Featured Member: Valerie Francis on HBCU CONNECT!

Q&A With Valerie Francis

What kinds of certifications are you trying to retain and assist your neighbors in acquiring?
"International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist Certification. I just renewed mine in spite of being sickened due to toxic exposure from my work place. I joined the CBTU, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and hope to get an environmental-emergency preparedness certification that they set up. There is a peer at the National Action Network in Brooklyn trying to get more men certified as monitors that can stop violence around basketball courts. I used to referee intramural basketball in college and may get that certification, if the 2 can be combined." Interviewed by Valerie Francis 09/08/12

Valerie Francis
Conservation Manager, New York City Parks Dept
Location: Brooklyn, NY United States
Joined: Feb 21st, 2010

About (request update)

I am left handed and value religions that advocate not eating animals and pacifism, like 7th Day Adventists, Krishnaism, Jainism, Chinese Buddhism as well as Khemetic and African Traditional beliefs. I support Food Not Bombs and permaculture. I am part of family that has supported African institutions in NY like the NPS African Burial Ground, Schomberg Museum linked to the NYP Library and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and multicultural education at all universities. Most recently supporting the cause of Dr. J. Issa of DSU by sending emails to Attorney General Biden and financing his legal defense fund at HBCU Institute.org (JILDF)

My Interview Question

What kinds of certifications are you trying to retain and assist your neighbors in acquiring?

Current Whereabouts:

Training for the Long Island Senior Games in June, vegetarian eating, dancing , skating, hiking, cross country skiing and bike riding for health, chemical free friends, assisting youth with getting college credits in authentic early American history and natural science, reducing the military budget for expenditures in education and improved technology, historical community theater and landmark preservation.

Life & Professional Aspirations:

Reducing the imprisonment of populations that reallly need mental health treatment and limited commitment to employment. Redirecting woman in the sex industry to other skilled trades where they can still look attractive.

Website:

http://facebook/outdoor solutions

Education (request update)

CUNY -The Medgar Evers College class of

Undergrad Major: Teacher Education

Claim To Fame:

Depends who you ask -I raised a remarkable young man in Brooklyn NY who will have a grad degree in Social Work. -I managed the instruction of 3,000 employees in my agency about horticulture as our city council made efforts to reduce pesticide usage.

Most Memorable Moment:

Dinner at a vegetarian house called Lester House (U of Michigan) where eating animal free food was the norm along with muting out commercials on the TV.

High School: Bishop Kearney HS in Brooklyn, NY class of 1978

Best Memories:

Afterschool track practice in Washington Cemetery when the field shared with Eramus HS was frozen over. I would have trained before school in Fort Greene Park on stairs that looked like a seen from Rocky.Classmates called me jokingly the Italian Stallion.

Experience

I currently work with New York City Parks Dept as Conservation Manager
I have 30 years of experience working in the Environmental industry.

My Groups

Health and Wellness

Guestbook Comments

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