Project Director

• Apr 2016 - Present

Visioning, developing, and strategizing the creation of this network to serve the shared goal of building youth leadership power and opportunity across the state has filled the past several years with hard work and shining successes, as well as deep challenges. Engaging all 13 organizations in the development of this network, building their capacity to meet their goals, and forming connections between all of them to support and lift one another has led to changes at the local, state, and regional level, and is informing conversations on youth leadership in food systems conversations at the national level as well. Developing the strategic plan, establishing useful methods, researching community & program needs as well as successes and failures, and recording best practices has changed the face of youth development in Connecticut's urban agriculture scene to be more powerful and inclusive than ever before. Funders for this work include the Perrin Family Foundation and Aetna Foundation's Cultivating Healthy Communities fund, Americorps VISTA, and the Funders Collaborative for Youth Organizing.

Researcher

• Apr 2015 - Apr 2016

The primary focus of my work at the Institute for Community Research has been on strengthening and growing the food justice network in the state of Connecticut, with an eye toward training teen leaders and creating opportunities for them to create systemic change.

Clergy

• Sep 2004 - Present

Founding this religious outreach and educational institution has provided opportunities for coordinating documents, boards of directors, workshops, services, and classes, as well as charitable giving and fundraising. Ministerial work has served to constantly remind the board and me of the founding purpose of the organization. Founding this religious outreach and educational institution has provided opportunities for coordinating documents, boards of directors, workshops, services, and classes, as well as charitable giving and fundraising. Ministerial work has served to constantly remind the board and me of the founding purpose of the organization.

Researcher

• Apr 2014 - Apr 2015

Issues I work to address include youth engagement, food security, urban agriculture, fund raising/grant writing, and, of course, research. Issues I work to address include youth engagement, food security, urban agriculture, fund raising/grant writing, and, of course, research.

Intern

• Aug 2012 - Apr 2013

Increasing community engagement in healthcare and wellness protection; researching and publishing an urban agriculture resource guide specific to New Haven; organizing the West Rock community to raise an urban garden to urban farm Increasing community engagement in healthcare and wellness protection; researching and publishing an urban agriculture resource guide specific to New Haven; organizing the West Rock community to raise an urban garden to urban farm

Intern

• Aug 2011 - Apr 2012

My work at True Colors centered around tracking existing networks and resources for LGBT adolescents in the northwest corner of Connecticut. My work at True Colors centered around tracking existing networks and resources for LGBT adolescents in the northwest corner of Connecticut.

Special education English

• Oct 2006 - Jun 2011

Home Health Aide

• Sep 1999 - Sep 2005

Assisted home-bound and Hospice clients with activities of daily living, medical supervision, social service connections.Assisted family members with light housekeeping, patient care, and social service connections Assisted home-bound and Hospice clients with activities of daily living, medical supervision, social service connections.Assisted family members with light housekeeping, patient care, and social service connections