Our Team
Portraits by Mary Rafferty , Clare Britt, and Martine Severin
Erika Allen
Co-Founder & CEO
Allen was recently appointed by the Biden Administration to join the Farm Service Agency Committee for Illinois. She is also a Co-Chair of the Food Equity Council for the City of Chicago. Allen received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MA in Art Psychotherapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She uses her experience as a visual artist to consult with individuals and organizations to support their visioning of social and economic changes. She is passionate about social justice and working with multicultural groups in the elimination of racism, related oppressions, and the root causes of poverty by integrating creative and therapeutic techniques alongside food security and community development.
Executive Assistance: execassistant@urbangrowerscollective.org
Erika Allen (she/her) is the Co-Founder and CEO for Urban Growers Collective and the President of Green ERA Educational NFP and Co-Owner of Green Era Sustainability Partners. Previously, Allen founded and was the Director of Growing Power – Chicago for 15 years from 2002 to 2017. Allen is the co-founder of the Chicago Food Policy Action Council, serves on the board of Grow Greater Englewood and Leadership Council for Growing Home, and is an advisor for the Community Food Navigator project. Allen has been appointed by IL Governor J.B. Pritzker for the IL Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ICAE) for a 3 Year term (2022-2024).
Lauralyn Clawson
Director of Operations
Lauralyn Clawson (she/her) received her B.A. from Penn State University in Environmental Science. Lauralyn’s expertise revolves around youth education, urban farming production, hoop house installation and mushroom production. Lauralyn is the Director of Operations for Urban Growers Collective. In addition to her work at UGC, Lauralyn is an expert in compost policy and co-leads the Licensing and Animal Welfare working groups for the Chicago Food Policy Action Council. Lauralyn Clawson managed the Youth Corps Program for Growing Power – Chicago, and worked for the organization for 10 years prior to its closing in 2017.
Malcolm Evans
Director of Farming
Malcolm Evans (he/him) began as the Production Manager for Urban Growers Collective in 2017 and became the Director of Farming in 2022. Formally, Malcolm was a Production and Marketing Program Assistant at Growing Power, Inc. for the seven years prior to its closing. Malcolm began his farming career at the age of 10, when Growing Power installed the Chicago Lights Urban Farm and Community Garden in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood. While still in high school, Malcolm began the composting program at Growing Power Chicago, collecting compost from restaurants throughout the city after school and on weekends. Mr. Evans began working full-time with Growing Power after graduating from Wells High School, and has expertise in compost management, production and produce sales.
Keani Staton
Community & Volunteer Coordinator
Keani Staton (she/they) is extremely honored to be our Community & Volunteer Coordinator. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, she’s passionate about working to educate and empower community members with tools to dismantle systems of oppression. Keani believes that when communities share the burden of getting people’s needs met, we can create a world where everyone has access to land, shelter, fresh food and water, and joy.
Keani graduated from Vanderbilt University in June 2021 with a degree in Secondary Education and English Literature. They’ve worked in the education and non-profit field to support marginalized youth and underrepresented communities in Chicago. During the summer of 2023, Keani joined Urban Growers Collective as a General Farm Intern. Since then, she’s focused on how she can bring her passions to urban agriculture in order to build self-sufficient and resilient communities through a relationship with the land.
In their free time, Keani can be found pulling up people’s astrology charts, baking, singing around the farm, or creating through various art forms.
Joshua Hughes
Fresh Moves Mobile Market Manager
Joshua Hughes was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Arizona State University with his B.S. in Sociology in 2018. His community engagement experience stems from organizing creative and performance spaces for artists of color. As the manager of UGC’s Fresh Moves Mobile Market, Joshua works to further assist the development of food security in Chicago as a continued action in social justice. Joshua has worked in food access with UGC since late 2019 through the height of the pandemic and emergency food distribution. He has helped lead the Fresh Moves Mobile Market to create new sustainable systems to better serve Chicago’s south and west side communities.
Debbie O’Connor
HR Manager
Debbie O’Connor (she/her) is excited about being a part of Urban Growers Collective as the first Human Resources Manager. Debbie is uniquely suited to the Urban Growers Collective, with experience not only in HR Administration, but Food Service, Transportation & Logistics, and Community focused non-profit organizations.
