Three of our beloved team members, Chris Humphrey and Rita Mary Hennigan, and Morgan Kolinski are heading out on new adventures this June! We are so grateful to them for the hard work they put into our programs, and wish them the best on their next adventures!
CHRIS HUMPHREY: REC UGROW Coordinator → Philadelphia, PA
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST UGROW PROJECT THAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED DURING YOUR 2 YEARS WITH THE REC?
This year I worked closely with the South East Asian Coalition to establish two large garden spaces with two of our awesome community partners the Worcester Public Library and the YWCA. Along with establishing those two spaces with them I also built two large indoor growing units so that they could start growing food inside their offices in the Denholm building. The elder gardeners over at the South East Asian Coalition are some of the most talented growers I've ever met. I'm excited to see all the progress they've made at the sites when I visit Worcester later in the summer.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR TIME AT THE REC?
I'm most proud of all of the relationships I've built through working in the gardens. There are so many extraordinary people involved with the garden network. Each of them cares so much about the community and the neighborhoods they're growing in! It was very inspiring working closely with these gardeners while supporting their sites. Those passionate gardeners are really the backbone of the whole network.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MISS THE MOST ABOUT THE REC AND WORCESTER?
I'm going to miss all of my coworkers and the community that comes with the REC. Everyone at the REC is passionate about the work they're doing. I believe that shows whenever you go to the farmers market or visit one of the Youthgrow farm sites. I'm also going to miss summer days working in some of my favorite gardens clearing up weeds taller than me.
RITA MARY HENNIGAN: AmeriCorps VISTA: Development VISTA→ Vail Valley, CO
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST PROJECT THAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED DURING YOUR AMERICORPS VISTA YEAR WITH THE REC?
One of the biggest projects I’ve worked on during my time at the REC, and one of the accomplishments I am most proud of, is working on the organization’s database to make it more functional. I’ll admit that this project was tedious at times, but ultimately it was satisfying to make lasting improvements that I hope will help the REC’s fundraising efforts moving forward.
MORGAN KOLINSKI: AmeriCorps VISTA: Communications VISTA, Communications Associate → New England Area
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST PROJECT THAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED DURING YOUR 1.5 YEARS DOING AMERICORPS VISTA WITH THE REC?
As the first Communications VISTA at the REC, I had the opportunity to do a full brand alignment, which was an extremely exciting task. Over the 1.5 years I was doing VISTA with the REC, I was able to update the website and an array of other materials and teach other team members how to edit them so that these materials are sustainable and live on for years to come.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR TIME AT THE REC?
I am extremely proud of how far the REC has come with marketing and communication over the last 2 years. When I first started, hardly anyone had the time to think strategically about story collecting, picture taking, and regular communication with our community. Now it is a regular topic of conversation, and the collaboration between all of the staff is so exciting to see. Thanks so much for letting me be the communication champion for the last few years!
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MISS THE MOST ABOUT THE REC AND WORCESTER?
I will still be somewhere in New England for a while, but I will miss getting to see everyone in the gardens throughout the summer, and hearing all of the stories being told and laughs shared in the office! The REC is full of very generous, critical thinking, and inclusive people and I'm so thankful that they made my welcome to Worcester (from Wisconsin) so warm!
All of our love and luck on your new adventures, you three!!