About Us
About Tikkun
Tikkun Eco Center is a project of the Centro por Ecología y Economía Sustentable de San Miguel de Allende, A.C. We are located outside the beautiful World Heritage city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Our mission is to build a resilient and just world for current and future generations through projects that advance equitable access to resources and empower young people to restore and sustain their communities.
Founded in 2008, Tikkun’s Permaculture site has developed into an inspiring hub for education, activism, and ecological restoration.
Our core projects - Planting for Change and Agua Para la Vida - form a model of social and ecological restoration that can be replicated throughout Mexico.
Directors, Team Members, Advisors
BEN ZION PTASHNIK
Co-Founder, President
Ben-Zion Ptashnik is a lifelong environmental and social justice activist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Early in life Ben experienced cooperative agricultural life working on an Israeli kibbutz (similar to Mexican Ejido) and was an early organizer in the anti-war, civil rights and organic food coop movements. He served as the first Director of NOFA, the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, now over 5,000 members. Ben also co-founded Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), served on the Vermont Governor’s Judicial Nominating Committee, and as Chair of the Board of Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Vermont’s largest environmental organization
As a Vermont State Senator, Ben served on the Government Operations, Economic Development and Agriculture Committees, where he spearheaded legislation for campaign finance reform, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. He served as Co-Chair of the Vermont Senate Health and Welfare Committee.
In his entrepreneurial life Ben was co-founder and President of Via Vermont, Ltd, an international fair-trade company working with over a hundred independent artisan families in San Miguel de Allende. Ben also pioneered renewable energy in Mexico, installing thousands of solar and wind systems in eight Mexican states from 2003 to 2013. He also worked in cooperation with the San Miguel Ecology Department to build solar systems for campesinos in remote off-grid villages, and to establish solar net metering in all 32 states through Mexican Congressional legislation.
Ben founded the Stopnitz Family Fund, a philanthropy endowed in memory of his immediate family and over 3,000 Jews of the Polish town of Stopnica who perished at Auschwitz or were forced into Nazi slave labor camps. In 2008 the Stopnitz Fund established the Centro Por Ecologia y Economia Sustentable de San Miguel de Allende, A.C. and began developing the Tikkun Eco Center. Today Ben continues to live, grow food and organize to heal the environment at Tikkun.
VICTORIA COLLIER
Co-Founder, Director
Victoria is a life-long activist and advocate for people and planet. Beginning her career at 16 as a door-to-door fundraiser for the New York Public Interest Research Group, Victoria has worn most hats in the non-profit field. For three decades she has been building organizations from the ground up, at the community and national level.
In the early 2000s, Victoria learned the philosophy and design systems of Permaculture as director of Tierra Lucero, a non-profit organization in Taos, New Mexico, located on a demonstration site designed by Permaculture co-founder Bill Mollison. The site included a Community Supported Agriculture program, and hosted internships and Service Learning groups from around the world. Their Home Gardens Project installed backyard gardens for low-income families and schools, and they helped launch the Red Willow Sustainable Education Center on the Taos Pueblo.
Today Victoria is the co-founder and director of the Tikkun Eco Center where she oversees project development, grant writing, publishes the Tikkun website, and manages the community gardens. She is mother to four dogs, five cats, and a large flock of chickens. In her free time she is a creative writer and fine artist in pastel portraiture.
ROSARIO TERRONES RINCÓN, PhD.
Board Member, Lead Technical Advisor
Dra. Terrones is the lead technical advisor on native tree and plant propagation and vivero maintenance for Tikkun Eco Center.
Agronomist Engineer, graduated from the Autonomous Metropolitan University-Xochimilco, recipient of a United Nations scholarship to pursue a Master's degree in Environmental Sciences at the Luxembourg Foundation, Belgium; and a CONACYT scholarship to pursue a Doctorate in Sustainable Agriculture at Cornell University, New York, USA.
After 28 years of work, she retired as a senior researcher at the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIFAP), where she implemented projects related primarily to agroclimatology, integrated pest management, participatory agroforestry in highly marginalized areas, and environmental restoration using native trees and shrubs.
During her time at INIFAP, she was a member of the National System of Researchers and the author of several books and publications. Speaker at national and international forums and winner of several productivity and honorary awards.
Since 2008, she has directed her company, Arboceta Mexicana S.C., which has a nursery and arboretum of native plants, carrying out projects and providing consulting services related to wild vegetation, landscape architecture, and the environment.
Simultaneously, since 2008, she has been a professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana-León, teaching diploma courses on native vegetation and master's programs in landscape architecture and the environment.
VITTORIA PARTIDA PIZZINI FLORES LDCG.