A lifetime Chicagoland native, Debbie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Loyola University and an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts, Kendall College. In her free time, Debbie enjoys cooking with her family, with her husband, Brian and two children, Olivia and Addison.
Brandon Lov
Development Manager
Brandon Lov (he/him) is the Development Manager for Urban Growers Collective. He graduated from the University of Chicago in June 2019 with a degree in Public Policy and Environmental & Urban Studies. Brandon started at Urban Growers Collective in the summer of 2018 as a seasonal urban agriculture intern. During his internship, Brandon worked extensively at our farms, as well as helping with sales for the Fresh Moves Mobile Market and local farmers’ markets. Since then, Brandon has led the fundraising team at Urban Growers Collective, from leading successful galas to stewarding the organization through the massive fundraising needs for emergency food relief in a global pandemic.
Rev. Kim Crutcher
Lead Conductor, Herbalism Apprenticeship Program
As Lead Conductor for Urban Growers Collective’s Herbal Apprenticeship program, Reverend Kim Crutcher brings a lifetime of passion and curiosity about plants, nature and the impulse to heal. An Interfaith Minister, educator and licensed mental health counselor (MAPC, LCPC) , Kim uses the term ‘Conductor’ as a reminder to support and guide apprentices and community members in their personal journeys with herbalism. For over twenty years she’s shared insight, and the creative process as an artist and as a folk healer for those seeking change on multiple levels. Using evidence-based therapies, a trauma-informed approach, and culturally sensitive frameworks Kim offers supportive care for individuals, groups, organizations and communities. Kim discovered her first herbalism book on her Mama Alice’s bookshelf when she was a little kid growing up in rural Tennessee. Since then she has studied plant traditions from multiple perspectives with many wise teachers ; and she shares the knowledge gained as a community herbalist. She brings over 30 years as a student herbalist to a practice of holistic change-making that privileges liberation, play, investigative urges, gift making and responsiveness. She’s so glad that the Mysterious Mycelial System that makes things grow with health in unexpected places led her to join the UGC team.
Siobhan Beal
Harvest & Market Distribution Coordinator
Siobhan Beal (she/her) is on the farm/harvest team with Urban Growers Collective. She got her BA in Environmental Studies from Earlham College. She started with Growing Power as an intern and apprentice over the summers of 2012 and 2013. After graduation, she began working full-time with Growing Power farming and working as the education teacher at the pre-school farm. Siobhan was bit by the travel bug, and in 2017 left to travel to New Zealand and Australia. She worked vineyards, dairy farms, and other odd jobs. She was enthusiastically welcomed back to UGC in 2020, and was ready to get her hands back in the soil and take care of our cute goats!
In her free time, she loves experimenting and learning new cooking, pickling, and baking recipes. Siobhan also loves climbing, playing with her family’s corgi, and a solid hammock nap.
Al Odell
Youth Program Coordinator
Al Odell (he/him) is the current Youth Coordinator at UGC. He is passionate about cultivating safe spaces for youth around Chicago through community farming and increasing fresh food access. He appreciates the beauty found in the smallest things.
He received his BA in Environmental Studies from DePaul University, and has worked a number of years as a Youth Environmental Educator. He has worked with youth organizations Greencorps Chicago and Gary Comer Youth Center. Separately, he’s worked in environmental fields like Pest Management, Forestry, and Wetland Restoration Ecology. His family are farmers and have worked with the land for generations!
In his free time, he spends his time making art that can help him connect with his community.
Darion Crawford
Urban Farmer & Compost Coordinator
Darion Crawford (he/him) has been farming since he was 16 years old. He began his journey with agriculture at Marshall High School in Chicago, where he studied farming, and was chosen to be one of the first 15 year-round students of the Growing Power Chicago Youth Corps in 2006. After graduation, Darion began working with Growing Power Chicago as a youth corps and adult-job training instructor. Darion also led workshops nationally for Growing Power in hoop-house and aquaponics construction, as well as large-scale composting.
