During my time with the Lettuce Grow program at Growing Gardens, I have been fortunate to gain a wide range of experiences. The program provides hands-on, garden-based education to adults in custody (AICs) across 14 correctional facilities in Oregon. As part of a small team of four, we all take on significant responsibilities. I began by engaging directly with the students in the program, asking them what projects I could undertake to support their learning.One of my key tasks has been creating a Plant and Tree Guidebook for AICs at Oregon State Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison with a Japanese healing garden entirely managed by the AICs. Additionally, I am working on a project to address food insecurity faced by many AICs by using their stories to advocate for connecting local food sources with institutions.

FIELD is a transformative nine-month work-study fellowship tailored for a select group of students who are passionate about revolutionizing the food system. This immersive program seamlessly integrates food system expertise, entrepreneurial skill-building, and hands-on experience to equip fellows with the tools to tackle the most pressing global food challenges.At the core of FIELD is immersion. Fellows are immersed in the forefront of the food system, where they learn through active participation and have the opportunity to introduce their own innovative ideas. Over a period of 10 weeks, they work alongside partners, gaining invaluable real-world experience and contributing to impactful solutions.

As a Language Assistant in the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program, I'm all for bringing energy and positivity to the classroom. My passion lies in cultivating language skills and fostering cross-cultural connections, working closely with educators to design engaging lessons and lead lively language activities. I'm committed to delivering top-quality language instruction and helping students achieve their learning goals. I'm excited to play a part in students' academic success and cultural enrichment, and I'm always open to connecting and exploring new opportunities in education.

As the founder of Good Pantry, an organization focused on increasing the accessibility of local food, I am proud to have created a business that delivers CSA boxes to people's doors using established delivery agents like DoorDash.Good Pantry helps local farmers compete in larger agricultural market systems by lowering vending, sales time, and costs. I established this business after winning first place in Bate's Center Pitch Competition at Lewis & Clark College, where 50+ professionals and seven businesses competed for a $3,500 investment.As the manager of Good Pantry, I have overseen all aspects of the business, including creating cash flow from original investments. I worked with my business partner Sawyer Mauk to develop a website, generate sales, and recruit local farmers. This involved building relationships with local farmers and identifying potential customers who were interested in receiving fresh, locally sourced produce delivered to their doorstep.My role as the founder and manager of Good Pantry has allowed me to develop my skills in entrepreneurship, project management, and business operations. I am proud to have created a business that not only provides a valuable service to the community but also supports local farmers and promotes sustainable agriculture practices.Moving forward, I am excited to continue building upon the success of Good Pantry and expanding its impact in the community. I am eager to explore new opportunities to connect people with locally sourced food and promote equity in the reach of quality food that comes from familiar farms.

During my 9-month fellowship, funded by the USDA, I completed a comprehensive program that was divided into three parts: a 3-month training course, a 3-month placement, and a 3-month policy analysis and design phase. The experience provided me with invaluable skills and insights into sustainable agriculture and food systems.During the training phase, I completed a 3-month course on the transition to sustainability in agriculture and food systems. This course covered topics such as climate-smart agriculture, natural resource management, nutrition linkage to agriculture, and water sanitation. I gained a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to sustainable agriculture practices.For my placement phase, I worked with B-Line PDX, a sustainable food distribution company. During this time, I gained hands-on experience in sustainable food distribution, including economics, logistics, and the barriers to local food distribution. Additionally, I administered a survey to gather information about the experiences of small farmers in the Pacific Northwest competing with larger, dominant agricultural bodies.During the policy analysis and design phase, I analyzed the current policies surrounding government subsidies for small farmers in Oregon. I then drafted a policy brief outlining recommendations for how to improve these policies. Furthermore, I designed a project with Transitionalyouth.org to turn a 50-acre estate into an educational farm for at-risk youth, where they could learn how to grow and sell food from local Portland farmers.Finally, I consulted with the Head of Marketing and Sales at B-Line PDX to increase my knowledge of the small market economy and to develop my skills in project management.This fellowship provided me with a unique and valuable opportunity to develop my skills in sustainable agriculture and food systems, and to make a positive impact in the community.

As a tutor for ENVS-295, Environmental Engagement, I was nominated by Professor Jessica Kleiss to provide guidance and support to my peers. In this role, I worked closely with students to help them discover and overcome challenges in their local partner projects.During my time as a tutor, I developed a strong understanding of the issues facing local communities and the importance of community engagement in environmental initiatives. I helped my peers to develop effective communication strategies, build strong relationships with community partners, and overcome obstacles in their projects.I also provided guidance on research methods, data analysis, and project management to ensure that students were able to produce high-quality work that met the requirements of the course. By offering support and feedback throughout the process, I helped my peers to develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their future endeavors.

As the Football Equipment Manager for the Lewis and Clark College Football Team, I am responsible for managing all aspects of the team's equipment needs. This includes maintaining and inventorying all equipment, ordering new equipment and supplies, managing the laundry and cleaning of all equipment, setting up and breaking down equipment for practices and games, and coordinating with the coaching staff to ensure that all equipment needs are met.

In my role as a student project manager, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Senior VP of Sales Jan Chernus to craft a PMP® project plan for a geographical marketing campaign. I collaborated with a team of three fellow students to develop a strategy that would effectively reach our target consumers and increase sales.One of the key tools we used was an ARCGIS map that combined location-based psychographic and demographic data to identify our target consumer. This allowed us to create a highly targeted marketing campaign that would resonate with our audience and drive results. I helped allocate team responsibilities to each member based on their identified strengths. I ensured that everyone had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and that the project was completed on time and within budget.Throughout the project, I worked closely with the team to monitor progress, identify any issues, and implement solutions. I also ensured that communication was maintained between all stakeholders, including the Senior VP of Sales, to keep everyone informed and ensure that the project was aligned with the overall business objectives.This project provided me with valuable experience in project management, team leadership, and strategic planning, and I look forward to leveraging these skills in future projects.

As an Education Lead in sustainable agriculture and food systems, I had the privilege of teaching and leading a group of 8 to 21 children ages 8 to 14 on a daily basis. I created engaging lesson plans aimed at educating the children on the importance of food systems and the role of agriculture in mitigating climate change.As a team, we worked together to maintain a permaculture farm with 25 chickens and 4 goats, where I gained hands-on experience in various cultivation practices. In addition to this, I took the lead in managing the institutional food waste and animal waste in a major compost system.Through my experience as an Education Lead, I gained valuable skills in teaching, developing lesson plans, and working collaboratively in a team environment. I also deepened my knowledge of sustainable agriculture practices and environmental stewardship.I am proud of the impact I made in inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards and I look forward to applying my skills and experience in future opportunities.