Community Programs Manager

• Mar 2021 - Present

Cuba Consultant: Program Coordinator, Tour Leader, Researcher

• Jan 2000 - Present

Seasoned Cuba expert with 20 years experience curating impactful educational travel programs in the arts, culture, culinary exploration and agriculture. Extensive research on Cuba’s sustainable agriculture movement. Highlights include: •Design and produce over 40 curated tours in Cuba including program design, public relations, and program execution •Strategically navigate complex bureaucracy and the challenges of resource-scarcity while maintaining high quality programming and participant experience •Successfully funded, coordinated, and managed Arms Across the Caribbean Farm Tour and speaking series for notable Cuban and Haitian agriculturalists in collaboration with the Ecological Farming Association Show less

New Roots Program Specialist

• Jul 2017 - Mar 2021

IRC New Roots provides food-secure resettlement support and agricultural opportunities for newly arrived immigrants/refugees and their families. Core responsibilities included: • Created and implemented innovative intergenerational agriculture and leadership internship for immigrant/refugee youth and elders in Oakland • Developed and managed key partnerships with such organizations at Oakland Unified School District, The Alameda Country Food Bank, ARTogether, among others • Measured program impacts through participant evaluation and surveys, applying lessons-learned for creating and documenting best practices and develop year-round planning guides for successful execution of programming Show less

Diversified Agricluturalist and Farm Business Operations

• 2007 - Dec 2017

Diversified agriculturalist with over 10 years experience in farm business operations, organic production farming, urban agriculture/gardening, and ecological landscaping. Highlights include: •Provided leadership for business operations planning and management for Oya Organics. Supported head farmer in growing direct marketing relationships, diversifying sales outlets and increasing revenue by 30%. Boosted farm recognition and opportunity among wholesalers, local businesses, and farm to table restaurants •Developed and administered business assessment and business plan for San Francisco Landscapes, creating increased efficiency and protocols for client/job management. Streamlined office protocols and supported the hiring and design for optimal staffing, thus increasing overall business capacity with greater efficiency •Skilled farmer/gardener with specialized training in French intensive organic agriculture, permaculture design and ecological landscaping Oya Organics, Hollister, CA (2014–2017) Blue House Farm, Pescadero, CA (2009–2014) San Francisco Landscapes (2007-2009) Dirty Hoe Landscaping, San Francisco, CA (2007) Show less

California Outreach Coordiantor

• 2014 - Aug 2016

As the California Outreach Coordinator, I worked to promote the Food Justice Certified label, a high-bar social justice standard, amongst CA producers and support existing member-farms with technical assistance. Highlights include: •Developed and implemented multi-pronged marketing strategies for the Food Justice Certified Label (FJC) and participating farms •Seamlessly managed correspondence and communications. Built strategic relationships between farms and technical assistance organizations through outreach, public speaking and state-wide recruitment •Ecological Farmers and Ranchers Association( EFRA) founding Steering Committee Member Show less

Garden and Nutrition Educator/Coordinator/Planner

• Dec 2009 - Jun 2014

Seasoned bi-lingual Spanish Garden/Nutrition Educator, specializing in community development, peer education models and leadership development. Teaching focus on site-specific curriculum and lesson development. Highlights include: • Launched a public leadership-development series of peer-coached/led trainings, reaching over 150 San Francisco educators • Provided leadership development and marketing support to new immigrant farmers for a 70+ member CSA to Hayward Unified staff and families • Tracked and reported nutrition education data and submitted weekly and monthly repots for funders • Recruited, trained and managed interns and volunteers, providing meaningful and engaged experiences for over 200+ participants at more than 15 events • Facilitated sidewalk pollinator gardens and rainwater harvesting system installations, leveraging ongoing relationships with Climate Action Now!, parent volunteers and school administration Show less

Community Education and Outreach Director

• May 2006 - Sep 2008

People’s Grocery spearheaded economic development and community wellness initiatives through an urban agriculture and youth development lens in West Oakland. Highlights include: •Managed People’s Grocery food justice and urban agriculture youth summer programs including program design, budgeting and reporting, youth camp coordination and supervising youth staff •Co–designed and instituted food justice curriculum including sustainable food system field trips and farm work experiences Show less

Community Organizer

• 2005 - 2006

Mission District Neighborhood-based community resident organizer as part of a city-wide community safety improvement initiative. Highlights include: •Collaborated with diverse stakeholders such as City officials, school personnel, Mission District organizations and community groups for the improvement of youth programming, community self-sufficiency and homeless advocacy •Researched and developed a youth advisory board for 30 immigrant Latino youth and taught leadership curriculum in conflict resolution, mediation and restorative justice practices in conjunction with CELLspace •Conducted outreach and encouraged community involvement in developing public safety initiatives through facilitating community meetings, presenting at community street fairs and developing outreach trainings Show less