Meet Our Team

Originally from Springfield, MA, Ali has been an operation and project manager for over a decade. She started her career in agriculture in New York City where she lived for many years and helped found and develop community gardens, urban farms, and other food justice projects. She comes to Mill City Grows after managing a large organic farm in Western Mass. Ali can be reached at Ali[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.

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. Very happily, Courtney and Mill City Grows met. Courtney served as a tutor, teacher, non-profit vendor, and administrator in public schools. She most recently served as Director of Programs at Bethany Hill Place, a non-profit offering homeless and subsidized housing along with coaching and educational support. She is a passionate believer that learning happens where people feel safe and accepted and knows Mill City Grows is creating those spaces all over Lowell. Courtney enjoys hiking, gardening, walking her dog, cooking vegetarian meals, and reading. Courtney can be reached at Courtney[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.

As Mill City Grows’ Head of Office Operations, Solimar touches all aspects of programming and administration at MCG headquarters. Though she grew up in Lowell, Solimar spent much of her adult life living, studying, and working in Puerto Rico, where she acquired a wealth of human resource, administration, and office management experience. Solimar has an identical twin sister, is passionate about chocolate, and is mother to two beautiful daughters. You can reach Solimar at Solimar[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.

“When I wrote my bio as an apprentice at MCG five years ago, the thought that I could be here long enough to need to update it would have shocked me. Five years ago was my first season farming and I did not know if I was cut out for the work, but since then, the journey has been so good! The experiences of doing a busy summer market at Lucy Larcom Park, feeling a thunderstorm approach the Greenhouse along the Merrimack River or shifting the crop rotation at Fowler so we can have larger windows for growing cover crop to improve our soil, make me realize how grateful I am for the last half decade. Learning all the ways time can be measured on a farm has been one of the most exciting lessons I’ve learned recently because it inspires me to imagine what the next years can look like. Strengthening the local food economy, growing food for our community, and caring for the land that provides it are directions for the path ahead, and I am even more grateful to be able do this work here!” – You can reach Brian at Brian[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.

Grace was born and raised in Eastern Massachusetts, and has been farming and gardening in Mass for the past seven years. After beginning her studies in Sustainable Food and Farming at UMass Amherst, Grace began working on a diversified organic veggie farm. Concurrently, she began studying jazz and graduated with a dual degree in Food and Farming and in Music. Grace has experience working with food access organizations and managed a small donation garden at UMass Amherst that centered its work in providing organic vegetables to hunger relief organizations near the college campus. Grace also comes with experience in food service, education, and backyard gardening, and is eager to contribute her passion for food justice to her work at Mill City Grows. Outside of growing food, Grace can be found making music with friends or appreciating a nice cup of tea. Grace can be reached at Grace[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.

Born and raised in Lowell, Macayla is excited to continue to serve her community on the School Education Team. She began her work with Mill City Grows as a high school student in 2016 as their “Youth Food Justice Squad” member where she first learned the art of growing food (she even harvested a carrot for the first time!) Since then, she’s continued her work with Mill City Grows and is so excited to take all that she’s learned over the years working on different farms in and around Lowell, in community kitchens, with community partners, and right to the classroom with students! You can reach Macayla at Macayla[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.

Amelia is a Lowell resident, born and raised in the city, who works with the community to give back to those who may need assistance. Amelia believes that food is the one thing keeping everyone together as a team. In her role at MCG, she works with a number of children in the community, educating them on the importance of fruits and vegetables, but also prioritizing how being in a community and a team is beneficial, and important. Other than the interactions she has with other people living in Lowell, Amelia enjoys cooking over baking, her gel nail designs, and just binge watching movies and shows in her bed under her heated blanket. You can reach Amelia at Amelia[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Suzzanne’s work experience includes over 20 years at the Boston Museum of Science and 15 years with The Walt Disney Company. She worked 8 years at the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) and was a founding member of Mill City Grows’ Board of Directors before joining the MCG team. An avid foodie and cinephile, Suzzanne co-founded The Lowell Film Collaborative with her movie-loving husband, Brett. You can reach Suzzanne at Suzz[at]millcitygrows[dot]org.