Growing Hope Staff
Amanda Maria Edmonds, Executive Director. With a background in environmental justice, environmental education, and social activism, Amanda Edmonds wears many hats as as community organizer, educator, mentor, and leader. She is the founder and executive director of Growing Hope. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, she has lived in Michigan for 15 years, and is an active member of the Ypsilanti community. Amanda travels extensively to visit other garden organizations and to swing dance, and has a part-time creative endeavor of making and selling her photographs, buttons, & jewelry called AMEPIX. She currently sits on the City of Ypsilanti Parks & Recreation Commission. She also served for six years on the board of directors of the American Community Gardening Association, was a founding leadership team member of Slow Food Huron Valley, and was formerly chair of the MSU-Extension Advisory Council in Washtenaw County.
Arika Lycan, Outreach and Volunteerism Manager. Arika is thrilled to be working with volunteers and promoting the mission of Growing Hope as the Outreach and Volunteerism Manager. She has a background in social work and enjoys the unconvential ways she is able to apply this knowledge to outreach, marketing, and managing. Arika is a resident of Ypsilanti and a new but enthusiastic gardener. She has previous experience managing volunteers and working at several nonprofits in the area. In her free time, Arika enjoys canning, knitting, reading, spending time with her little sis, and also serves as Vice President of the Board of Think Local First and on the Human Relations Commission for the City of Ypsilanti.
Danielle Gartner, Program Manager. Danielle is a Michigander through and through, with a passion for using food systems as educational tool and for creating change in her community. Her academic studies included work at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Michigan in environmental justice, international health, anthropology and evolutionary biology. Danielle was first introduced to the amazing world of community food systems as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Cleveland and later solidified this love through working with farmers in Thailand and training teachers to grow food in Flint, Michigan. When not eating or gardening, Danielle plays the cello and enjoys learning about Great Lakes folklore.
Christine Easley, DYFM Market Manager. Christine has participated in farmers markets over the years with her farmer aunts and is excited to be managing the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers Market. Being part of the farmers market also feeds into her passion for gardening and supporting the small local businesses and downtowns. She has previous experience with event planning, business relations, marketing, and environmental education as well as a degree in Biology from Hope College. Christine is a lifelong resident of Wayne with her husband and two children.
Ryan Mary Stedman, Administrative Manager. A native of Southfield, Michigan and a local food enthusiast, Ryan is thrilled to be dedicating the next year of her life to Growing Hope. She’s looking forward to cooking up all the fresh veggies she can find, especially the winter squash. Find her and the whole cast of beautiful vegetables in style at the winter and summer Ypsi markets.
Christina Barkel, Youth and Schools Program Coordinator. Christina continues as Growing Hope's VISTA Youth Coordinator in 2012. A Ypsilanti resident, Christina grew up in Metro Detroit and studied environmental justice through the University of Michigan's Program in the Environment. She also spends time as a cook, educator, gardener, friend, tea addict, book lover and master composter.
Emily Andree Iverson, Farm Manager, 2010-2012. Emily is excited to continue at Growing Hope for a second year as farm manager through AmeriCorps VISTA. She is looking forward to tending the plot of land at the Growing Hope Center through another season, developing capacity for composting, and participating in coordinating farm and garden education opportunities at Growing Hope.
Eva Nyerges, Farm Manager. Eva will continue her time at Growing Hope as an AmeriCorps Vista for the 2011-2012 year. Eva's focus is on developing the Ypsilanti Grower's Co-op, assisting in strategic planning for Growing Hope's farm and garden educational programs, and coordinating the farm harvests for Growing Hope's booth at the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's markets and for wholesale, currently to the Ypsilanti Food Co-op. Eva really enjoys working in this community and is excited to be able to improve upon her work and that of the organization's for a second year.
Liz Drabik, Garden Programs Coordinator. Liz has a diverse background when it comes to education, interests, and past employment, which she hopes will come in handy as the 2011-2012 Garden Programs Americorps VISTA for Growing Hope. She graduated in 2004 from EMU with a degree in chemistry and moved to Chicago, IL, where she became interested in urban gardens and local food. Liz pursued this further by becoming an Americorps VISTA in 2006, which took her from the big city to rural southeastern Ohio to work with the environmental group Rural Action. She has had quite a few other jobs, ranging from waitressing at a locavore co-op to massage therapist to owning her own handmade soap/bodycare craft business. It was through vending her soaps at the DYFM that she discovered Growing Hope. She has had a lifelong interest in nutrition, and a more recent interest in holistic/alternative health. Her favorite vegetables are potatoes, which she thinks got a bad rap thanks to the Atkins diet, though she also is partial to asparagus.
Ed Garrett, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator. Ed is a full time VISTA who comes to Growing Hope with a background in farming and small business. Ed holds a Bachelors of Science in International Agricultural Development with a focus on Rural Community Development and a Minor in Community and Regional Development from the University of California at Davis. As an Agriculturalist, Ed has run his own production operations raising purebred sheep, irrigated and dryland hay crops, an most recently, organic produce. Ed has extensive background in volunteer organizations, marketing, and outreach including 4-H and FFA youth programs, the SPCA Thrift Store in Davis with a rotating staff of 25 - 30 plus volunteers, and has worked with policy issues including Historic Preservation and Land Use. Ed authored successful legislation for the Associated Students of UCD Senate helping bring about transfer of responsibility leading to preservation of an on campus alternative living community at UCD, the Domes. Ed brings a unique variety of experiences to the gardening world and those who love it.
Ashley Broas, Operations Coordinator. Ashley just graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS from the university's Program in the Environment. She began as an intern for Growing Hope in May 2011 and fell in love with the organization. Rather than moving on too soon, she became an Americorps VISTA as the operations coordinator, which will enable her to grow with the organization. In addition to Growing Hope, Ashley loves anything outdoors, her puppy, traveling, and cooking with local foods.