Environmental advocate and youth programming leader John Evangelista has been named the new executive director of Groundwork Elizabeth, a nonprofit that develops programs and projects that educate and improve the environment and urban quality of life issues.
Evangelista has an extensive background in green initiatives, having owned his own landscape design and construction company for over 30 years. He has served Groundwork Elizabeth for over a decade, most recently as operations director, and says that he hopes to expand the nonprofit’s reach in his new role as executive director.
Evangelista began his service to Groundwork Elizabeth as a volunteer participating in agricultural demonstrations at city schools. After deciding to devote his energy to the nonprofit full time, he helped bring more than 200 community gardens to the city. Later as operations director, he made sure all Elizabeth schools had gardens for youth educational programs.
Evangelista said there are three areas he hopes to build on: youth development, urban agriculture, and creating a “climate-safe” Elizabeth.
Groundwork Elizabeth has been working in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth and Rutgers University to monitor urban air quality. Under Evangelista’s leadership, the team built the largest private air monitoring network in New Jersey.
He is committed to reforesting urban areas and has championed the “micro forest” concept, that provides the community firsthand experience with botany, biodiversity, and agricultural methods.
The nonprofit’s youth development initiatives, community greenhouses, Micro Farm, air quality work, and agriculture initiatives have brought greenery to urban environments and encouraged people to become more sustainable and mindful of their habitats.
“Watching youth join the Green Team or Mayor’s youth council and seeing them firsthand develop a passion for the environment and healthier eating is mind-blowing,” Evangelista said. “Then they take that knowledge home and inspire their families and friends. Seeing that tangible change and breaking through to families is really the core of what we try to accomplish.”
Mayor Chris J. Bollwage said Evangelista’s commitment to environmental resilience has made a lasting impact on Elizabeth.
“As the new executive director of Groundwork Elizabeth, John will continue to build on the organization’s mission to improve local green spaces and a more sustainable future for all residents,” Bollwage said. “We look forward to seeing Groundwork Elizabeth thrive under his leadership.”
Evangelista succeeds Jonathan Phillips who led Groundwork Elizabeth from 2003–2024. Phillips will continue to advise and guide the organization in the future in his role as emeritus.
About Groundwork Elizabeth
Groundwork Elizabeth is a 501c3 non-profit, founded in 2003 with the goal of building healthy, sustainable and equitable communities. Its mission is to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being.