Board Member,
Native Trees Technical Advisor
Vittoria Partida Pizzini Flores is a lead technical advisor on native tree propagation for Tikkun Eco Center.
In 1979, she graduated with a degree in Graphic Communication from the Autonomous Metropolitan University-Xochimilco, Mexico. She has subsequently completed diplomas in Marketing and Advertising at Tompkins Cortland Community College, Photography at Cornell University, New York, and Landscape Design at the University of Guanajuato, Mexico.
For 40 years, she has worked in various areas of graphic design (editorial, image, product, and social media design, as well as iconographic analysis) and photography. She has been a partner and founder of three different companies: Síntesis S.A. de C.V. (1981-1987); Estudio Jeroglífico, EJ (1997-2011); and Arboceta Mexicana, S.C. (2008-present).
For the past 15 years, she has collaborated on various projects related to urban landscape design, technical publications, and consulting; in addition to working on the production of native trees and shrubs at the Arboceta Mexicana nursery and arboretum.
CRISTINA GONZÁLEZ
Director of Reforestation and Microcuencas
Cristina oversees the developing native tree propagation systems at Tikkun eco center, managing the viveros and plantings, while designing and overseeing community organization programs in our partnered campesino communities.
Cristin is a Social Worker dedicated to Community Development. She has collaborated with researchers specializing in Native Vegetation from the Mexican Altiplano, and is a former employee of Arboceta Mexicana with whom she has co-written books. She has worked with many communities in the San Miguel area collecting tree seeds for propagation, and also worked for six years with the GTO State Department of micro-watersheds.
Criss enjoyed her childhood playing and walking through the San Miguel hills where she found her passion for nature. Her experiences and interviews in rural communities within Guanajuato’s State have led her to a deep knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses. Criss is guiding Tikkun’s work with rural communities and governments and our integration into the growing international reforestation movement.
PRISCILA NAVA
Projects Manager
Priscila Nava is a manager for Tikkun sustainable design projects. Priscila graduated as an Industrial Designer with a Masters in Business and Marketing, with a passion for permaculture and landscape design. Priscila started her professional career co-founding a product design brand in collaboration with Mexican artisans, later she focused her creative energy in projects with environmental impact and organic agriculture. She has co-founded two non-profits focused on community health and agroecology. The value she sees in permaculture projects and in sharing knowledge and talents has led her to create networks between creative people with the same interests. Priscila is a writer and an open water swimmer.
ING. EDGAR MONZON
Chief engineer
Ing. Edgar Monzon is Tikkun's chief engineer and advisor in charge of solar, wind and water systems both at our Permaculture center, and for all outside water harvesting projects. He received his degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Tecnológica de San Miguel de Allende.
Edgar was the chief engineer and technical project manager of the San Jose de Gracia reservoir restoration project and the eco park at the reservoir. Having successfully managed and brought to completion the San Jose restoration, he is now moving on to coordinate engineering for the twenty reservoir project- he is now our key technical advisor to water harvesting project development in other villages, towns, and residential developments. He is also director of technology for all solar systems and irrigation systems at Tikkun.
Edgar’s wife was born in San Jose de Gracia, and they live with their son in the neighboring village of Organos.
THOMAS R. “KIP” TRIENENS
Forestry Advisor
Kip’s environmental journey began in the early 1970s when he worked on reforestation projects, planting over 250,000 trees as part of the Hoedads reforestation cooperative in Oregon and Washington. He later traveled to Alaska to help with commercial thinning projects aimed at promoting the growth of Sitka spruce. His hands-on experience in these large-scale restoration efforts laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to sustainable practices.
In 1974, Kip purchased 67 acres in New York’s Adirondack Park, where he focused on regenerative land management—harvesting trees to build his home, planting new forests, and installing solar and wind systems for off-grid energy. He also addressed invasive species, such as buckthorn, and worked on hurricane recovery efforts.
Kip and his family have been great supporters and have contributed to many of our projects, especially our reforestation mission. His diverse background in reforestation and environmental restoration will help guide our efforts as we continue promoting sustainability, and climate justice in our communities.
Kip has a home in San Miguel de Allende with his wife Marilyn.
FAVIOLA RUIZ
Community Water Projects Advisor
Faviola Ruiz is the Delegada (Representative) to the Municipal Council of San Miguel Allende for the Pueblo of San Jose de Gracia, where the Tikkun Center for Ecological and economic Sustainability is located. Faviola was born in San Jose de Gracia, and she was elected and served as Delegada under three different City administrations as the spokesperson and advocate for the community. She also manages a local farm.
