Helen Nadel, Executive Director
Helen joined Summit Community Gardens - EATS in January 2024, after +25 years working for nonprofits at the intersection of health, food, justice, and education. She helped launch the Food Farmacy as part of The People’s Health Clinic. Prior to that, she served as Director of School & Community Partnerships at the Philadelphia-based food and farming nonprofit Greener Partners for ten years. Helen holds an M.Ed. from Harvard University and a B.A. from Tufts University. She’s lived in New York City, San Francisco, and Swarthmore, PA, moving to Park City in 2022 to enjoy the mountains and a newly empty nest. Landing her dream job in her new home still feels like a gift. Food is Helen’s passion, from her first memory - picking blueberries - to dreaming about her next farmers’ market foray to inspire a meal. Helen has taught hands-on cooking and gardening to hundreds of children; the ‘aha’ moment when a child pulls a carrot out of the ground or tastes something they are surprised to like always brings her joy. She believes everyone has a right to healthy, delicious food, and that SCG-EATS' Garden provides a unique space for community belonging. Helen loves hiking, yoga, performing arts & movies, exploring restaurants, and playing cards with her husband, Joel, and two children, Isabel (24) and Felix (21). She is always up for fun in the snow. Helen was in the inaugural Summit County Community Planning Lab and was part of Leadership Class 30.
Reach out to Helen at helen@summitcommunitygardens.org
Erica Snyder, Director of Youth Education
Erica enjoys garden education because it combines two of her passions: working with children and food! Erica has worked in schools and as a Lower and Upper Elementary Montessori Guide for many years. She has taught pre-K through sixth grade Montessori. STEM subjects are her favorite, particularly math, as Erica appreciates igniting the spark of curiosity in young minds. Erica earned her bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Utah, where she focused on child development. She went on to earn her masters degree from Westminster College’s School of Education, under their nonprofit administration graduate program (masters of arts in community leadership), There, she completed her capstone project with People’s Market, focused on local food systems and helping entrepreneurs take value-added products from seed to store. She has previously managed Summit Community Gardens and another community garden in Salt Lake City. Erica has decades of experience in social work and education: working with children and families, working in schools, our local community and working within our local food system. When she’s not at work, Erica enjoys spending time with her family and recreating in our mountains.
Reach out to Erica at erica@summitcommunitygardens.org
Gabriela Chaney, Education Coordinator
Gabriela loves teaching kids about cooking and gardening in a fun, hands-on way. With a background in teaching and a passion for promoting wholesome food choices, she creates engaging programs that help kids connect with nature, learn where their food comes from, and develop lifelong cooking skills in an exciting and accessible way for young learners. Originally from São Paulo, Brasil, Gabriela grew up in South Carolina before moving moved across the country with her husband, Kevin, during his service in the US Navy. Now, they’ve put down roots in Park City with their daughter, Bella (7) to enjoy some mountain fun! On the weekends, she enjoys hiking, chasing a sunny spot to read a book, strolling through a farmers market, or snuggling with her family for a movie night.
Reach out to Gabriela at gabriela@summitcommunitygardens.org
Jess Collette, Garden Manager
Jess’s passion for food justice began while attending Northland College, a liberal arts school in the northwoods of Wisconsin. She found herself in a community that lacked access to healthy, affordable, locally produced food. She began thinking about food systems, which ignited her desire to work to improve food access through fostering community-focused food systems. Jess has worked on farms, in food pantries, at gardens and nonprofits across the country. The goal of reducing food insecurity by connecting people with local educational programs and community events was with her all the way. Her decade-long journey ultimately led her to the Green Urban Lunch Box in Salt Lake City where she served most recently as a Farm Co-Manager and Distribution Coordinator. At SCG-EATS, Jess is excited to work in the Garden to help increase access to fresh, healthy food and provide both space and education for people seeking to grow their own food.
Reach out to Jess at jess@summitcommunitygardens.org
Jodi Jones, Operations and Engagement Manager
Jodi is happy to be back in the nonprofit community full time. Jodi has worked in various nonprofit organizations including the Utah Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and the South Summit Education Foundation. After graduating Utah State University (Go Aggies!) with a bachelor’s degree in communications, she spent several years in the financial industry doing public relations and marketing. Jodi has worked with schools throughout the state sharing important personal finance initiatives. More recently, Jodi’s career brought her home, where she managed communications at South Summit School District. Some of her favorite things are traveling with her family, cuddling up with a page-turning thriller, discovering new hiking trails in our local mountains and crafting and designing homemade greeting cards.
Reach out to Jodi at jodi@summitcommunitygardens.org
