PEJ Board Members

**Anne S. Franklin, Interim Board Chair**
Ms. Franklin is the Interim Chair of Partners for Environmental Justice and leads the Program, Outreach and Legacy Committee of the Dix Park Conservancy. She is a veteran community activist who has helped to improve plans and policies for housing, land use and transit. She works to find balance between private interests and those of neighborhoods and everyday citizens who want public spaces and services that match their daily needs. She is happy to be allied with the educators, green infrastructure engineers, youth advocates, community connectors and nature protectors who make up the PEJ Board. She believes that everyone, all ages, need access to healthy green space for fun, relaxation, and respite. Being in nature combined with short walks to frequent transit and well-designed housing are the must-haves for affordable high-quality living. Through partnerships we learn what works, then use that collective knowledge to craft powerful, lasting solutions.

**Richard L. Major III, Vice Board Chair**
Richard Major is an individual who values dialogue, careful planning, and prompt execution. Mr. Major has spent much of his time working with PEJ by being out in the field, speaking with members of the community, and being a representative. As he continues his work with the organization, Mr. Major is looking to increase the relationship between PEJ and the Southeast Raleigh community even more.
Major is a skilled communicator, detail oriented, well researched, exceptional writer, vocal, and most importantly, values the opinions of others by listening more than he speaks. He works well in team settings and independently, has great time management skills, and works diligently to accomplish the tasks that are put in front of him. Major is a recently added board member and wishes to grow more in these areas and add more to his abilities as his tenure continues at PEJ.
Before becoming a board member, Major worked in various positions at PEJ which include as an intern and recruiter for PEJ programs. He now serves on the board as a member of the Bylaws and Finance committees. In addition to his work at PEJ, Major is passionate about legal advocacy and community enrichment. He is eager to use his abilities to get into law school which he believes in one of the many but influential ways he can positively impact the city of Raleigh and surrounding cities. Mr. Major holds a degree in Political Science and a minor in History from Southern Adventist University. Being a recent graduate and newly added member of the board, Major is keen on continuing to learn the value of service and advocacy. He prioritizes the diversity of the Raleigh community and is determined to assist PEJ any way that he can in its pursuit of activism, community companionship, environmental education, and fixing issues that the organization is made aware of.

**Dresden Hasala, Secretary**
Dresden is an environmental and real property attorney who brings a rich background in geographic information systems, local government, and environmental law and policy to their involvement with PEJ. Originally from Central Oregon, Dresden’s early involvement with PEJ came in 2017 through a year-long data collection effort on stormwater issues and trust in local government within Rochester Heights, the Southeast Raleigh neighborhood where PEJ was born. In November 2020, Dresden got involved with PEJ again around the Downtown South rezoning project with Kane Realty, and has remained involved since.
Dresden holds a dual BA in Political Science and Spanish from Baylor University, a MS in Natural Resources from North Carolina State University, and a JD from Campbell Law School. Outside of work and PEJ involvement, Dresden is also a figure skater and an active member of Carolina Roller Derby.

**Kris Bass, Treasurer**
Mr. Bass is an Ecological Engineer and the owner of Kris Bass Engineering. He provides technical expertise in stormwater, stream and wetland restoration, and grant management. His skills are an important part of PEJ efforts to protect sensitive areas, promote green infrastructure, and in collaborations with local governments. Mr. Bass also helps lead our grant funded implementation work, managing the design and installation of rain gardens, cisterns, and other runoff reduction practices.

