The Bee U Team

The Core Team

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Ateea@beeunyc.org
Ateea holds a BA in Political Science with a focus on Human Rights and a minor in Environmental Science from the City College of New York, Colin Powell School. Ateea has many years of experience working in community outreach and development for nonprofit organizations and the local municipality of NYC.
Ateea’s involvement in Bee U started when she was the communications director for Ranti Ogunleye’s Campaign for City Council. As an advocate for youth and sustainable policy for BIPOC communities, Bee U encompasses an intersection of passions and interests for Ateea and is, hopefully, just the start of working to uplifting communities in need in creative sustainable ways.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER
Andre@beeunyc.org
André graduated from Niagara University with a BA in Political Science and International Studies and earned an MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service specializing in Social and Political Advocacy. André is currently the Northeast Programs Manager for the non-profit, Global Glimpse.
André is passionate about education reform and believes that youth should have their education centered around more experiences outside of the classroom. André co-founded Bee-U alongside talented educators and positive change-makers and wants to see a world where youth are environmental advocates and are developing skills to become leaders in the green economy.
CONTACT FOR ALL PROGRAMS RELATED MATTERS.

PROGRAMS ASSOCIATE, CO-FOUNDER
Tavion@beeunyc.org
Tavion graduated from Niagara University with a BA in Biology and Political Science. Tavion is currently a science and math educator in both New York and New Jersey.
Tavion is committed to community education and balancing community control of land. The vision Bee-U has inspired Tavion to find new ways to engage the community and environment for the better. He looks forward to the impact that Bee-U will bring to New York City.

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Umamah@beeunyc.org
Umamah holds a degree in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Lafayette College and is a current Masters in Public Administration student at the University of Pittsburgh. She first got involved with Bee U when she was a community outreach liaison for Ranti Ogunleye's City Council Campaign in 2020.
Bee-U has always been a project that she wanted to be a part of because of the impact it has made on Staten Island. She joined the Bee U team because she wanted to use the skills that she has built to bring resources to an organization that puts the community at the center. She hopes to use her experience at Bee-U to support other grassroots organizations that focus on marginalized communities.

ASSOCIATE EXECUITIVE DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER
Renel@beeunyc.org
Renel earned a B.A in Economics from CUNY Brooklyn College and is an educator, musician and casual beekeeper! Renel wanted to bring his past experience in beekeeping and nonprofit management to assist in bringing value to a historically neglected and under-served community, helping to conceptualize the creation of Bee U!
Renel believes there are a lot of untapped spaces that could be used to benefit communities all over the world. While at Bee U, he hopes to create a blueprint and resources with which others can create their own impact.

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER
Russia@beeunyc.org
Russia graduated from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh with a BS in Public Relations. She is currently a Senior Account Executive at Smalls Girls PR, a creative communication agency.
Russia enjoys traveling, working out and surfing in her free time. Russia looks forward to building more awareness of Bee-U and is dedicated to work toward getting more POC youth in the outdoors and engaged in greenspaces.

FINANCE & OPERATIONS MANAGER
Chiweta@beeunyc.org
Chiweta holds a B.A. in Politics, minoring in African American Studies and Legal Studies, from the University of San Francisco (USF) and a Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Chiweta currently works as a Analyst for Non-Profit Finance Fund.
Chiweta enjoys traveling, kickboxing, watching movies, and reading books.

HEAD BEEKEEPER
Nick is a long time Staten Islander, graduating from Curtis High School and earning a BA from Hunter College. Nick is the owner of Green Stinger Beekeeping Services, a Staten Island no-kill bee removal company. Outside of beekeeping, Nick also works for the Department of Sanitation.
Nick is one of the beekeepers at Maker Park and supports Bee U's beekeeping curriculum. Nick hopes that Bee-U will help spread awareness about honey bees and native bees on Staten Island, helping all people understand the impact they have on the environment and learn how we can all live more sustainable lives.

Governors Island Hives (New York Harbor School) are managed by Bee U NYC Board Member (Vice Chair) Siri Chillara
Weeksville Heritage Center Hives (Brooklyn) are managed by Bee U NYC Co-Founder & Director of Finance and Operations, Renel Saint Jour