Founder

Valerie Wolfe is a Horticulturist, Permaculture Designer, and Soil Advocate facilitating meaningful change by helping people understand and appreciate our intrinsic connections to nature. She spent over a decade as loyal PPD employee, serving as Education and Volunteer Coordinator at the Luthy Botanical Garden, where she found her passion for teaching and community building. Valerie has supplemented her Horticulture education with studies in Permaculture, Dietetics, Herbalism, Acupuncture, Soil Health and Microbiology where she has recently found a passion for microbes and their crucial role in every aspect of our lives. Valerie resides in Peoria with her son, three dogs, four cats, some fish and a snail.

A passionate First Nations public speaker, singer, dancer, and wisdom keeper. Jimmy Lakota Edwards has shared his talents with audiences of all ages for decades. Jimmy is involved in many community events including teaching at the Sun Foundation Art and Science in the Woods Camp and Clean Water Celebration, Soulpatch community garden,  Pow Wows, libraries, museums, and churches. 

Lauren Howell has worked over 30 years in the green industry with her education and career split between Southern California and the Midwest.  She currently works with Stuber Land Design in Tremont as Director of Landscape Management Services and Employee Development. She has her BS in Ornamental Horticulture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and her MS in Horticulture from Purdue University.  She started her career at GreenView Nursery in Dunlap becoming Wholesale Manager before leaving to work for the Peoria Park District.  At the Park District, she was the manager of Luthy Botanical Garden for nearly 10 years.  In 2005 Lauren and her two daughters moved to Orange, California where she grew up.  There she worked for two large, commercial landscape management companies as Branch Manager and Director of Horticulture and Employee Development.  In the midst of Covid in 2020 she happily moved back to the Peoria area where she lives with her younger daughter, a dog and two cats.

Andy, a former Air National Guard member and NIU graduate (BA, Anthropology), has been a resident of Central Illinois for the majority of his life. Volunteering for several years at the Soul Patch, the permaculture education space within Summer Camp Music Festival, has lead to him become a member of the Diverse Metamorphosis board today. In addition, Andy is a member of the Entomology section of the Peoria Academy of Science, has an avid interest in native plants, plays various musical instruments and is currently yard foreman at a locally owned lumber yard.

Nick uses his knowledge of green building, adult education, and leadership-through-facilitation to support the development of resilient, sustainable, and just cities for all people. He uses a systems-thinking approach, and his broad knowledge of sustainability and the built environment to support non-profits, educational institutions, grassroots organizations, and the public in creating transformational change. He hopes to eradicate disinformation, elevate the voices of under-represented groups, and work towards a just transition to a more sustainable future.

David lives in West Peoria with his wife Teresa Smith, working part time as a registered nurse. He is active with local environmental groups, Peoria NAACP and the Peoria Green Party. He believes in biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, flexibility and laughter.