We invite you to learn more about Green Space Romeo!
Green Space Romeo Mission
The mission of Green Space Romeo is to increase access to public green space for the benefit of all community members and to promote and support green spaces for health and wellness benefits, educational opportunities and improvement to the environment and the quality of life.
Adopted June 23, 2025
Land Acknowledgement
The land we call Romeo resides on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabe, known as the Three Fires Confederacy, comprised of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. Evidence of a Native presence on and near this land includes its location along a significant Native trail and an Anishinaabe village that once existed nearby.
Meet the Green Space Romeo Board of Directors
Updated June 23, 2026
Donna Folland
Chair
Donna Folland is a lifelong conservationist and advocate for community parks and open space. She has over 25 years of experience working for nonprofits or local governments, including one year with The Nature Conservancy, 2 years with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, both in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; 11 years as executive director of Six Rivers Land Conservancy in Rochester, Michigan; and 15 years in her most recent position as a planner with Oakland County Parks and Recreation in Waterford, Michigan. She was a founding board member of the Michigan Wetlands Association, based in Lansing, Michigan. As Board Chair, Donna plans and facilitates board meetings, helps facilitate the adoption of policies and other organizational documents and takes a lead role in strategic planning to chart a path for the future of the organization. Donna has been a Director since December 2024, her current term ends 2027.
Kimberly Voss
Vice Chair
Kimberly Voss is a retired secondary public educator. She taught American History and various Social Studies electives at the high school level for 27 years. For 20 years she taught Advanced Placement American History to enable students to achieve college credit while in high school. Kim was additionally a high school administrator for 8 years and worked 5 years as a central office administrator where she worked with curriculum leaders and oversaw district-wide testing and data decision-making. Kim facilitates the application of state educational standards as the organization plans for and adopts educational programming for green space projects. Kim has been a Director since December 2024, her current term ends 2027.
Clare Pugh
Secretary
Clare Pugh is an engineer dedicated to advancing sustainability and responsible stewardship. She earned her biomedical engineering degree from Michigan Technological University and later joined Mitsubishi Chemical America, where she now serves as a Regulatory Engineer and Sustainability Coordinator. In this role, she advises on regulatory compliance, develops product disclosures, and leads initiatives to reduce the company’s environmental footprint. Clare has a passion for protecting the environment and holds a graduate certificate in corporate sustainability from Harvard Extension School. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in sustainability. Clare grew up in Almont and moved to Romeo in 2022, where she lives with her husband. Clare was appointed to the Board in December 2025, her current term ends 2028.
Kristin Brewer
Treasurer
Kristin Brewer is a certified speech language pathologist and special education teacher. She worked in Austin, Texas with students with hearing impairment, autism, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities for over 20 years and taught English as a Second Language to Adults for Utica Community Schools in Michigan. Kristin has extensive volunteer experience in Austin, Texas including Parent Teacher Association (president, vice president, event chair, membership chair, and volunteer coordinator), Girl Scouts of America (troop leader, new leader mentor), and Impact Austin (member of the Education Grant Review Committee). Kristin was a founding member of MacCares, a parent group that assists the McCallum High School social worker in providing support to students experiencing homelessness and/or poverty. She is the current chair of the “Creation Committee” at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Kristin has been a Director since December 2024, her current term ends 2027.
Alyssa Dempsey
Director
Alyssa became involved with Green Space Romeo during the fall of 2024. At that time she was a graduate student at Lawrence Technological University. As a requirement of her design studio class, she was tasked with creating a project with a partner within the community. Alyssa and Green Space Romeo designed signage for the Prospect Street project. Since then, she has continued to support the cause as she feels passionate about creating spaces for the community to come together and enjoy what nature can provide. Alyssa holds a Master’s of Architecture and is working on obtaining architecture licensure. She attended Romeo schools and has seen firsthand how quickly history can be erased. This is why she feels it is so important to highlight the green spaces we have in the area before they are no longer accessible to all members of the community and visitors alike. Alyssa was appointed to the Board in December 2025, her current term ends 2028.
Aleda Miller
Director
Aleda Miller is an environmental professional with a background in sustainability, community engagement, and landscape design. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from Northern Michigan University, and following graduation, spent a year of service with AmeriCorps in Southwest Montana. Aleda now works in the landscaping industry as a designer while pursuing studies in Landscape Design and Horticulture. Having grown up down the street from where Green Space Romeo was founded, Aleda has a deep personal connection to the organization’s mission. She values education, stewardship, and access to green spaces as foundational to fostering connection with nature, strengthening community, and supporting individual well-being. Aleda was appointed to the Board in December 2025, her current term ends 2028.
Meet the Green Space Romeo Advisory Board
Updated June 23, 2026
The Advisory Board was created in April 2026 as a designation for our trusted advisors and also an entry position for future Board members. The Advisory Board is intended to be a community with diverse knowledge, expertise and skills who can help ensure that Green Space Romeo’s projects and actions align with up-to-date science and best practices as well as relevant professional standards. Advisory Board members are listed on the Green Space Romeo website and receive all agendas and minutes but are not expected to attend meetings unless interested or specifically invited. Advisors serve 2-year renewable terms and the Advisory Board membership is reviewed annually by the Board.
Ingrid Folland
Advisor
Amanda Ruffini
Advisor
Green Space Jams
Groove with us to the Spotify playlist curated by our community members.
Our Stories
Our Beginning – Green Space on Prospect Street
Green Space Romeo formed in 2024 as part of a multi-year process to preserve the former Romeo Middle School Property at 297 Prospect Street as permanent green space for the community. Although, the Green Space on Prospect Street (GSOPS) project was not successful and the Romeo Community Schools Board of Education decided to sell the property for residential development, the community that came together for this effort inspired us to continue to work toward increased access to green space for everyone. You can learn about this foundational effort at our 297 Prospect Street page. For updates on the planned development and information to help you provide input, visit Prospect Street Development page.
Green Space Romeo is grateful to the members of the original Green Space on Prospect Street leadership team, as well as our previous board directors. Members of the Green Space on Prospect Street leadership team included Richard Cory, Franco Folino, Elizabeth Miller and Rob Wing. Franco Folino served as a member of the Green Space Romeo board from December 2024 through June 2025. We additionally thank Brian Minton, who served on the Green Space Romeo board from December 2024 to March 2026. Your dedication to the environment and the quality of life in our community continues to inspire us!
