boards of UNICEF USA and God’s Love We Deliver. Her commitment to social impact is evident in her work with these organizations, and she was recognized for her humanitarian efforts with the UNICEF Spirit of Compassion Award.

Gruber’s success stems from her strategic acumen, human touch, and dedication to fostering connections and empowering others. She is a true leader who inspires change and shapes a more inclusive and vibrant world.

Dr. Holly Phillips

Board Member

About

Dr. Holly Phillips is a practicing internist, author, and award-winning
journalist. As CBS News’ Medical Contributor, she appeared regularly
on CBS This Morning and across the network, reporting on a wide
range of medical and health topics.
Before joining CBS News, Dr. Phillips served as Chief Medical
Correspondent for CBS2, New York’s local affiliate. Her insights have
been featured in print media, where she held contributing editor roles
with Prevention and Cosmopolitan. She is also the author of The
Exhaustion Breakthrough, published by Rodale.
At her Manhattan concierge practice, Dr. Phillips focuses on all
aspects of internal medicine, with an emphasis on preventive
women’s health. A graduate of Williams College and Columbia
University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, she lives in
Manhattan with her husband, two daughters, and a prized pug.

Margo MacNabb Nederlander

Board Member

About

Margo MacNabb Nederlander is a devoted mother, wife, and volunteer who lives on the Upper West Side of New York City. She has extensive experience in the entertainment industry working with major talent. She has managed the public relations and activities department for an international investment banking firm. Margo also served on the development team that organized and implemented the Special Olympics China Millennium March, which launched the expansion of Special Olympics’ largest program worldwide. At present, Margo is the Vice-President of the Board of Citymeals on Wheels, and serves on the boards of the SilverShield Foundation providing educational support to children and spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty in the Tristate Area, The President’s Council of New York Restoration Project, and the Charitable Fund of the Southampton Bath & Tennis Club. Margo’s family continues to be her top priority as she is an active volunteer at her children’s two schools. As a neighbor and frequent visitor of Central Park, Margo proudly serves on the Playground Partners Committee and the Central Park Conservancy.

Donville ("Donny") Reid

Board Member

About

Donville (“Donny”) Reid is a Managing Director at UBS Investment Bank in New York, joining the firm in 2010. He serves as a trusted senior credit sales professional, covering large institutional clients for investment grade corporate credit. Prior to joining UBS, Donny spent 11 years at Deutsche Bank in a similar capacity from 1998-2009. Donny graduated from Washington University in Saint Louis, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree in 1998. He is a proud Year-Up Mentor, and serves as Executive Sponsor of MOSAIC, UBS’s Multi-Cultural Employee Network. Originally from Jamaica, Donny lives in Harlem, NY with his wife and daughter.

Eden Williams

Board Member

About

Eden Williams is the Founder of Eden Williams Consulting Inc. that provides art advisory services to collectors and artists. She connects emerging artists with collectors by partnering with galleries, museums and art affinity groups. Prior to forming her own company, she worked for several years as a Director of Business Development for Modern Luxury where she was responsible for national sales across 70 regional lifestyle publications. Eden served as a Strategic Marketing Consultant to HELP USA where she focused on the strategic and creative development of advertising and PR campaigns. She also worked in Public Affairs for the US Department of Housing & Urban Development initiating a nationwide multi-media campaign to increase awareness of homelessness. Prior to HUD, Eden was in marketing at American Express in the Small Business Services Division working on card member acquisition efforts. Eden is a graduate of Harvard University where she earned a B.A. in American History. Eden serves on the Board of Directors for HELP USA (www.helpusa.org).

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Annabel Levinson

After School Program Manager

About

Annabel Levinson is a recent University of Michigan graduate with a B.S. in English and minor in Applied Statistics. In Fall 2024, she joined Green Beetz in the role After School Program Manager, actively involved in curriculum development and teaching in five schools. Beyond Green Beetz, she worked in a melanoma research lab at NYU. In college, she played and served as the VP of Finance of the Women’s Club Ice Hockey team which gave her skills in leadership and financial management. Annabel is passionate about service, and is driven towards a career in non-profit development and fundraising for educational development organizations both on a domestic and international level.