Aster Bekele is a true servant leader in the Martindale Brightwood community. Her passion for gardening, youth, and community-led projects is contagious. She has been an inspiration to me in my work because she epitomizes asset based community development principles. She has formed partnerships with major companies that support her vision for the Felege Hiywot Center. The youth that come through the center receive the benefit of her warmth, generosity, and her scientific knowledge. She and her small staff are a treasure!

Aster is an amazing human being. With an infectious personality, she left her career as a chemist and plunged her soul into Felege Hiywot. Within just a few short years, she transformed an abandoned neighborhood block, built countless community relationships and introduced gardening and all the goodness that brings to young people in the neighborhood. Within 4 years of opening her summer program--and with no previous experience -- it bubbled to the top as a model for others and was introduced to the nation through Time magazine.

Aster Bekele is a true servant leader in the Martindale Brightwood community. Her passion for gardening, youth, and community-led projects is contagious. She has been an inspiration to me in my work because she epitomizes asset based community development principles. She has formed partnerships with major companies that support her vision for the Felege Hiywot Center. The youth that come through the center receive the benefit of her warmth, generosity, and her scientific knowledge. She and her small staff are a treasure!

Aster is an amazing human being. With an infectious personality, she left her career as a chemist and plunged her soul into Felege Hiywot. Within just a few short years, she transformed an abandoned neighborhood block, built countless community relationships and introduced gardening and all the goodness that brings to young people in the neighborhood. Within 4 years of opening her summer program--and with no previous experience -- it bubbled to the top as a model for others and was introduced to the nation through Time magazine.

Aster Bekele is a true servant leader in the Martindale Brightwood community. Her passion for gardening, youth, and community-led projects is contagious. She has been an inspiration to me in my work because she epitomizes asset based community development principles. She has formed partnerships with major companies that support her vision for the Felege Hiywot Center. The youth that come through the center receive the benefit of her warmth, generosity, and her scientific knowledge. She and her small staff are a treasure!

Aster is an amazing human being. With an infectious personality, she left her career as a chemist and plunged her soul into Felege Hiywot. Within just a few short years, she transformed an abandoned neighborhood block, built countless community relationships and introduced gardening and all the goodness that brings to young people in the neighborhood. Within 4 years of opening her summer program--and with no previous experience -- it bubbled to the top as a model for others and was introduced to the nation through Time magazine.