Faviola has been a great partner and supporter to Tikkun, active in organizing the San Jose community to participate in the planning of the reservoir project, as well as mobilizing volunteers for tree planting at the restored reservoir.
Faviola now also serves as the head of the San Jose Reservoir Water Committee, charged with mapping out the future eco park the community aims to establish at the reservoir site. She has also promoted our project to the San Miguel municipality, and has managed to get San Miguel City to donate a playground and a soccer and basketball court for the new eco park at the reservoir.
SALLY SILVER
Board Member
Sally is Policy Analyst to City of Atlanta Councilman Howard Shook and currently serves on development review committees for three special interest zoning districts in Atlanta, GA. She is an activist who has served on the boards of several organizations (environmental, affordable housing, greenspace acquisition, development mitigation and transportation management) for over 23 years. She is founding board member of Livable Buckhead, Inc which fosters sustainability, greenspace, recycling, alternative mobility, water usage, as well as arts and culture.
Since moving from Atlanta, GA to San Miguel de Allende in 2021, Silver has been an special advocate and valued supporter and friend of Tikkun.
MARY ELLEN COLON
Board member, program and development advisor
Mary Ellen Colon has been a consultant in the area of Intercultural Communication for over 30 years. She has offered seminars and workshops in various countries around the world including the US, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, England and France. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and New Orleans, Louisiana, Mary Ellen is bilingual and bi-cultural, and has lived and worked in numerous countries, including a 4-year-long sailing voyage around the world.
Ms. Colón has a Masters in Intercultural Communication and a Bachelors degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA. Past clients include the US Embassy-Mexico; the Mexican General Consulate in San Diego, CA; Citibank; CONACYT; numerous universities throughout the United States, Mexico and Europe, Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior (Bancomext), Deloitte & Touche-Mexico; The International Community Foundation of San Diego, CA; Us-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership, among many others.
She presently resides in San Miguel de Allende, México.
AGUSTIN MADRIGAL
Watershed Restoration Advisor
Agustin Madrigal, has been the Director of Salvemos el Rio Laja for 11 years and coordinates conservation, soil restoration, and water projects in local rural communities as part of the National Program in Watersheds and Cities, funded by the Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, A.C.
JEFF WOLFE
Board Member, Climate Policy Advisor
Jeff Wolfe is a lifelong environmentalist and renewable energy pioneer and solar energy entrepreneur. As a renowned climate crisis mitigation advocate Jeff has organized and presented on the issue of climate change and climate action at multiple conferences, institutions and public venues.
Jeff brings to Tikkun his in-depth renewable energy and environmental background as former Chair of the Solar Energy Industries Association (the association representing the US Solar Energy Industry) and as a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists National Advisory Board. He also served on the Board of the National Election Defense Coalition.
He is a recognized leader in grid transformation and a pioneer in creating the US solar photovoltaic industry, consulting on solar and utility strategy, policy, regulation, programs and product development.
A serial entrepreneur with broad experience and success, he is founder and Chairman of GroSolar, one of the larger solar energy companies in the US, with operations in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Jeff has advised and collaborated with many solar energy companies, and steered Shell Connected Energy (Shell Energy) into its current strategy.
Jeff worked in Mexico with Solar San Miguel International S.A. de C.V. as a project development expert and consultant
NICK MENZIES
Water and food Security International Funding Advisor
Nicholas Menzies is lawyer by training, with deep experience in third world climate projects. He is a Senior Governance Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean in the Governance Global Practice at the World Bank.
At the Tikkun Center Nicholas has served as a volunteer and trusted advisor in our reservoir restoration project. In the winter of 2022-2023 he helped as researcher for the Village scale Reservoir restoration projects in San Jose de Gracia and at the Llano Blanco Ejido in the Town of Sosnabar.
Nicholas has worked at the intersections of plural legal systems as a land and natural resources lawyer for indigenous communities in Australia, on legal empowerment and access to justice issues in Cambodia and in providing policy advice to the Papua New Guinean cabinet across a range of matters, from participatory budgeting and micro-enterprise development to gender-based violence.
Nicholas has also worked in progressive political advocacy, building social movements for political, cultural and environmental action.
At the World Bank, Nicholas works on climate change, ecosystem restoration, and decentralization. Nicholas is also a member of the Bank’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Task Force.
BARBARA R. ARNWINE, ESQ
Advisory Board Member
Barbara R. Arnwine, president and founder of Transformative Justice Coalition, is internationally renowned for contributions on critical justice issues including the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the 2006 reauthorization of provisions of the Voting Rights Act. She was the head of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the most prominent civil rights NGOs in the US from 1989 until June of 2015. She holds the honorific title of President Emeritus. Arnwine’s work also includes women’s rights, immigrant rights, judicial diversity, criminal justice reform, racial profiling, and LBGTQ rights.
