Experience

Kansas City Community Gardens (KCCG)

• United States
• Food Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Programs

  • Mar 2023 - Present

  Direct and manage 5 programs at KCCG. Support lead staff in managing their programs, casting vision, leading team members, evaluating programs. Implement new program strategies (especially related to Strategic Plan). Provide accountability for program directors and for grants, including tracking data and managing program budgets. Support program directors in creating SOPs. Set goals for both the collective team and individuals and conduct check in and one-on-ones as needed. Lead the interviewing, hiring and onboarding process for new KCCG staff. Guide KCCG staff in using Salesforce, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, iContact, Canva, YouTube/iMovie and other online collaborative platforms. Resident expert with Salesforce & Form Assembly. Continue to build community and foster relationships with KCCG gardeners, board members, funders, and more. Show less

• Schoolyard Gardens Program Director

  • Jul 2018 - Feb 2023

  Coordinate 230 gardens (PreK-12th) in the metro area to grow vegetables at schools. Lead a team of 3, cast vision for program, support team in their case management. Teach workshops for teachers/staff to provide vegetable garden basics and garden enhancement activities. Build relationships at the school and district level to create an infrastructure that supports schoolyard gardens. Collect data and maintain program records utilizing Salesforce. Set goals for both the collective team and individuals and conduct check in and one-on-ones as needed. Lead by example via carrying a caseload, demonstrating high quality SYG coordination and programming. Show less

• Schoolyard Gardens K-12 Coordinator

  • Sep 2017 - Jun 2018

  Managed a caseload of 85 schools. Provided consistent educational garden check-ins, connected class curriculum to the garden, and taught healthy habits through vegetable tastings and cooking demos. Developed and supported new Schoolyard Gardens via site assessments, creating cost estimates, placing orders for soil and preparing construction supplies. Led students ands school staff in raised bed garden constructions.



Indian Heights United Methodist Church

• United States

• Children & Family Pastor

  • Sep 2017 - Jun 2019

  Created & led weekly children’s sermons and Sunday School curriculum for children ages 0-13. Managed volunteers & coordinated their schedule and training. Supported strategic planning goals including church becoming an affirming congregation. Created & led weekly children’s sermons and Sunday School curriculum for children ages 0-13. Managed volunteers & coordinated their schedule and training. Supported strategic planning goals including church becoming an affirming congregation.



Youth Theological Initiative

• Atlanta, Georgia, United States

• Faith & Justice Educator

  • Jun 2015 - Jul 2016

  For two summers I taught a 3-week course, "Food & Faith" to high school students from across the US. I planned the lessons and paired curriculum with service projects and field trips. The course highlighted the food system, food access, urban farming, and community run co-ops/initiatives. Class sizes were about 10-12 students. For two summers I taught a 3-week course, "Food & Faith" to high school students from across the US. I planned the lessons and paired curriculum with service projects and field trips. The course highlighted the food system, food access, urban farming, and community run co-ops/initiatives. Class sizes were about 10-12 students.



Emory University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Garden Educator & Coordinator

  • May 2015 - Jul 2016

  Emory University, Office of Sustainability -- Facilitated community events & training centered on gardening, education, sustainability & fellowship. Oversaw 5 community gardens, handled communications and social media marketing, hosted info tables, coordinated volunteers &eco-educational workshops. Participated in sustainability planning meetings for the university. Emory University, Office of Sustainability -- Facilitated community events & training centered on gardening, education, sustainability & fellowship. Oversaw 5 community gardens, handled communications and social media marketing, hosted info tables, coordinated volunteers &eco-educational workshops. Participated in sustainability planning meetings for the university.



Urban Recipe

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Intern

  • Aug 2015 - Jun 2016

  Learned the strengths-based community development model employed by this co-op to provide food security to hundreds of families. Met with members and listened to their stories and reflections of being in the co-op where “dignity tastes good.” Learned the strengths-based community development model employed by this co-op to provide food security to hundreds of families. Met with members and listened to their stories and reflections of being in the co-op where “dignity tastes good.”



North Decatur United Methodist

• United States
• Religious Institutions
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Pastoral Resident

  • Aug 2014 - Jun 2015

  Served in worship as a liturgist, prepared children's sermons, preached, taught Sunday School weekly. I also developed a new small group model and found passion revamping the food pantry, and planning and leading social justice gatherings and prayer vigils during the Ebola crisis. Served in worship as a liturgist, prepared children's sermons, preached, taught Sunday School weekly. I also developed a new small group model and found passion revamping the food pantry, and planning and leading social justice gatherings and prayer vigils during the Ebola crisis.



Candler School Of Theology

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Dean’s Initiative: Food (In)Security- Leadership Team

  • Aug 2014 - May 2015

  Co-led the Food (In)Security Initiative. Conducted surveys, hosted booths, held interviews to research food access issues in my grad school program. Used the results to highlight the issue to administration. Using the data, developed a food pantry on campus, connected students & staff to Wholesome Wave Georgia (SNAP sign-up and education), hosted workshop on how to grow produce and cook healthy, affordable meals, and highlighted free garden produce on campus. Co-led the Food (In)Security Initiative. Conducted surveys, hosted booths, held interviews to research food access issues in my grad school program. Used the results to highlight the issue to administration. Using the data, developed a food pantry on campus, connected students & staff to Wholesome Wave Georgia (SNAP sign-up and education), hosted workshop on how to grow produce and cook healthy, affordable meals, and highlighted free garden produce on campus.



Jubilee Partners LLC

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• ESOL Instructor

  • May 2014 - Aug 2014

  Taught ESOL to newly resettled refugees, primarily adults with the lowest level of English, class sizes of 8. When not teaching English, I worked on the 1 acre vegetable farm, cared for chickens, and engaged in peace and justice work and activism. Taught ESOL to newly resettled refugees, primarily adults with the lowest level of English, class sizes of 8. When not teaching English, I worked on the 1 acre vegetable farm, cared for chickens, and engaged in peace and justice work and activism.



Lutheran Services of Georgia, Inc.

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Family Resettlement Assistant

  • Aug 2013 - May 2014

  Taught weekly classes to 18-25 newly resettled refugees and coordinated childcare for about 5-10 children. Class topics included navigating the US education and job systems, as well as how to access health care. Additionally, I'd meet with families in their new apartments and provide tours and answer questions. Taught weekly classes to 18-25 newly resettled refugees and coordinated childcare for about 5-10 children. Class topics included navigating the US education and job systems, as well as how to access health care. Additionally, I'd meet with families in their new apartments and provide tours and answer questions.



Grow Paseo Community Garden Project

• Kansas City, Missouri, United States

• Communications & Marketing Coordinator

  • Aug 2012 - May 2013

  Capstone project for Pryor Leadership program at William Jewell. Partnered with Hope Faith ministries in KCMO and created an educational, community garden on a vacant lot next to a transitional housing program. Networked to find project funding partners; helped build & plant the garden, managed social media. Led fresh, simple cooking classes to low-income kids & their families using garden produce. Capstone project for Pryor Leadership program at William Jewell. Partnered with Hope Faith ministries in KCMO and created an educational, community garden on a vacant lot next to a transitional housing program. Networked to find project funding partners; helped build & plant the garden, managed social media. Led fresh, simple cooking classes to low-income kids & their families using garden produce.