Green Light’s AmeriCorps Members
Mia Rodriguez and Leah Baer are Green Light’s 2016-2017 AmeriCorps members. They are serving with Green Light through Louisiana Delta Service Corps, a branch of AmeriCorps which places service members throughout New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
This year is not the first time being a part of Green Light’s team for either Leah or Mia. Leah was a garden intern in the summer of 2014 and a fundraising intern in the spring of 2016; Mia was a fundraising intern during the fall of 2015 and the spring of 2016.
Because they have been previous interns, Leah and Mia bring an understanding of Green Light’s programs built through their involvement in grant writing, crowd funding, and direct service. They are now able to bring that experience into the development and operation of these programs.
Both Mia and Leah are working on developing Green Light’s existing programs and helping to launch the rain barrel program. They also care for the Edible Teaching Garden on 2420 Cambronne Street (don’t forget to check it out and grab some greens this month…we have TONS!)
Mia coordinates the garden program including builds, classes and volunteers. She is working on perfecting the application process, streamlining the program and building the best resources to support Green Light gardeners from providing the right seeds and soil to gathering options for continued garden education.
Leah’s position is funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation. Through this funding, Leah has created and is currently implementing a survey to evaluate Green Light’s gardeners who have participated in the backyard garden program. She is looking to see if having a garden has impacted the health behaviors of the gardeners in any way and to gather feedback from gardeners about areas of the program needing improvement. Leah is also assisting in developing the second phase of the rain barrel program and coordinating barrel installations. She spends a good chunk of time with her head in barrels.
If you want to help us continue the partnership with Louisiana Delta Service Corps, click here.