Meet our Board of Directors!
Director Tom Milano
When I was a young man, I left New York in search for answers to some questions that deeply concerned me. I had the feeling that the solution to the world's problems depended on us humans attaining a higher level of consciousness. But I didn’t know what that meant until I learned that the purpose of human life, and the solution to our problems, is found in realizing our eternal soul identity and purpose. After joining the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Switzerland and serving as a Krishna devotee in France for 12 years, I returned to the states to manage the Hare Krishna temple in Detroit at the former Fisher Mansion on Lenox Street. But after three years, I felt my calling was to leave ISKCON and help improve the quality of life for people in my Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.
Dabbling in a handful of projects over the years, my interest in community and spiritual revitalization finally merged into Detroit Abloom. My wish was not just to show how cut flower farming can turn vacant blighted land into beautiful and productive landscapes. From the beginning, I have envisioned an ever-increasing number of people working together to change the world from the inside out. Indeed, as more of us bloom from within, by realizing who we are and why we are here on Earth, we can expect the outer world to blossom into the healthy and happy communities we all want. By God’s grace, and with our combined talents, wherewithal and faith, I have no doubt our future is bright.
Nancy Weigandt
The coming 2024 will be my 8th year developing Detroit Abloom and the 12th season of urban farming adventures with my partner and husband, Tom! It has been an extraordinary journey of learning and growth. There are two things, in particular, that interest me. The first is my absolute love of nature and growing plants. My interests have evolved over the seasons (actually, decades) from growing ornamental flowers to growing vegetables, native pollinator-friendly plants, and, of course, cut flowers. I am passionate about supporting local businesses. That includes local flowers versus wholesale flowers that come from outside the country! In brief, I absolutely love spreading joy, knowledge, and appreciation for nature through flowers!
My second passion is community involvement. This began around ten years ago when I regularly volunteered in our Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood to clean up blighted lots. My interest in revitalizing the neighborhood eventually evolved to working with Tom and other like-minded people to start our nonprofit organization, Detroit Abloom, so we could engage more and more people in beautifying our neighborhood. Now I find it a great source of joy and blessings to work with the many gardeners, community members, and fellow flower lovers that Detroit Abloom brings together in a very exciting and inspiring vision!
Halei Kurmas
I came to Detroit Abloom in the fall 2020 after losing my job due to the pandemic. I instantly fell in love the gardens, and of course, the dahlias. Gardening is something I never really saw myself doing, as in the past I’ve had a bit of a ‘black thumb’. But lucky for me Tom and Nancy took me under their wing, and have been mentoring me ever since. In my first season I learned how to tend to the gardens and about the importance of planting natives that support bees, butterflies and other pollinators. In my second season I focused more on the farming of cut flowers. I was given a sort of behind the scenes look into what it takes to go from seeds, to cut flowers, and ultimately to beautiful bouquets and arrangements. I was extremely honored to be brought into Nancy’s inner circle where she taught me how make arrangements, and in the process became her right hand lady.
Now in my third season it has been my pleasure to join on as board member. I find joy in contributing to our garden’s mission of promoting community well-being and healthy living through our many programs and events. Through the beauty of our gardens I feel privileged to play a role in sowing the seeds of positive change in our community and beyond.
Justine Schneider
In 2015, Justine moved to Detroit following a decade of living all over the United States and traveling abroad. Seeking connection to her new community, she discovered Detroit Abloom for their amazing flowers at the local farmers’ market. After becoming a loyal customer and student of Detroit Abloom's, she saw an opportunity to help the organization grow through her knowledge and experience in Strategic Planning. She joined the board of directors in January 2019 as the Strategic Planning chair, helping the organization to focus their efforts and expand their vision. An amateur gardener and former event planner, she brings her passion for clean, sustainable growing of food and flowers to Detroit Abloom’s community events.
Justine is a mother of two young children who thrives in teaching her children how to pay attention to the world around them and take care of it wherever they can. She continues to expand her learning through pollinator awareness, herbal medicine and the importance of working with the seasons to promote sustainable eating and living. She works full time in corporate strategy when she is not busy cooking, eating or growing beautiful things. Amazing Board Member, guru of accounting, whimsical wizard of artristy and food.
Sabine Iafrate
I met Tom and Nancy several years ago when they sold fresh cut flowers at a local market and immediately felt the genuine kindness and beautiful energy of their souls. Ever since I have grown closer to Detroit Abloom through adopting a famer’s plot, volunteering for various projects and participating in many events. I’m in love with the ideas and principles that have made Detroit Abloom an outdoor healing sanctuary!
As a person drawn to nature and a yoga practitioner and teacher, Detroit Abloom has become one of my favorite places to visit, whether it’s to work on a project, sit quietly among the flowers, butterflies, and bees, do yoga or meditation, or participate in a workshop. I truly believe in the healing powers of being in nature, practicing stress-releasing and health-enhancing activities, working, and connecting with like-minded people. Protecting the environment and “living green” is also a priority for me, and our efforts right here, centered around organic permaculture, growing pollinating native plants, and promoting bee and butterfly populations, align with my beliefs of protecting our planet. It’s a privilege to serve on the Board and help grow Detroit Abloom’s mission and impact on the community.
Kimi Martin
I first started volunteering with Detroit Abloom in 2018 after becoming a master gardener. I quickly fell in love with the atmosphere and community that has been built by Tom and Nancy. Walking through the hoop house for the first time and the gardens behind the house on Newport, I knew I landed in a place that I wanted to be a part of. I started the first few years volunteering with Detroit Abloom as a bartender for one of the first Dahlia Fest and working with Tom in the garden as they were starting the new adventure, to what is now the oasis on Manistique. As I continued my own personal growth, I started my journey to getting my master’s in public health in 2020. I took a short break from volunteering at Detroit Abloom to focus on my studies but was surprised when that journey brought me back to the garden to work on my practicum for school.
Now as a board member, I can combine my passion of community health and gardening, to focus on enriching the community is which Detroit Abloom is located. I was drawn to the mission of this organization and excited to be a part of showing how important community and health is to feed the soul.