ABOUT US

Hannah Garber

Executive Director

Hannah is a co-founder and the executive director of the Environmental Justice Alliance. She has years of experience working with children, especially children from vulnerable communities. She has devoted much of her time to supporting the development of disadvantaged youth and has studied poverty in the U.S. throughout her academic career. Hannah graduated from John Hopkins University in May 2019 with a master's degree in Public Management. Her academic priorities have centered on poverty alleviation in the United States, education as a means of breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty, and environmental justice. Hannah's experience includes extensive coursework, independent research, and volunteer work related to vulnerable communities, disadvantaged children, homeless populations, and environmental justice.

Hannah was born and raised in South Carolina, but moved to the DMV in 2016. Drawn to the policy-making process and the prospect of making a difference in a region that blatantly juxtaposes opulence and tradition with poverty and inequality, she has chosen the Washington, DC metropolitan area as her permanent home and is committed to spending her career improving the lives of members of her community. Hannah is devoted to serving her community, loving on her four rescue animals, and growing organic plants in her vegetable garden.

Andy Ross

Chairman of the Board

Andy Ross is the chairman of EJA's board of directors, and is also the President/CEO of RTEC Treecare. He has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 1994 and has served on the Board of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) in the past. Andy has managed thousands of residential, commercial, and government contracts related to tree maintenance, tree preservation, pest control, emergency cleanup, historical renovation, invasive control, and more. RTEC Treecare has established itself in the region as an environmentally responsible company which always strives to "do the right thing for people and trees."

Andy is passionate about giving back to his community, which is evident in his years of volunteer work in the Northern Virginia area. Andy won the TCIA's "Volunteer of the Year Award" in 2014 and contributed to the Voice for Trees PAC from 2006-2007. Andy was awarded the Tree Care Industry Association's Grassroots Champion award in 2009 for his efforts to educate officials on how major issues affect the tree care industry. Andy's experience in activism and community service eventually led him to pursue the establishment of a non-profit organization that would give back to his community. Andy lives in Fairfax County, VA, which he has called home for most of his life.