A prominent leader in the civil and human rights community, she continues to fight for the preservation of affirmative action and diversity programs. She has received numerous national, regional, and local awards. In 2015, Arnwine received the prestigious Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion award, along with co-honoree Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In 2013, she received the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Fearless Trailblazer Award and during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 2013 Annual Legislative Conference, she was awarded the Sojourner Truth, Woman of Truth award. In May 2013, she received the Leadership Conference on Civil andHuman Rights’ coveted Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award.
Arnwine is a graduate of Scripps College and Duke University School of Law.
JUSTIN TALBOT ZORN
Climate Policy Advisor
Justin Talbot Zorn serves as senior climate policy advisor for Tikkun. In his years in Washington DC Justin served as both a policymaker and as Legislative Director to three Members of the US Congress. He holds graduate degrees in international relations and public policy from Oxford University and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Justin is also a Senior Adviser to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Truman National Security Fellow. In his policy and communications work, Justin specializes in climate, innovation, manufacturing, and economic competitiveness, with a focus on increasing federal investments in translational research focused on clean energy, health, and climate adaptation. He has organized ideologically diverse coalitions in business and government to support policy reforms to allow Net Metering and Community Solar, and to increase funding for election security and administration. He served as Policy Director of the National Election Defense Coalition (NEDC) from 2016 to 2021
Justin helped to launch and lead a first-of-its-kind mindfulness program in the US House of Representatives, bringing together people from across the political spectrum to do the work of finding greater calmness and insight. He is co-author of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.
THE REVEREND
RODNEY S. SADLER JR., PhD
Advisory Board Member
Rodney S. Sadler, Jr. is an ordained Baptist minister and presently serves as Associate Pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church and as Associate Professor of Bible at Union Presbyterian Seminary. A passionate social justice activist and environmentalist, he is long time member and organizer in the NAACP, and currently serves as the North Carolina NAACP chairperson of their Healthcare Committee. He has also been active in election protection and voting rights.
Reverend Sadler is a widely published author and editor. Among his research interests are the intersection of race and Scripture, the development of African American biblical interpretation in slave narratives, the enactment of justice in society based on biblical imperatives, and the intersection of religion and politics.
A graduate of Howard University (1989, B.S. Psychology/Philosophy), Howard University School of Divinity (1992, M.Div.), and Duke University (2001, Ph.D. Hebrew Bible and Biblical Archaeology), Rodney has also studied at Hebrew University (1990) in Jerusalem.
Dr. Sadler resides in Charlotte NC with his wife, Dr. Madeline McClenney‐Sadler (president of the Exodus Foundation.org) and his daughter Ariyah Sadler.
VICKY JASPEADO
Board Member
Vicky Jaspeado is a long time member, supporter and dear friend of Tikkun. She is also a passionate tree planter and a public park developer. In 2020 Vicky “adopted” a 3000 square meter park close to her house in San Miguel Centro, where she has been planting trees and supporting them to thrive.
She has over 30 years of experience practicing Meditation and has certifications as a yoga teacher and as a Hellenistic Astrologer.
An instructor at the Kane Intentional Communication™ Institute, Vicky is a graduate of Daily Life Semiology at the Instituto de Semiología de la Vida Cotidiana and has trained in the areas of Intercultural Communication, Emotional Release Therapy, and Emotional Freedom Technique.
Vicky has raised three amazing women.
DENISE ROSENFELD
Board Member
Denise was born and raised in Mexico City, has travelled extensively, and lives today in San Miguel de Allende. She is a long time supporter and dear friend of Tikkun, and serves Tikkun as both a Board Member and terrific translator of documents.
Mother to two strong women, Denise is a professional baker and owner of Postres Artesenales, dedicated to lovingly prepare healthy and delicious desserts in San Miguel. Denise is a passionate lover of nature, Mother Earth and all living beings, and has stated that she is “grateful to be able to be on the Board of this beautiful project”.
Denise volunteers at Tikkun as a trusted advisor and translator.
ADRIANA ARISTIZABAL
Board Member, Translator
Adriana is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paladria an international translation agency that operates out of Spain. A native of Colombia, Adriana lived in San Miguel for twenty years, and is a professional translator with 30 years of experience and an extensive record of translating books and other publications into over a dozen languages.
Adriana worked specifically in the field of self-help publications for renowned authors such as the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, Abraham Hicks, and many others.
A long time neighbor of the Tikkun Eco Center, Adriana has helped translate our website and publications into Spanish, and has been a great supporter and friend.