THE HABITHÈQUE BLUE AND GREEN FUND, 501(C)(3)
Your contribution will help fund two exciting initiatives,
POOL Mobile Exhibition, and An Otter Planet!!!
We are thrilled that the Habithèque Blue and Green Fund has been granted 501(c)(3) status!
The Fund, led by Victoria Prizzia, was formed to act as fiscal partner in the development of education-focused storytelling assets and experiences that help people learn and make informed decisions as citizens of a dynamic planet about the world’s most essential resource— water, in all its forms— while improving equity and access in communities to aquatic activities and resources. Synchronically, the Fund promotes and furthers societal awareness of emerging technologies and techniques for water conservation, ecosystem restoration and renewable energy while also providing a vision for scaling these advancements for global impact. The work of the Fund is guided by the goal of deepening understanding of the connection between water, social justice and public health.
The overarching purpose of the Fund is to engage the public with nature-based solutions to some of the planet’s most critical challenges, while building awareness about issues central to contemporary global concerns around water including equality and social justice. The story of water is a story of social justice that is only going to be amplified in the coming years and decades— in the United States and in every corner of the rest of the world, too. This is true for drinking water, bathing and swimming water, water that supports agricultural production and all of the water that’s vitally intrinsic to our planet’s dynamic and vital ecosystems—the systems each and every one us rely on to live. The Fund aims to help increase awareness that what we do on the land impacts the quality of our waterways and that we can learn from nature to help protect and revitalize our dynamic water systems. Our work aims to provide bridges between the built and natural worlds to help people learn and make informed decisions as citizens of a dynamic planet.
The Fund accomplishes these objectives through partnerships with designers, artists, scientists and others in the development of education-focused experiences. These assets are brought to the public in the form of digital media components and applications, museum exhibitions, public art installations, events and other public engagement interventions at the intersection of nature, art, science, innovation, and play.
For its present and planned activities, the Fund anticipates that those activities will primarily be project-based multi-disciplinary collaborations. Protecting our rivers and streams is vital to a healthy and sustainable future for all living things. We are all deeply connected to the water that surrounds us. Everything we do, from planting trees to cleaning our homes affects our fresh water system. The health of our rivers impacts the places where we live and work.
Water is inextricably, if not always visibly, connected to the environmental and economic health of any region. Although we know that protecting our rivers, streams and oceans is essential for clean water and our health and well-being, we often lack the understanding of the larger ecosystem that water is a part of, and the ways in which each of us can play an integral role in creating and sustaining healthy ecosystems.
Meet Our Board
Angela Beale-Tawfeeq
Dr. Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq is an Associate Professor and chair of the Department of Science, Technology, Education, Arts, Mathematics, and Movement, in the College of Education at Rowan University. Dr. Beale-Tawfeeq currently serves as a member of the American Red Cross, Scientific Advisory Council, Aquatic Sub Council, and serves as the director of education and research for diversity in aquatics, a non-profit 501 4c organization, whose mission is to save lives and reduce the incidence of drowning through global efforts. Her research interests, grant writing, and academic pursuits have been in the areas of physical activity behavior change, program development and evaluation for minority communities, drowning prevention and aquatic safety among African American and Hispanic/Latino populations, youth development and culturally responsive teaching. Dr. Beale-Tawfeeq has been recognized with several national awards and honors, presented on the international, national, regional, and local levels, and has been published in several refereed journals. She strives to engage students, parents, and communities, in relevant and inspiring experiences that enable them to take control of their lives.
Nella Bloom
As outside general counsel, Nella Bloom helps small and new businesses throughout their business life cycle, from startup to shut-down. Ms. Bloom specializes in helping clients buy and sell businesses, representing an eclectic mix of industries and sectors. As a business owner herself, Ms. Bloom understands the mindset of an entrepreneur, and the personal aspect of being a business owner. Ms. Bloom is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and is a frequent presenter on issues relating to small and emerging business and corporate bankruptcy. She was a Pennsylvania Rising Star in 2018 and 2019 according to SuperLawyers Magazine.
