Meet Our Team
We are farmers, growers, and healthy food advocates with a passion for our community
Executive Staff
Ali Jacobs (they/them)
Co-Executive Director
Originally from Springfield, MA, Ali has been an operations and project manager for over a decade. They started their career in agriculture in New York City where they lived for many years and helped found and develop community gardens, urban farms, and other food justice projects.
Courtney McSparron (she/her)
Co-Executive Director
Courtney moved to Lowell in 2020 and immediately felt at home. This led her to seek an organization within her new hometown doing social justice and education work. Courtney has experience as a tutor, teacher, non-profit vendor, and administrator in public schools. She most recently served as Director of Programs at a non-profit offering subsidized housing along with coaching and educational support. She passionately believes that learning happens where people feel safe and accepted and is glad to be part of Mill City Grows’ creation of those spaces all over Lowell.
Dai Kim (he/him)
Co-Executive Director
With a loyalty to Lowell and a deep connection to the community for over 25 years, Dai has been pivotal at Mill City Grows since 2016. He orchestrated the expansive mobile market growth, integrating the successful Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program. Currently overseeing the urban farm and mobile market programs, Dai leverages his background in business management and marketing, along with corporate philanthropy, to efficiently coordinate the annual deployment of hundreds of volunteers, fueling our ongoing mission for food sovereignty.
Enrique Vargas (he/him)
Associate Director
Solimar Berrios (she/her)
Head of Office Operations
Food Access Staff
Grace McKay (she/her)
Market Manager
Ted Hamm (he/him)
Urban Farm Manager
Lauren Keisling (they/she)
Seasonal Farmhand
Education Staff
Daphnne Ekmanis (she/her)
School Education Manager
Savannah Marshall (she/her)
School Education Coordinator
James Tierney (he/him)
CSA Manager
Loubna Belamar (she/her)
CSA Delivery Driver
Community Programs Staff
Trang Dong (she/her)
Community Gardens Manager
Chaya Sophon (he/him)
Community Gardens Assistant Manager
Development Staff
Kerri Keeler (she/her)
Development Manager
Rebecca Ludvino (she/her)
Institutional Giving Manager
Suzzanne Cromwell (she/her)
Marketing & Publicity Coordinator
Mill City Grows Co-Founders
Francey Slater and Lydia Sisson
Francey Slater
Co-Founder
Francey is a seasoned educator and gardener who focused on garden education program development; designing, building and coordinating physical gardens; cultivating volunteer participation; and establishing partnerships to leverage resources to support community health and wellness.
Lydia Sisson
Co-Founder
Lydia is an experienced commercial farmer and small business owner, and holds a Masters degree in Economic and Social Development of Regions. Before starting Mill City Grows, Lydia ran a CSA farm for 4 years.
Mill City Grows Board of Directors
President • John Wooding
Vice President • Emma Campbell
Treasurer • Craig Thomas
Clerk • Elizabeth Campbell
Sue Andrews
Robert Boley
Amparo Hernandez-Folch
Tara Hong
Jamie Klufts
Diego Leonardo
Andrew McNaught
Jack Moynihan
Jen Myers
Vannak Theng