DIRECTOR she/her

Emily Cunningham is a Pontiac resident and lifelong gardener who is currently volunteering as Growing Pontiac’s Director. She owes a great debt to Keep Growing Detroit for her experience as a community garden organizer and urban agriculture volunteer. She is an illustrator and trained chef who is moved by the power of sustainable food to connect neighbors and change food values. Emily holds a certification in Horticulture Therapy from the Chicago Botanic Garden, a degree in Women and Gender Studies from Oakland University, and has been employed as an organic farmer for the HAVEN.

OFFICER of the BOARD she/her

Ashleigh has a BFA in photography from the College of Creative Studies. After many years working with ecommerce businesses, she is now teaching photography and color theory at a homeschool co-op, the Director of Youth and Family Ministry at St. John Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills, and is a co-owner of Plain and Fancy Food. Ashleigh enjoys making art accessible to others. Each year she has led a free interactive art experience at the Pontiac Arts Crawl. She is a competitive costume maker and has been awarded Best Costume many times over. Ashleigh’s start with her own garden began after she bought her house in Pontiac and wanted to see her small yard produce something besides grass.

OFFICER of the BOARD she/her

Mary Hogan has spent the majority of her life locally being raised and educated in Pontiac, graduating from Pontiac Northern High School. She continued studies at Oakland Community College and has a Masters of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. After retiring from Michigan Bell (Ameritech) and from Michigan State University, she remains in the work force and is a published author. Being very involved in her church she teaches classes, assists with care ministry and offers assistance in many other areas. She is the mother of three, grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of thirteen so far.

PRESIDENT of the BOARD she/her, they/them

Sylvia Campbell is a lifelong Pontiac resident. She is an Oakland University student majoring in Wellness and Health Promotion with a minor in Holistic Health. She has volunteered extensively with non-profit service organizations in the city, including Healthy Pontiac, We Can!, Sheriff PAL, and Lighthouse. Sylvia started her first garden at thirteen with the help of her dad, a lifelong gardener. She enjoys the calm atmosphere of an early morning at her Pontiac farm, Sylvia’s SWEET Farm.

OFFICER of the BOARD he/him

Josh Gordon is the Giving Gardens Manager at Yad Ezra, a kosher food pantry serving the Metro Detroit area. He has a Bachelor’s of Science from Michigan State University in Environmental Biology/Zoology and a minor in Horticulture, as well as being a master composter. Josh’s loves include spreading knowledge about gardening, the ecosystem, edible, and medicinal plants. He is highly interested in endorsing the many benefits of gardening, including bringing nutrient-dense, culturally appropriate produce to the community while also providing Horticultural Therapy and a sense of empowerment.

SECRETARY they/them

Sarah is a culture worker, organizer and co-dreamer at Mucha Fruta Farms based in Pontiac, Michigan. Currently serving as the Healing and Community Justice Director at Centro Multicultural La Familia, they design and advocate for culturally affirming services centering immigrants, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and survivors of relational and systemic violence and cultural programming. Their work is deeply rooted in the intersection of land tending, relationship violence, and ancestral healing methods. Sarah is on the verge of completing their PhD in Community, Liberation, Indigenous and Ecopsychologies to weave together their work.

Sarah enjoys ancestral foods workshops and kitchen medicine magic.

TREASURER she/her