**Amin Davis, Board Member**
Amin was born and raised in the New Haven, CT area. He obtained a BS degree in Marine & Environmental Science from Hampton University (VA) and a Master of Zoology degree from NC State University. Amin is an Environmental Scientist and Professional Wetland Scientist with over 21 years of professional experience conducting environmental and water resource management work in public, private and nonprofit sectors across nine states in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. His work has included watershed improvement and restoration activities, the integration of Geographic Information Systems and GPS into environmental assessments and regulatory permitting coordination.
Amin has been employed by the NC Department of Environmental Quality since 2008 and is currently a community grant manager for the Division of Water Resources. He also co-leads the Walnut Creek Watershed Action Team with a DWR colleague.
Amin has been involved in applying his professional experience to non-profit volunteer work in Southeast Raleigh. He currently serves as a Board member of Partners for Environmental Justice and has been affiliated with several local nonprofits that provide environmental education activities for youth in underserved areas within the Triangle area. He is also involved with negotiating with local developers to integrate green infrastructure and other equitable development elements into their developments.
In his spare time Amin enjoys watching documentary films, outdoor recreation activities and music of nearly all kinds.

**Corey Dodd, Board Member**
Corey Dodd’s passion for the environment stemmed from a childhood spent outdoors exploring streams, planting vegetables, and learning about the life cycles of North Carolina’s plants and animals. As an adult, he became increasingly aware of the health benefits of experiencing nature regularly and the link between discriminatory planning practices and disparities in access to greenspace.
As a Landscape Designer who seeks balance between conservation and historical preservation, equity, and growth he has been honored to serve on the Board of PEJ since 2020 and to carry on the legacy of founding members in raising awareness of environmental justice issues in Raleigh.
Dodd holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design from Appalachian State University.

**Dymond Generette, Board Member**
Dymond Generette is an NC native - born and raised in Raeford, NC, a natural-born leader, and self-starter. Her innovativeness along with her experience with program management and community engagement has helped her excel in private and public organizations.
After serving the environmental nonprofit and city government industry for three years, Ms. Generette transitioned to an Account Executive at a leading technology firm where she consults nonprofit organizations on their outreach strategies to drive community engagement and donor relations.
In her previous roles, Ms. Generette successfully designed and implemented community programs - one of which was featured on WRAL’s website, established several partnerships, and increased youth after-school program participation by 90%.
Ms. Generette is passionate about community engagement and is excited to use her experience as a member of the PEJ Board of Directors. She is committed to aiding PEJ in future community events, partnerships, and public programs to educate the public on how to take action in their community.
Ms. Generette holds a B.S. in Environmental Sciences with a minor in Wildlife Sciences and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from NC State University.

**Michael Kendall, Board Member**
Michael Kendall is a native New Yorker. He and his wife Bernice have made Raleigh their home since the early 1980s. He is a US Air Force Veteran; trained in RF avionics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from NCCU and a Master of Divinity from Shaw Divinity School. Michael has served the community through church organizations most of his adult life. He founded Boy Scout Troop 253 at Watts Chapel Baptist Church in 1999. He has been director of youth programs for the NC Laymen’s League of the General Baptist State Convention and Associate Editor of the GBSC newspaper the Baptist Informer.
Michael counted it a privilege to work along side Dr. Norman Camp during Cleanup-projects prior to the Walnut Creek Wetland Center’s construction. He believes in the value of awakening the curiosity and imagination of youth through their learning about the natural environment. Michael has four children two of which are Eagle scouts. Michael enjoys music and movies in surround sound; cycling on the greenways; and spending time with his grandchildren.

Frank McKay, Board Member

Frank McKay is an education consultant with RTI International and a longtime PEJ board member. McKay first became involved with PEJ in 2006 as a former middle school teacher engaging students in environmental and community service-learning projects in the Walnut Creek Wetlands. McKay has always appreciated the wetlands as a first-rate classroom to help students of all ages learn about the natural world and see that we are not far removed from nature, even in urban environments. As a PEJ board member, McKay continues to advocate for protecting the wetlands as a critical resource for the community, and educational programming that empowers citizens to join together in that work.

McKay holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and philosophy from Lenoir-Rhyne University, a master’s degree in ecological teaching and learning from Lesley University, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Northeastern University. In addition to classroom teaching and education consulting, McKay’s experience includes facilitating teacher training for the U.S. Peace Corps in Tanzania, serving as an instructor and staff trainer for the North Carolina Outward Bound School, and serving as Director for School Services at NC New Schools.

PEJ Board Members

Restore our wetlands...Restore our community.