Staff

Anne Evans has an M.S. in Nutrition and is a Registered Dietitian. She recently moved to California by way of New York where she spent the last 2 years working as the head nutritionist for an HIV/AIDS Adult Day Treatment Program. Anne has extensive experience in nutrition education, curriculum development, garden based learning, and community outreach. In Seattle, Washington Anne managed the implementation of a Farm-to-Cafeteria program at a local public school through coordination and collaboration of farmers, school administrators, kitchen personnel, parents and the community.

Kris Jensen is our executive director. He joins Collective Roots with many years experience as a successful fundraiser in local nonprofits, most recently as the director of development at Swords to Plowshares, a veterans rights organization, in San Francisco. A Bay Area native, Kris graduated from San Jose State University and lives in Cupertino. Kris is also a certified permaculture designer and is excited to bring his life-long love of gardening and commitment to food systems change and social justice to Collective Roots.

Eron Sandler is the Program Director for Collective Roots. Eron worked for many years on organic farms and as a teacher and coordinator for environmental and educational non-profit organizations. Eron studied Environmental Education at both Hampshire College and earned an M.S. in Environmental Studies at Antioch New England Graduate School. Her travels and experiences learning about cultures, food, and farming in Europe, India, the Philippines, Mexico and Thailand greatly influence her views on food security, nutrition, community and education. She is inspired by growing food, establishing community relationships and getting people excited about being in the garden.

Sheila Vreeburg brings 30 years of experience as a bookkeeper and office manager. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art, Magna Cum Laude, from Notre Dame de Namur University, and has experience working with organizations both large and small.

Nicole Wires is the Food System Change Coordinator for Collective Roots. A recent graduate of Stanford University, Nicole studied Earth Systems, an inter-disciplinary environmental science program, and created an emphasis on sustainable agriculture and food justice. Nicole previously worked on issues of international food security, spending time abroad in Ecuador, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso. She has more recently transitioned to work developing ecologically and culturally appropriate regional food systems here in California. Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, she loves the west, the mountains, backpacking, climbing, biking, gardening and being outside.

Kyli Arford was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai'i and is from the town of Kailua-Kona. She got her degree in Biology from Cal State East Bay. She has spent the last couple of years working on a few different farms with a focus in Sustainable Agriculture and Farmer's Market systems. She worked as a livestock manager and kitchen manager and tended to a large diversity of animals and a variety of fruits and vegetables. She also worked as a community facilitator for One Island Sustainable Living Center and was an integral member in organizing and facilitating the West Hawaii Solar Energy Project, a grant funding project that helped to get solar energy into the community.

Wendy Chan is a Garden Educator and member of the Silicon Valley HealthCorps (an AmeriCorps program). A recent graduate from UC San Diego, Wendy majored in Urban Studies and City planning, with a focus on sustainability and the environment. In her last year of college, she was inspired through working with a local community garden in San Diego called New Roots. The IRC, International Rescue Committee, who founded New Roots, works with the issues of cultural diversity and healthy living. This experience motivated her future goals to work towards helping communities achieve living sustainable, healthy, and balanced lifestyles. She enjoys practicing yoga, exploring the outdoors, and continues on learning from the daily lessons of life.

Neha Bazaj is a full-time member of the Silicon Valley HealthCorps (an AmeriCorps program). Upon graduating from UCLA in 2010 with a degree in Economics, she spent a summer at the UC Davis Organic Student Farm and then transitioned to a small citrus farm in Southern California. She spent the past year running a nutrition education program and exploring the economic challenges of being a small farmer. Neha is working to understand the economic challenges faced by all members of the food system, in order to create equitable and sustainable change at the community level.