The REC is excited to introduce our four newest team members!
In addition to a new Farmers Market Manager/Outreach Coordinator and UGROW & Social Entrepreneurship Coordinator, we have also welcomed two new AmeriCorps VISTA members. AmeriCorps VISTA is a federally funded national service program that partners with non-profit organizations around the country, working to eliminate poverty in the United States. Keep reading to get to know the newest team members at the REC!
Morgan Kolinski
Communications VISTA
Morgan Kolinski's home base is in Eagle River, Wisconsin. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, where she majored in Communication Studies. She will be streamlining our communications, including e-news, web and social media, and telling our story across platforms. She has a strong social justice background and brings great enthusiasm to her work.
Morgan joined AmeriCorps VISTA because of her passion for community service, grassroots organizing, and social justice. She sees this experience with the REC as an incredible opportunity to test her knowledge and continue to learn from the awesome people at the REC and in the larger Worcester community. Cheers to a year of learning to pronounce words the proper New England way!
What kind of produce would you choose to be turned into?
"A purple carrot! Beyond the awesome colors, carrots also have the best of both worlds - they get to be in the cool, moist ground while getting to sunbathe at the same time." -Morgan
Anna Crofts
Development VISTA
Anna Crofts is originally from Hamden, CT and is a 2015 graduate of Marymount Manhattan College in NY. She joins us from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she developed an interest in food insecurity and hunger and volunteered as a WWOOF'er in 2012. She will be using her experience in community outreach, sales, fundraising, and grant writing to support our fund development efforts.
Anna's commitment to social change and passion for food justice led her to serve for a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the REC. She is inspired by the work that the REC does and is thrilled to be part of furthering our mission to fight food insecurity in Worcester.
What kind of produce would you choose to be turned into?
"Broccoli! Of all the vegetables, broccoli has the coolest hair and when I was younger, I ate so much broccoli that my grandma called me Broccoli-Head." -Anna
Chris Humphrey
UGROW & Social Entrepreneurship Coordinator
Chris Humphrey is excited to join the REC staff and help our community gardens keep growing! He is Worcester born and raised and graduated from Clark University in 2014 with a degree in Environmental Studies. Chris has a strong interest in environmental justice issues and is passionate about growing food. He has been working on farms for the past three years and is currently doing an apprenticeship on a small family farm outside of Worcester. The REC is excited to welcome such a passionate individual to our team!
What kind of vegetable would you choose to be turned into?
"If I could be magically turned into a veggie, I would be turned into Kale. Meadowlark Kale to be specific. I would want to be Kale because you are what you eat and I eat a lot of Kale!" - Chris
Rushelle Frazier
Farmers Market Manager/Outreach Coordinator
Rushelle Frazier is from Worcester and has a strong passion for local food and grassroots community organizing. Her extensive experience with organizations that advocate for environmental and food justice make her an incredible asset to the REC. Rushelle dove right into making the 2016 Mobile Markets a success - you can look forward to meeting and interacting with her at mobile market stops throughout the week!
What kind of vegetable would you choose to be turned into?
"I would want to be a cucumber, because I'm always trying to stay cool. Wait. That's a fruit! Then I'd want to be a beet because I've got great rhythm!" - Rushelle