JOHN HARPER
John Harper is Managing Director of Greenbriar Capital, a leading Philly-area company that provides commercial mortgages and commercial loans in the mid-market. John is also a real estate developer with a focus on sustainable & regenerative projects that have renewable energy components. He specializes in impact investments, social responsible investments (SRI) and revitalizing blighted and underserved urban communities. John is a board member and treasurer of The Heart of Jazz and Regenerative Nexus. John is on the advisory board for the Obsidian Collection, which aims to digitize the Black experience and help build generational wealth for the photographers and estates of artists and journalists that it works with.
Nancy Becker
Nancy Becker is Co-founder & President of “15 Minutes” Inc. marketing agency. Nancy’s professional background spans event and experiential marketing, media and public relations, brand and consumer advertising. A graduate and Lew Klein Alumni honoree of Temple University, she began her career in music and the arts, and in 1987 co-founded (with Pam Derderian) “15 Minutes”, a women-owned-and-operated certified corporation focusing on niche and cause marketing. LGBTQ+ and environmental issues have been an ongoing part of the agency’s ethos, having helped tennis icon and equality activist Billie Jean King introduce sustainability best-practices at the U.S. Open Tennis Center while creating “green collar” job opportunities, as well as showcasing innovative green-build materials at events across the U.S. “15 Minutes” currently manages marketing campaigns for several non-profits including the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River/National Wildlife Foundation, the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center/Fund for the Water Works/Philadelphia Water Department, and The Free Library of Philadelphia. The agency served as consultants to Subaru of America on Corporate Social Responsibility and niche marketing to the LGBTQ+ community for over two decades.
AndREW Carnell
Andrew Carnell is an Aerospace Systems Engineer who works for NASA providing strategic guidance across the entire NASA mission portfolio covering aeronautics, space, and Earth science. He has engineering degrees from MIT and George Washington University, and prior to joining NASA, he flew fighter aircraft for the US Navy and consulted for the Department of Defense. He currently lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and two sons, and likes to connect with the environment through Scouting adventures with his boys. Fun fact: While in the Navy, Mr. Carnell served one tour as a TOPGUN Instructor.
Victoria Prizzia
As President of the Board of Directors, Victoria Prizzia leads the Blue & Green Fund’s efforts to promote and further societal awareness of emerging technologies and techniques for water conservation, ecosystem restoration and renewable energy, while also providing a vision for scaling these advancements for global impact. With decades of experience designing emotionally and intellectually resonant experiences, Victoria and Habithèque Inc. are innovating new approaches to environmental awareness that will help grow new generations of activists, thought-leaders, and committed, caring citizens who can tackle the challenges of our shared world.
Greg Belew
Greg Belew is the Principal-in-Charge of Hands On! Studio, an award-winning exhibition design firm with projects around the world. As a project manager and exhibit designer for decades, Greg has experience leading every phase of exhibition development from start to finish. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the management of the critical juncture between content, design, and fabrication/installation coordination. He takes a collaborative approach to management and design that has resulted in successful and sustainable projects around the world. As a licensed architect, he also coordinates between clients, their architects, and contractors to advise on effective building programs to create beautifully designed projects that work for visitors and staff alike. In addition, he has decades of experience developing comprehensive plans, budgets and schedules that are realistic, reflect of each client’s particular needs, and support long‐term sustainability.
Craig Johnson
Craig Johnson, founder of Interpret Green, has produced and directed more than 45 award-winning videos, films, exhibits, and art installations. These projects integrate engaging storytelling, creative design, and innovative media. Craig’s studio, Interpret Green, develops programs that advocate for social justice, environment literacy, public health, and programs that connect children with nature.
Please email us at victoria@habitheque.com for more information and ways to donate.