Sky Deswert (they/she), like many others, was pushed by the onset of the pandemic to find ways of connecting with the world in safe ways. Sky worked as a grower, integrating knowledge from their experience growing food in college and learning amongst friends and the community to nurture two seasons of fruitful harvests. They now live by Wharton Square Park and volunteer as a leader of the Garden Committee to develop and maintain the native pollinator habitat there. Sky views engaging the community in public green space as a crucial mode of healing the pain seeded in Philadelphia. As part of NSNP, Skynurtures the land and the community together.

Ria (they/them/she) is excited to join NSNP as the Garden Educator for Raíces del Futuro, our youth garden apprentice program. After graduating with a Critical Theory and Social Justice degree and working as a Youth Development Intern at Hidden Villa, Ria dedicated themselves to obtaining skills in agriculture, animal husbandry, and herbal medicine. A child of food-loving Cuban immigrants, Ria is particularly excited to work with Latinx youth. They are passionate about food justice, relational healing, and accessible healthcare. At NSNP, they hope to infuse garden education with cultural context, community care, and personal responsibility. In their free time, you can find Ria going for long walks, learning about astrology, ancestral healing, dancing, and spending time with loved ones.

Toni-Anne McDonald (she/her) is a Temple University alumna with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a minor in Environmental Sustainability. She is the lead instructor for Semillas del Futuro, NSNP’s after-school program for teens to learn entrepreneurship, technology, arts, gardening, and Puerto Rican culture. She volunteers her time with BloodyBtches, a non-profit working to provide menstruators in the Black community with free hygiene products and educational resources. She is passionate about community support systems. You can find Toni chilling in a park with her friends or going out for dessert in her spare time.

Xena Stearos (she/her) joined NSNP as our Communications Associate after completing an internship in Fall of 2022. Hailing from South Central Ohio, Xena is an Ohio State University alumna with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication, making her a true “Buckeye.” Before starting with NSNP, she worked with multiple nonprofits in Ohio, focusing on teen development and family housing. She is passionate about building community and creating spaces for community members to grow and celebrate themselves, their culture, and their peers. Outside of the community, Xena cares deeply about education access and quality. Xena walks her dog, practices yoga, or plays board games in her spare time!