This winter we are very excited to be welcoming Jesus Perez and Zainab Youngmark into roles as south Minneapolis Farm Stewards. As Farm Stewards, Jesus and Zainab are in many ways the face of Youth Farm in our neighborhoods. They will lead all our Youth Farmer and All Stars programs in the Lyndale and Powderhorn programs. You will see them out and about at community events, meetings, and in the gardens. Additionally, Jesus and Zainab will be the summer program managers for Lyndale and Powderhorn, respectively. That means they will be our on-site leaders and the main point of contact for parents.
Both Jesus and Zainab have previous experience with Youth Farm as youth participants, as Project LEAD interns, as summer staff, and as school year staff. Jesus previously spent three years as a Farm Steward, and it is very exciting to welcome him back into the organization in an expanded role. Zainab served as Interim Powderhorn Director last fall, and we are very pleased she will be able to continue her work supporting the Project LEAD and leading programming in Powderhorn Park into the future.
We are immensely proud as an organization to be able to support our young leaders to take on leadership roles in their community and in Youth Farm. As former youth participants and LEAD, Jesus and Zainab have an incredible window into the impact and benefits of our programs. They have deep roots and relationships within south Minneapolis and are incredible role models to their peers and our young people. My deepest thanks and appreciation to them both! To learn more about them in their own words, read up on their biographies here.