We are proud to welcome our 2018 WCC Crew: (back row) Paul McPhail, Brendan Herd, Marena Maples, (front row) Leslie Anderson, Sam
Bubenzer and (not pictured) Kayla Inks, the crew supervisor. Their help is indispensable as we prepare for one of our biggest seasons yet for
habitat restoration and water quality improvement.
The District relies on the invaluable support of AmeriCorps service members every year. As we've rapidly grown of the last few years to deliver great programming to all of Pierce County, the importance and value of our AmeriCorps program has only increased. AmeriCorps members help us increase our impact and once again, for 2018 - 2019, we have a great new cohort of team members that you'll be seeing out in the community in a variety of ways. Please help us welcome them!
Kalicia Bean (Kay) joined PCD and the Harvest Pierce County team back in March as an intern and is excited to continue another year as an Americorps VISTA! In addition to outreach, her work assignment will focus on capacity building, community engagement, and strategic planning in making the urban agriculture program more accessible and helpful to low-income and low-English proficiency populations. Kalicia is a recent Oregon State University graduate with a B.S. in Agricultural Science. Kalicia is passionate about bridging the connection between people, food, and their environment and hopes to work toward a food system that is healthy, just, and sustainable for all of Pierce County. At home Kay loves being active, including running, yoga and practicing random hobbies such as archery, playing the harmonica, and DIY crafts!
Robyn LaVergne joins us as an AmeriCorps service member and will be helping get students in Pierce county excited about their environment by leading field trips, organizing workshops, and facilitating after school garden programs at various Tacoma schools. She will also help coordinate this year’s Envirothon and Water Festival. A graduate from The Evergreen State College, she studied art, sustainable agriculture, and psychology in anticipation of combining these fields as a future school counselor. She enjoys all things related to food, art, and nature and hopes to share these passions with our youth. She believes that instilling a love of Nature in our next generation will save us all!
Janae Dinkins was born and raised in Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science as well as Agricultural Science. She will be working as an AmeriCorps member on the Habitat Improvement team. Janae loves nature and its many beautiful and strange creations. She loves traveling, exploring and trying new things, especially new foods. And thinks fish are really neat!!
Erica Hernandez was introduced to Harvest Pierce County through the Farm Foundations program. She really enjoyed what the course had to offer, so she is a natural fit for our Americorps position out on the Farm at Franklin Pierce. During her time here, she will support the efforts to recruit and train the next generation of farmers, as well as recruit and educate community members to take sustainable food systems into their own hands.
Elizabeth Marks (Lizz) joined Harvest Pierce County this past September as one of the latest AmeriCorps service members. She is primarily working with our Gleaning Project and supporting our amazing network of community food projects, pushing forward our values of social and environmental equity. Lizz recently graduated from University of Puget Sound, where she majored in Anthropology and Environmental Policy. She firmly believes that food is a critical and rewarding connection between people and the environment for health and sustainability!
Micah Rayburn joins us as an AmeriCorps service member who serves as our Water Quality Outreach Specialist. He helps coordinate many of our Water Quality Improvement and Monitoring programs, working with members of the community to bring nature back into our urban spaces and reduce stormwater runoff. Micah graduated from the University of Queensland with a Master of Conservation Science degree, and is passionate about promoting conservation action through community education and engagement. In his spare time, Micah enjoys exploring the outdoors, water sports, and drawing.