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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. 

Evelyn Matos (she/her) has been part of the Norris Square community since the 90s when her parents moved to the neighborhood from Puerto Rico. Before NSNP, she worked at Norris Square Civic Association for eight years as a preschool teacher while her two children attended NSNP’s youth programs, now program alums. Evelyn is a graduate of Ashford University with a bachelor’s in education. When Evelyn has a day to herself, she enjoys cooking, being with her grandson, and especially old-school salsa music. She describes herself as “LOUD,”; and her favorite thing about NSNP is that it allows her to be herself.

Sophie Taylor-Havens (she/her) has returned to NSNP after interning here as a college sophomore. After graduating from Kalamazoo College with a bachelor’s in Art and Psychology, she moved to Philadelphia to become a teaching artist with Mural Arts Philadelphia. Sophie is passionate about sustainability and social justice and believes in the power of art as a tool for promoting reflection, growth, community, and empowerment. At NSNP, she hopes to create a space for students to explore themselves, discover their power, and engage with their communities. She enjoys making art, laughing with loved ones, exploring new places, following the sunshine, and eating delicious foods in her spare time.