Garden Director
Hello! I received my bachelor's degree in Health Science from CSULB. I am the Garden Director of Long Beach Organic, overseeing garden maintenance and fostering a friendly relationship with our wonderful gardeners. Before being involved with LBO, I was very passionate about growing food in my home garden, so when I was offered the opportunity to assist the organization as their Interim Garden Director, I was happy to help. On a day-to-day basis, you can find me working at one of the many gardens, cleaning areas of the garden while also keeping an eye on my emails in case a gardener has questions or issues. I love meeting our gardeners and learning about what they have growing. When I come to work in the garden, everyone has a beautiful story to tell, and I am happy to listen.
Program and Admin Coordinator
Hi, I’m Oliver! As the newest member of LBO’s team, I’m excited to be bringing my passions for food sovereignty, communal land stewardship, and intentional community to the gardens. For the past several years, I have been volunteering as a community educator in various STEM fields, where I eventually found my purpose in connecting people through their collective love of nature. Currently, I am working towards my horticulturalist certification at Long Beach City College, where I also study ceramic sculpture. I joined LBO as the coordinator for the Gateway to Gardening program to help manage LBO’s partnerships with other local organizations interested in contributing to our mission of education and accessible green spaces. Outside of spending time in the garden, I enjoy cooking and sharing meals with friends, reading science fiction, and taking long walks around the beautiful city of Long Beach.
President
Hyder comes to Long Beach Organic with a background in economic development, non profit program management, and impact investing. After studying economics and international relations at UC Davis Hyder took his interest in international development to the Peace Corps where he supported entrepreneurship education efforts in Nicaragua. Hyder is passionate about compost, circular economics, and promoting a healthy connection to the greater ecology. Hyder joined the board to support LBO's administrative and strategic development. In his capacity as treasurer, Hyder is responsible for overseeing the organization's budget and long term financial sustainability.
Vice President
David has professional background in community management and computer science, which both bring a strong technical background and hands-on experience in community management to his work supporting the board. His focus is on keeping systems running smoothly so the community can be served effectively and its collective impact can continue to grow. Outside of his professional work, David is an avid gardener with a particular fondness for local pollinators. He can often be found tending the community garden—weeding, planting, and connecting with neighbors—or spending time at a free local event or peaceful campsite. He is deeply committed to Land Back, sustainability, ecological restoration, and building spaces for community education and connection. Whether through technical support or the cultivation of native species, David is dedicated to nurturing both the land and the people who care for it.
Treasurer
I am a Southern Californian native and a graduate of CSU Long Beach. Professionally, I have helped lead operations and support for growing tech companies for almost 20 years. Currently, I mix business and pleasure by playing in the dirt, helping to add autonomous GPS machine control solutions to heavy equipment for earthworks contractors. My love of the outdoors keeps me hiking, camping, surfing, and gardening whenever I can find the time. I am a father of two and an active scout leader for boys and girls ages 5 to 18. I work with them to teach respect for nature, community stewardship, and kindness through an adventure-filled curriculum. During the pandemic, I was lucky enough to get an LBO plot at Zaferia. I quickly offered to help gather scout volunteers, assist with programming, and start seeds for our annual plant extravaganza. An invitation to the board came, and I was honored to be a part of this great organization.
Secretary
I joined the Board of LBO in January 2023 because I was inspired by how the community gardens bring together a diverse group of individuals around a shared passion. Gardens teach us about life and death, patience, and care, while also offering a therapeutic space that can truly enhance one’s well-being. Joining the board felt like a natural extension of my values around community, growth, and creating safe spaces that nourish both the soul and environment. I’m passionate about how community gardens bridge people, nature, and education. They teach us how to grow through challenging moments with intention, compassion, and sustainability. Professionally I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and am a Asset Integrity Engineer. Being part of LBO allows me to help nurture spaces that have the power to heal both individuals and the environment.
Board Member
Dr. John Walker began his medical journey in his native South Africa, where he worked in family medicine, emergency medicine, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. He moved to the U.S. as a clinical researcher at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2000 and then did additional residencies at Case Western and USC. Dr. Walker is dedicated to taking a holistic approach to patient care, and this approach has given him many opportunities to guide people in healthy diets, wound care, weight loss, and general wellness. Dr. Walker believes that engaging with the outdoors is crucial to good health. An avid gardener, he is closely aligned with Charles Moore's (our founder) goal of ridding the groundwater of harmful additives before they harm the ocean. He believes that the filtration of water before it enters the ocean mitigates some of the toxins and harmful effects of mankind. He also wholeheartedly believes in healthy organic food and that food is medicine, and if one eats enough greens and vegetables, they can help prevent the need for pharmaceuticals.
Board Member
Hi, I’m Alicia Kemper, founder and owner of Buvons Wine Bar + Restaurant + Bottle Shop in Long Beach. I opened Buvons in 2021 with the goal of creating a neighborhood space centered on small-production wines, seasonal food, and thoughtful hospitality, and it has since grown into a place shaped by care, curiosity, and community. My background is in hospitality and small business operations, with a particular focus on creating events and experiences that bring people together through shared learning and a clearly defined mission. I’m especially aligned with Long Beach Organic’s work activating underutilized land and turning it into shared, grounding spaces for the community. I’ve lived in Long Beach for the past five years and am excited to support Long Beach Organic’s mission while contributing a practical, people-centered perspective to the board.
Board Member
Brianna Beyrooty Durych brings over 12 years of nonprofit operations experience and previously served as Director of Long Beach Organic (LBO). She is currently the Development Operations Manager at A Sense of Home, where she supports fundraising efforts for former foster youth and disaster survivors. Brianna is also a member and past board member of DOVIA-LA. She is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and community well-being, and remains passionate about the continued growth and future of Long Beach Organic.
Board Member
Will is an organizational development consultant specializing in mission-driven strategic planning and capacity building, having worked with 25+ nonprofits to refine strategy, strengthen systems, and grow programs. He holds an MBA in Social Impact and an MA in Sustainable International Development, both from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. Before moving to Long Beach, Will served as a board member for the Bicycle Kitchen, an urban mobility cooperative in Los Angeles. He's drawn to community gardening for the way it brings neighbors together around a shared purpose — and for what it teaches about intentionality, adaptation, and sustainable growth. In his free time, Will can usually be found enjoying music with friends, walking his dog on the beach, or riding his bike through the mountains.
Board Member
Born and raised in Long Beach, Laura began her professional career here as an organizer, expanding community voice in civic decision-making and ensuring that residents from all corners of the city had equitable access to its many opportunities. Today, Laura works for a national nonprofit, building the operational capacity of government offices and leaders to more effectively deliver core services and infrastructure. Laura is excited to bring their nonprofit and community-building skills to bear as a board member, supporting Long Beach Organic and contributing to the long-term sustainability of the organization. A Zaferia gardener since 2025, Laura enjoys peaceful walks to the garden, conversations with (much more!) experienced plot neighbors, and outdoor playtime with her toddler.