Programs
City Sprouts offers workshops and classes, online learning tools for educators, educational programming, and more to educate the community about gardening and healthy lifestyle choices. Click on our programs below for more details!
Programs
City Sprouts offers workshops and classes, online learning tools for educators, educational programming, and more to educate the community about gardening and healthy lifestyle choices. Click on our programs below for more details!
growing gardeners workshops
The Growing Gardeners Workshop Series is a collaboration between City Sprouts and The Big Garden. We work together to offer four seasons of hands-on workshops that feature skills and techniques for every gardener and urban farmer: growing, cooking, preserving and eating healthy local food. All workshops are free and open to all ages.
Our workshops are broken up into three main tracks: Urban Ag School, Herbal Medicine Cabinet, and Culinary Workshops. We also have smaller workshops attached to various community events that we have throughout the year. Check out all of our workshop offerings on our Growing Gardeners website.
We love having guest teachers from our community lead workshops! Are you knowledgable about a subject that you'd like to share in a workshop? Reach out to our Education Manager and explain what skills you'd like to share.
growing gardeners workshops
The Growing Gardeners Workshop Series is a collaboration between City Sprouts and The Big Garden. We work together to offer four seasons of hands-on workshops that feature skills and techniques for every gardener and urban farmer: growing, cooking, preserving and eating healthy local food. All workshops are free and open to all ages.
Our workshops are broken up into three main tracks: Urban Ag School, Herbal Medicine Cabinet, and Culinary Workshops. We also have smaller workshops attached to various community events that we have throughout the year. Check out all of our workshop offerings on our Growing Gardeners website.
We love having guest teachers from our community lead workshops! Are you knowledgable about a subject that you'd like to share in a workshop? Reach out to our Education Manager and explain what skills you'd like to share.
meet the green team
City Sprouts continues to grow due to the commitment of our dedicated staff and Board of Directors, community partners, and volunteers.
City Sprouts Staff
Back Row LTR: Aaron French (Manager of Urban Farm Initiatives), Edgar Romero Gonzalez (City Sprouts South Manager + Assistant Educator), Cian Brun (Education Manager), Megan Belongia (Conservation Education Program Coordinator)
Front Row LTR: Laura Simpson (Programs + Distribution Coordinator), Shannon Kyler (North Programs Manager), Katie Kresha (Executive Director), Mia Webb, Emily Ramelb (Communications + Development Manager)
Katie Kresha
She/Her
Executive Director
Katie joined us as the Executive Director of City Sprouts at the beginning of 2020. Katie is an Omaha native with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from UNO and a Masters in Public Administration from Bellevue University. She previously worked in higher education for 10 years where she oversaw budgetary and financial operations, marketing and community engagement efforts, administrative staffing, and event planning. At City Sprouts, she’s excited to support efforts towards continued growth, strengthen existing programs, and create new opportunities to build sustainable, equitable food systems where they are most needed. When Katie isn’t leading City Sprouts she can be found spending time with her husband and three children and enjoying a variety of active and artsy activities.
Aaron French
He/Him
Manager of Urban Farm Initiatives
Aaron joined our team in 2018 and brings loads of agriculture, education, market, and outreach experience to City Sprouts. Aaron manages City Sprouts' Urban Farming Internship and City Sprouts' multiple growing sites.
Cian Brun
They/Them
Education Manager
Cian has been with our team since Winter 2018. They oversee the Little Sprouts, Truck Farm, Garden to Table, and Home Grown Kids programs, as well as the Growing Gardeners Workshops and outreach activities. When not at work, Cian enjoys making music, crafting, and exploring the outdoors!
Edgar Romero Gonzalez
He/Him
City Sprouts South Manager + Assistant Educator
Born in Mexico City and Midwest-raised, Edgar is bilingual in Spanish (his native language) and English. Though he is ultra-focused at the task at hand, he still loves having a good time and incorporating fun into his work. Edgar graduated from Metropolitan Community College in 2015 with a degree in Horticulture, Land Systems and Management. He is experienced in greenhouse production, organic cultivation, cultivation consulting, and is excited to be teaching some here at City Sprouts and leading a team of 2021 interns. Edgar oversees operations of City Sprouts South and will help teach in many of our programs in both English and Spanish.
our staff
Zee Elmer
She/Her
Conservation Education Program Coordinator
Zee Elmer joined City Sprouts in May 2023 after graduating from the University of Nebraska - Omaha with her Bachelor's in Environmental Science, concentrating in Earth Sciences and Sustainability. She has worked with various community partners to promote sustainability and conservation during her undergraduate years and will continue that work with City Sprouts. After hours she enjoys crocheting, trying new recipes, hiking, and scuba diving.
