Meet Our Team

We are farmers, growers, and healthy food advocates with a passion for our community

Executive Staff

Ali Jacobs (they/them)

Ali Jacobs (they/them)

Co-Executive Director

Originally from Springfield, MA, Ali has been an operations and project manager for over a decade. They started their career in agriculture in New York City where they lived for many years and helped found and develop community gardens, urban farms, and other food justice projects. 

Courtney McSparron (she/her)

Courtney McSparron (she/her)

Co-Executive Director

Courtney moved to Lowell in 2020 and immediately felt at home. This led her to seek an organization within her new hometown doing social justice and education work. Courtney has experience as a tutor, teacher, non-profit vendor, and administrator in public schools. She most recently served as Director of Programs at a non-profit offering subsidized housing along with coaching and educational support. She passionately believes that learning happens where people feel safe and accepted and is glad to be part of Mill City Grows’ creation of those spaces all over Lowell. 

Dai Kim (he/him)

Dai Kim (he/him)

Co-Executive Director

With a loyalty to Lowell and a deep connection to the community for over 25 years, Dai has been pivotal at Mill City Grows since 2016. He orchestrated the expansive mobile market growth, integrating the successful Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program. Currently overseeing the urban farm and mobile market programs, Dai leverages his background in business management and marketing, along with corporate philanthropy, to efficiently coordinate the annual deployment of hundreds of volunteers, fueling our ongoing mission for food sovereignty.

Enrique Vargas (he/him)

Enrique Vargas (he/him)

Associate Director

Solimar Berrios (she/her)

Solimar Berrios (she/her)

Head of Office Operations

Food Access Staff

Grace McKay (she/her)

Grace McKay (she/her)

Market Manager

Ted Hamm (he/him)

Ted Hamm (he/him)

Urban Farm Manager

Lauren Keisling (they/she)

Lauren Keisling (they/she)

Seasonal Farmhand

Education Staff

Daphnne Ekmanis (she/her)

Daphnne Ekmanis (she/her)

School Education Manager

Savannah Marshall (she/her)

Savannah Marshall (she/her)

School Education Coordinator

James Tierney (he/him)

James Tierney (he/him)

CSA Manager

Loubna Belamar (she/her)

Loubna Belamar (she/her)

CSA Delivery Driver

Community Programs Staff

Trang Dong (she/her)

Trang Dong (she/her)

Community Gardens Manager

Chaya Sophon (he/him)

Chaya Sophon (he/him)

Community Gardens Assistant Manager

Development Staff

Kerri Keeler (she/her)

Kerri Keeler (she/her)

Development Manager

Rebecca Ludvino (she/her)

Rebecca Ludvino (she/her)

Institutional Giving Manager

Suzzanne Cromwell (she/her)

Suzzanne Cromwell (she/her)

Marketing & Publicity Coordinator

Mill City Grows Co-Founders
Francey Slater and Lydia Sisson

Francey Slater

Francey Slater

Co-Founder

Francey is a seasoned educator and gardener who focused on garden education program development; designing, building and coordinating physical gardens; cultivating volunteer participation; and establishing partnerships to leverage resources to support community health and wellness.  

 

Lydia Sisson

Lydia Sisson

Co-Founder

Lydia is an experienced commercial farmer and small business owner, and holds a Masters degree in Economic and Social Development of Regions. Before starting Mill City Grows, Lydia ran a CSA farm for 4 years.  

Mill City Grows Board of Directors

President  •  John Wooding

Vice President  •  Emma Campbell

Treasurer  •  Craig Thomas

Clerk  •  Elizabeth Campbell

Sue Andrews

Robert Boley

Amparo Hernandez-Folch

Tara Hong

Jamie Klufts

Diego Leonardo

Andrew McNaught

Jack Moynihan

Jen Myers

Vannak Theng

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