Darion left Growing Power in 2014 to manage for Home Depot in Chicago, where he picked up valuable skills in team leadership and development, as well as honing his wise-cracking wit much to the delight of the co-founders (and his original youth corps instructors) at UGC.
Darion began work with Urban Growers Collective in March, 2020. At UGC, he has taught youth at the Roosevelt Square Youth Farm, as well as assisted with the READI and Grounds for Peace program.
Mykele Deville
Farm Program Coordinator
Mykele Deville (he/him) is the current Farm Program Coordinator at UGC. He is new to the Urban Agriculture sector but passionate about fighting for equitable change and access in all forms. He is also a musical artist and poet from the west side of Chicago. He has performed on stages across the country and led workshops on hip-hop and identity. His work has been profiled in Billboard, Afropunk, Flood Mag, Bandcamp, Noisey, Okayplayer, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times, The Reader, Consequence of Sound, Vocalo radio, and NPR radio. He received a BFA in Performance from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is also a founding collective member of Growing Concerns Poetry Collective and has a joint book of poetry with the group entitled Five Fifths, published by Candor Arts.
Caleb Leman
CRM Coordinator
Caleb Leman (he/him) is passionate about urban agriculture as a strategy for tapping into the co-creative potential of the land and her people. Raised in the Midwest and schooled in Chicago, he graduated with a Bachelors in Information Decision Sciences from the UIC College of Business in 2017 and a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in 2023. During both degrees he worked as a freelance digital marketer supporting a number of local nonprofits. In addition to his role at UGC, on Sunday evenings he directs South Loop Community Table, a weekly hot meal for anyone in need of some warm food and warm community. He is married to his best friend, Jeni, with whom he enjoys yoga, arts and crafts, and taking a hammock to the park.
Derrick Patrick
Fresh Moves Mobile Market Purchasing Coordinator
Derrick Patrick (he/him) is the Fresh Moves Mobile Market Purchasing Coordinator for Urban Growers Collective. His background is in community engagement and cannabis advocacy. He received his B.S. in Marketing with a focus on Communications and Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a former Division I baseball player and home cook, from the West Side of Chicago (Austin), he brings an energy and passion for a health conscious diet and a lifestyle that fosters holistic health. He intends to be a key player in food justice and urban agriculture throughout Chicagoland for the betterment of communities in most need.
Tem Jones
Fresh Moves Mobile Market Sales Associate
Paige Tobin
Farm Administrative Coordinator
Paige Tobin (she/her) is the Farm Administrative Coordinator for Urban Growers Collective. She received her BA in Anthropology/Sociology and Critical Ethnic Studies from Kalamazoo College. Paige is originally from Battle Creek, MI and has lived and worked in Chicago since 2019.
Paige enters this work with reverence for community, storytelling, and our shared connection to the land. She uses her background in informal education and program coordination to support the power of informal, collective education among youth and community members as a part of the Farm Program Team.
In her free time, you can find Paige in her backyard garden tending her tomatoes, playing Ultimate Frisbee, or reading a book. Come by the South Chicago Farm anytime to say hi!
Mac Svolos
Bookkeeper
Mac Svolos (he/him) is the Bookkeeper for Urban Growers Collective. He graduated with a BA in Sociology and Theology from Creighton University, where he became involved in environmental justice work. After living and working at an urban farm in Kansas City, Mac moved to Chicago in 2018 and has worked as a cook, barista, and office manager. He is excited to be working to create sustainable food systems in Chicago, and is passionate about hospitality. He enjoys biking the lakefront trail, baking bread, and porch sitting.
Alyssa Alcordo
Experienced Grower
Alyssa Alcordo (she/her) is a passionate organic farmer and grower for Urban Growers Collective. She has been working with the land through vegetable farming since 2020. With experience in urban, rural, and aquaponic farming, she has pinpointed her passion for feeding people healthy, high energy vegetables and growing beautiful flowers.
She earned her BA in Environmental Studies from Loyola University Chicago with focus on Sustainable Agriculture and Local Food Systems, but she is continually learning through other farmers, new tools/methods and of course, all of Mother Nature’s lessons of the land. She finds joy in traveling, sharing food with friends-new and old, snowboarding, slack-lining and doing a lot of yoga.