2022 Urban Farming Interns
2022 Urban Farming Interns mentored by City Sprouts staff members Aaron French, Edgar Romero Gonzalez, Mia Webb and Laura Simpson. Learn more about the PAID Urban Farming Internship here!
our board of directors
Our Board of Directors consists of community volunteers, who help provide oversight and direction for City Sprouts.
City Sprouts Board
Back Row LTR: Katie Kresha (Executive Director, City Sprouts), Brandon Pappas, Cassie Goulet, Dan Walsh, Ryan Grieb, Kimbler Harrold; Front Row LTR: Vanessa Martinez-Hernandez, Octavia Butler, Jane Hartig, Courtney Herrington
Executive Board
LaLeesha Haynes, President
Honor, Senior Manager of Learning + Development
Courtney Herrington, Vice President
Union Pacific, Manager of Marketing + Sales
Ryan Grieb, Treasurer
FNBO, Head of Deposits
Randy Vyhnalek, Secretary
Conagra Brands, Scrum Master
Board Members
Bob Wolfson
BWC Consultancy, Freelance
Brandon Pappas
Greater Omaha Chamber, Vice President of Marketing and Communication
Caitlin Ellis
Jackson Lewis, Attorney
Cassie Goulet
CHI Health, Senior HR Business Partner
Jane Hartig
Google, Data Center Contract + Financial Management
Kim Armstrong
Metropolitan Community College, Faculty
Kimbler Harrold
Embassy Suites, Executive Chef
Ryan Grieb
First National Bank of Omaha, Head of Deposits
Vanessa Martinez-Hernandez
Mutual of Omaha, Social Impact Coordinator
Anti-Discrimination Policy
City Sprouts is committed to providing an environment free from all forms of discrimination and conduct considered harassing, coercive or disruptive, including sexual harassment. Actions, words, jokes or comments based on an individual’s sex, race, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, pregnancy, leave status, [mental, emotional, or physical] ability/disability, military status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic or status, will not be tolerated.
Emily Ramelb
She/Her
Communications + Development Manager
Emily joined the City Sprouts team in Spring 2021. She oversees City Sprouts branding, marketing strategy, fundraising and organizational development. Graduated from Rockhurst University, she has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in marketing and communication, and the Helzberg School of Management's Undergraduate Award for Distinguished Leadership. When Emily isn't working, she's in the kitchen whipping up something colorful and delicious, or kicking back with friends and family.
Laura Simpson
She/They
Programs + Distribution Coordinator
Laura is an Omaha native, she grew up in the Keystone neighborhood of Northwest Omaha.
Laura graduated from MCC in 2013 with a degree in Business Management and Marketing, and from UNO in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Fine Arts - 3D Media. Over the past few years, she has worked with a local arts non-profit, BFF.
In 2018, Laura was a Resident Farmer at Big Muddy Urban Farm and in 2019, she completed the New Roots internship with The Big Garden. Laura joined the City Sprouts team in 2020.
Rocky Huibregtse
He/Him
Education Assistant
Rocky joined our year-round staff as the new Education Assistant in May 2023. A former City Sprouts Urban Farming Intern, Rocky has a wealth of knowledge in sustainable growing techniques. He will assist the Farm Crew in guiding the summer internship, as well as take lead in the classroom. When he's not working, Rocky enjoys spending time reading, baking goodies, and tending to his many chickens, turkeys and quail.
Shannon Kyler
She/Her
North Programs Manager
Shannon joined the City Sprouts team in 2016. She manages our North Community Garden, coordinates volunteers for both sites, is an educator for Garden to Table, and is our resident Chicken Wranger and Beekeeper. When she is not at City Sprouts she is attempting DIY home improvement projects and having dance parties with her kids.