Meet Our Alumni Staff
Working for Urban Roots isn’t your typical summer job!
Our ‘progressive program model’ focuses on year-round employment and youth development, which means many of the youth employed with us work year-round, for multiple years. We developed our ‘Summer Alumni Staff’ positions to keep youth over the age of 18 engaged and to further develop their leadership skills. They now serve as mentors to incoming youth and are able to share their wisdom and experience. Learn more about this summer’s incredible Alumni Staff below!
Kat Facklam
Conservation Crew Lead
Kat is excited to start her 6th year at Urban Roots with the Conservation Crew. Over the years, she has really enjoyed seeing quiet, new interns break out of their shells and get involved and passionate in the work that they do. Kat was also key to initiating the urban legend based on a jacket found in a worksite – ask her about the long lost intern named “Terry.” During the academic year, Kat studies environmental science at Metropolitan State University.
Cecilia Rodriguez
Market Garden Lead
Urban Roots was Cecilia’s first job and she remembers coming in as a shy high-schooler with zero knowledge about gardening! Four years later, she finds new interns come to her when they have questions and she has become a great mentor! Cecilia has a newfound passion for working in agriculture and how it connects her to her community. Cecilia graduated with the class of 2020 at Johnson High School.
Tajah Tempest
Cook Fresh Lead
Tajah is joining us for her 5th year at Urban Roots in the Cook Fresh program and has been throwing down in the kitchen ever since! She has really enjoyed seeing the Cook program grow over the years, especially in the last year when interns were able to invite their family members into the kitchen to teach family recipes. Tajah is also currently working towards her associates degree at Saint Paul College.
Zarea Mobley
Garden Crew Lead
Zarea has been working with Urban Roots in the Market Garden Program since she was 14 years old. One of her favorite jobs has been developing the Rivoli Bluff Farm and Restoration Site-the newest and largest site that Urban Roots farms. Developing the site was a lot of work, but it showed her how hard work really pays off and how accomplished you feel when you can see the results! Zarea is also a 2020 graduate from Johnson High School.
Willie Yang
Conservation Crew Lead
Willie’s favorite part of working at Urban Roots is the yearly camping trip that all the interns go on. He enjoys how much the trip strengthens the bonds between him and his co-workers. He was also part of a project at Sun Ray library where interns built a pollinator garden as a way to teach community members about the importance of pollinators. When not at work Willie attends Saint Paul College where he is working toawrds a degree in technology.
Imogene Silver
Marketing & Events Lead
Imogene started at Urban Roots in 2014 and has worked there every summer since! She started as a Cook Fresh intern and is very grateful for all the years that she was able to spend cooking and building her confidence in the kitchen. She now works in the office, focusing on social media and events, but still enjoys visiting interns at worksites to take photos and videos. Imogene also attends the University of Minnesota and is working towards a degree in engineering.