Gina Santana
Farmers Market Sales Associate
Erika Gonzalez-Guzman
Youth Instructor and Grower
Born and raised in Mexico City, Ericka (She/Her) is a young Latina immigrant who is passionate about the environment and food justice. As an organizer, she has worked to promote water accessibility and fight for cleaner air quality in the Southwest Suburbs. She is a lifelong learner who believes that mistakes can be your most valuable lessons.
Ericka earned her BA in Environmental Science at Loyola University with a focus on Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture. As a student, she worked as the Lead Program Assistant for Loyola's Urban Agriculture Program. There, she guided indoor and outdoor production of vegetables, mushrooms, aquaponics/hydroponics systems, managed farmers' market logistics, and served as a passionate mentor for other students. She received Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability's Wangari Muta Maathai Award for exceptional service and dedication to sustainability and social justice.
Currently serving as a Youth Corps Farm Educator at UGC's South Chicago Farm, Ericka is dedicated to sharing her knowledge of indigenous agricultural practices, building community, and advocating for social and environmental justice with the next generation of youth.
Candice Frazier
Fresh Moves Sales Associate
Candice Frazier is a Chicago native currently residing in the East Chatham neighborhood of Chicago's South Side. She now serves as a Sales Associate for the Fresh Moves Mobile Market Team and is excited to bring her love of community and her passion for Urban Agriculture to the UGC family.
Candice studied Vocal Performance and Theatre at Columbia College Chicago, and has used her creative skills and talents in many ways. Her background includes a wide breadth of experience in areas such as food service & fine dining, hospitality, travel & transportation, promotional marketing & direct sales, community development, holistic health & healing, and the entertainment arts. Candice's love of nature, along with her desire to educate and inspire others, lead her to the intersection of Community Development & Urban Agriculture.
In 2018, following an artist's residency, Candice became a Nature Counselor for the Chicago Park District's Harvest Garden program. As a Nature Counselor Candice grew and maintained several gardens and gave garden instruction to youth ages 5 to 12. This instruction focused on fun and creative ways to learn about and experience seed saving, planting, tending, harvesting and tasting fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables. Since then, Candice has become an avid and enthusiastic food grower and has aspirations to become a full fledged farmer through UGC's farm apprenticeship program. As an active member of the Urban Growers Collective Organization, she seeks to engage the greater Chicago communities by addressing the need for food access and equity, and providing resources and education, while fostering social and cultural exchange and community enrichment.
Gabriel Macias
Staff Grower in Training
Gabe Macias (he/him) was raised right here in South Chicago. He first began farming with Urban Growers Collective when he participated in the Youth Corps Program. After graduation, Gabe took a year off of farming and returned as a Seasonal Worker to further his agricultural knowledge, and find tangible ways to support his community.
Gabe is passionate about teaching people about the food and herbs UGC grows, the power of nature, and healthy eating. He also stewards the livestock on the farm, and thinks it’s exciting to teach people about our unique farm culture.
In his free time, Gabe enjoys listening to Juice WRLD while playing video games, studying biology, and being taught by his wise coworkers.
Anthony Fisher
Staff Grower in Training
Anthony Fisher (he/him) began farming at Growing Power Chicago at the Chicago Lights Farm in Cabrini Green in 2007. Anthony spent four years as a Youth Corps member learning all aspects of farming and working with the community through their community garden program. He returned to farming in 2022 to work as Seasonal Grower.
Anthony is interested in learning the tricks of the trade regarding farming and where your food comes from. Anthony will pass this knowledge down to his kids because it’s a natural way of living and important knowledge for all people to have. Anthony’s biggest dream right now is to buy his own house and grow vegetables and herbs in his backyard.
In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports and going to Dave and Buster’s with his kids.
Saaleha Johnson
Admin Coordinator
Saaleha Johnson (they/them) is the admin coordinator for UGC. They were raised on the Southside of Chicago, where their love of community organizing developed. Saaleha studied Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. They are a fiber artist, and love to crochet garments and accessories. In their freetime, Saaleha serves as the outreach coordinator for The Reservoir Collective, a mutual aid collective made by and for Black artists.