About the Growing Center Team
The Somerville Community Growing Center is made up of an all-volunteer Board of Directors, a part-time Volunteer Coordinator, and a part-time Site Coordinator, who oversee the non-profit organization, "Friends of the Community Growing Center." Here is information about them, their background, and interests.
The Growing Center Board of Directors
Betsy Larkin, Growing Center Board President
Betsy grew up in the Boston area and moved to Somerville after college, more than two decades ago. She began volunteering with the Growing Center in 2010, harvesting and selling herbs and produce at the Union Square Farmers Market. After a break of a few years, during which she had three children, she returned to organize the Growing Center’s summer playgroup that gave area children a non-manicured green space in which to play, run around and be free. This helped cement her connection to the space, which she sees as an important asset for area families, especially those without yards to play in. Betsy has a background in the cultural sector, with a particular focus on tourism programming and marketing. She most recently worked at Road Scholar, a not-for-profit educational travel organization for older adults.
Lisa Brukilacchio, Growing Center Board Vice President
Lisa is a long time Somerville resident, moving here in 1977 from upstate NY. While a student at Tufts, she discovered community gardening and has been hooked ever since. It was while she was serving as the City's Community Gardens Coordinator as part of the Conservation Commission, that the Growing Center was born. As one of the founding members, Lisa was highly motivated by her own childhood experiences to create a space in the city where children could develop their own relationship with the natural world. In addition, she has strived to continue the creative legacy of the early years of the Center by working to foster an environment where all ages and abilities can discover how to apply their passions and talents towards building a model of sustainability, citizen engagement and cultural exploration.
Sarah Moylan, Growing Center Board Treasurer
Sarah Moylan is a seven-year resident of the Boston area and longtime admirer of the Growing Center. After moving from Vermont to Somerville in 2013-- and recovering from the shock of moving from the Champlain Valley to a "big city" with lots of concrete-- Sarah found a new appreciation for pockets of nature sprinkled throughout the city. Her interests in food systems and ecology led her to work at Green City Growers in Somerville and Grow Native Massachusetts in Waltham, where she gained a greater appreciation of how plants sustain not only human life, but the entire natural world. These days, Sarah works in commercial real estate finance and accounting as a professional number-cruncher. She is excited to get back to her roots (literally) in the garden and help with finances and fundraising.
Kathleen Froehlich, Growing Center Board Clerk
Kathleen is a native of Long Island, New York and has been a Somerville resident since 2010. She discovered the Growing Center after a career change had her spending less time commuting into Boston and more time enjoying Somerville spaces. She truly fell in love with the space after becoming a parent and enjoys seeing her daughter’s joy exploring and connecting to the beautiful green space. Kathleen is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor working in her own private practice. She is passionate about food justice work and connecting communities to local food systems. In her free time she enjoys spending time outside, yoga, traveling with her husband and daughter, and cozy cuddles with her dog and cat. She loves finding more ways to share this great resource with the community.
Gretchen Biesecker, Growing Center Board Member
Gretchen is a long-time Somerville resident, who first moved here for her doctoral studies in child development at Tufts University. Her career, as a developmental psychologist and program evaluator, focuses on using research and data to reduce inequity and help children, families, and communities thrive. Working with AmeriCorps programs and as a volunteer with various organizations, she is passionate about the power of service, the importance of access to nature, and building community and belonging. Gretchen discovered the Growing Center in 2019, attending concerts and yoga, then volunteering as a host beginning in 2022. Some of her favorite Growing Center moments include assisting with annual children’s events, introducing new families and visitors to the space, and growing sunflower plants from seeds for the garden. In her free time, she loves running, reading, movies, cooking, and making art.
Rachael Brady, Growing Center Board Member
Rachael, originally from Wisconsin, is on year three of living in Somerville. She has found gems all around, from the best lattes to painting classes and pickleball leagues to her favorite little garden, the Growing Center, where she began volunteering in 2022. Having joined the Communications Team in 2023, she has enjoyed writing and editing blogs about this little slice of green. This year, she’s looking forward to going deeper on educating herself and others about ways to be more sustainable and kinder to the earth. Her favorite part about the Growing Center is how peaceful it is - you simply can’t walk into the garden without walking away a little lighter. When not trying out another hobby or volunteering, Rachael works full-time in marketing at a health tech startup.
Emma Gildesgame, Growing Center Board Member
Emma is originally from Arlington and moved back to Porter Square in 2019 after a decade living outside of Massachusetts. She has spent most of her life helping build stronger connections between people and nature as an outdoor guide and environmental educator across the US. This is part of why she loves the Growing Center - she’s deeply committed to helping people find and connect with nature even in the most densely developed places. Emma is the climate adaptation scientist for the Massachusetts chapter of The Nature Conservancy, where she works with communities to keep people and nature safer from the impacts of climate change. She earned a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment and has spent many years thinking about and studying how water and people can work better together in cities. Emma lives in Somerville with her partner and many, many plants and can usually be found playing outside, baking, or curled up with a good book.
Sasha Rollinger, Growing Center Board Member
A native of Washington, D.C., Sasha currently works for the School of Architecture and Planning at MIT, after having spent a decade in visual arts fundraising in New York City. In her free time, she enjoys visiting museums, stopping by Somerville's playgrounds and green spaces with her toddler, and growing vegetables with her family at their home in western Massachusetts.
Alex Taubman, Growing Center Board Member
Alex, a Maryland native, has been living in Somerville for the past 2 years, and in Massachusetts since 2019. After two AmeriCorps terms serving at a food justice nonprofit and a community health center, Alex got a Master of Science degree in Agriculture, Food, and Environment from the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition. After graduating, her passion for food justice and community programming drew her to work at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) managing their community food security work. Alex discovered the Growing Center after moving to Somerville, and is excited to contribute to its mission of serving the community and stewarding Somerville's urban green space. In her free time, she likes to go to local shows, try new restaurants, and make art.
The Growing Center Staff
Bethany Burke, Growing Center Operations Manager
Bethany is a life-long resident of Massachusetts, living in Somerville for the past 5 years. Bethany has a passion for nature and community building and joined the staff of the Growing Center as the Operations Manager in 2024. She is excited to help coordinate volunteers, facilitate communication and manage operations in her role. Bethany has several years’ experience as a project and operations manager and is pursuing her Masters in Public Health in social and behavioral sciences. Additionally, she works at The Nature Connection, an organization that brings nature to those with limited access, as their volunteer coordinator. In her free time, Bethany likes to run, play soccer, and spend time with friends and family.
Paula Jordan, Site Coordinator and Children in Nature Coordinator
Board In Memoriam: Liza Kitchell
Liza Kitchell, Growing Center Board Member
Liza Kitchell was involved with the Growing Center for nearly 25 years. Her involvement began in 2000 when her daughter was two and she started attending playgroups there. She went on to become a long-term volunteer helping with gardening tasks while also creating kids musical theater, launching various arts and crafts activities that enlivened and diversified our seasonal celebrations, and engaging local musicians and artists at the Center. Eventually, Liza joined the Board of Directors, serving as an officer while working on multiple fundraising projects and actively participating in the 30th anniversary strategic planning process. Liza spent countless hours in the garden over the years sharing her multiple gifts with all of us.
A multi-talented musician and singer, Liza taught music at the Community Music Center of Boston and in the Boston Public Schools, and taught piano privately at her home in Somerville. She also composed music, including a piece that explored the sounds of the Growing Center. Liza also coordinated the Summer Song Series at the Growing Center.
Read more about Liza's life and contributions to the Growing Center on our blog.
