theliberationacademy.education

Meet The Liberation Academy Team

Founding Team

Dr. Dustin Plattner
Co-Founder / Teacher

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Dr. Dustin Plattner is passionate about helping families understand the root emotional and relational dynamics that contribute to children’s thriving. With a Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, as well as postdoctoral certification in Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Dr. Plattner aims to simplify the complexity of childhood development into actionable steps for parents and caregivers. Over the last 12 years, he has dedicated his private practice to helping families navigate emotional dynamics that create relational connections while also collaborating with the schooling system through consulting roles, focusing on fostering effective learning and growth for children within academic settings. Dr. Plattner is excited about continuing to bridge the gap between emotional psychological understanding of children and their experiences in educational environments, believing that the foundation of all childhood thriving lies in fostering Freedom for children to express their individuality and their God-given Sovereignty, which he sees as intrinsically linked to their relationship with Nature.

Geri Gabezudo
Director / Founder / Teacher

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Geri Cabezudo has been educating children for a variety of ages ranging from preschool through age 22 in both public and private education, and in both special and general education, for over 15 years. She lives by using a child-centered, experiential/hands-on approach to learning, which includes gardening, cooking, arts/crafts, thematic reading/academic lessons, and more. She also has taught children using bilingual Spanish-English as well as with sign language for children with special needs. She holds a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Pre-Med studies and Spanish. As an advocate for True Freedom, she believes in living in abundance and in harmony with Nature.

Jim Gale
Lead Visionary

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Jim Gale’s journey toward sustainable living began with a deep love for nature, inspired by childhood adventures and a passion for self-reliance. A four-time All-American National wrestling champion, Jim’s early years were marked by discipline and perseverance. However, it was a life-changing realization—his daughter’s future and the environmental challenges ahead—that led him to shift his focus from personal achievement to a mission of global impact. On Earth Day 2021, he founded Food Forest Abundance, a movement dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to grow their own food and live in harmony with nature.

At the heart of Food Forest Abundance is a simple yet powerful philosophy: replace lawns with edible landscapes, remove toxins from daily life, and embrace permaculture as a solution to many of the world’s greatest challenges—deforestation, food insecurity, chronic disease, and environmental degradation. Jim’s vision is not just about growing food; it’s about cultivating a mindset of abundance, resilience, and self-sufficiency.

Food Forest Abundance is driving large-scale change through three key initiatives:

Education Revolution: Integrating permaculture principles into schools to inspire future generations and improve long-term health outcomes.

Prison Reform: Implementing gardening programs to provide inmates with valuable skills, reduce recidivism, and foster rehabilitation.

Community Empowerment: Turning military bases and food deserts into thriving, self-sustaining food forests, replacing scarcity with abundance.

Jim’s approach is not just theoretical—it’s tangible, with Galt’s Landing serving as a living example of what’s possible when communities embrace regenerative agriculture. By transforming barren landscapes into flourishing ecosystems, Food Forest Abundance proves that a healthier, more sustainable world is within reach.

Through his unwavering dedication, Jim Gale is leading a movement that redefines how we live, eat, and interact with the natural world—one food forest at a time.

Consultants

Chris Allison
Consultant

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Chris Allison is an accomplished entrepreneur and 20-year United States Marine Corps veteran with a passion for education, leadership, and service. After completing his military service, Chris channeled his leadership skills and entrepreneurial spirit into founding Release Point Performance (gym), Release Point Defense Training (weapons training) and Galt’s CSA (Community Permaculture). Recognizing the need for continuous growth, he has pursued further education to refine his expertise in business management and strategy, ensuring the long-term success of his ventures. Additionally, as a licensed real estate agent, Chris is deepening his understanding of land investments to support his business goals. He currently holds a Bachelor of Art in Health & Wellness.

Rob Younkins
Consultant

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Rob Younkins is a MARSOC Raider turned entrepreneur. From 2004-2011, Rob completed 7 combat deployments (4 Iraq, 3 Afghanistan). Having had enough of war, and desiring to start a family, he set out on his own in 2012. He is the founder and CEO of Sovereign Farms, producing organic gourmet mushrooms and training eager agronomists to harness nature’s awesome power and homestead or farm their own healthy, organic food. Rob has farmed since his teenage years using only sustainable practices, and he is an alumnus of the Rodale Institute Farmer Training (RIFT) program. He is passionate about food sovereignty and has chosen to spread responsible, regenerative agriculture as his lifes mission. Rob will leverage all of his knowledge and experience to help the Freedom Farm Academy thrive. He also runs an eFoil (surfing) business, but his labor of love will always be raising four children and four dogs with his soulmate, Marissa.