Founder, Verdi EcoSchool
Florida

Ayana Verdi is the founder of the award-winning Verdi EcoSchool, a place and project-based urban farm school in Melbourne, Florida and the first school of its kind in the region. Before devoting her work full time to Verdi EcoSchool, Ayana served as Chief Executive Officer of the first holistic pet wellness spa in New York City, stepping down from this position to welcome her son Gio and later, her daughter Bella. A sought-after keynote speaker, Ayana is also a Drexel Fund Fellow and co-founder of Hey, Blue!, a not-for-profit organization facilitating positive connections between police officers and the communities they serve.

As an alumna, Ayana reflects the McLeod Society Fellowship’s belief in the power of transformative leadership to create educational environments where children are centered, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.