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 team
City Sprouts continues to grow due to the commitment of our dedicated staff and Board of Directors, community partners, and volunteers.
our staff
Maria Pauley
Volunteer Interim Executive Director
Maria brings more than 25 years of leadership and financial expertise, along with a deep, personal connection to our mission. She has been an active volunteer on our farm and garden, a regular participant in workshops, and most recently served as Secretary on our Board of Directors. Maria is already a valued member of our community, and we're grateful she is stepping forward to support and guide our team during this important and very active time of year.
Her passion for sustainable, local gardening, along with her belief that access to nutritious food fosters wellness, dignity, and connection, embodies the City Sprouts mission.
Shannon Kyler
Manager of Community Programs
Shannon manages the City Sprouts community garden and programs, and coordinates all volunteer projects and events. If you are looking to volunteer, teach a community workshop, tour the garden, or partner on community programs, please reach out!
Laura Simpson
Manager of Urban Farm Initiatives
Laura is the Co‑Manager of Urban Farm Initiatives – Farm Operations at City Sprouts, where she leads production planning, community partnerships, and hands‑on education across the organization’s urban farm sites. A lifelong Omahan whose love of growing food began in neighborhood gardens, Laura brings experience from the Big Muddy Urban Farm residency, the Aspiring Farmer Program, and a past conservation fellowship with the Center for Rural Affairs. Her work centers on expanding access to culturally preferred produce, strengthening local food systems, and stewarding City Sprouts’ Sherman neighborhood farm as a hub for community learning and sustainable agriculture.
Ingrids Mata
Conservation and Soil Health Program Manager
Ingrids supports education and outreach around soil health, conservation, and sustainable growing practices. With a background in agronomy and agroecology, she helps gardeners and growers understand how caring for the soil strengthens our food systems and communities. Originally from Honduras, she’s passionate about connecting people and the land through learning and collaboration.
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Jenny Gilbert
Urban Farm Specialist
As our Urban Farm Specialists, Jenny leads education and outreach efforts that connect community members with hands‑on growing experiences. Originally from Omaha, she is committed to building food equity through collaborative learning and accessible programming. Jenny works closely with interns, volunteers, and the Farm Team to cultivate spaces where people can grow food, skills, and confidence.
Jared Haynes
Community Education Assistant
Jared supports community outreach and education efforts, helping to make the garden a vibrant, inclusive space for learning and connection. Jared also plays a key role in maintaining the garden campus, supporting volunteers, and helping organize seasonal events that bring the community together.
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.
our board of directors
Our Board of Directors consists of community volunteers, who help provide strategic oversight and direction for City Sprouts.
Executive Board
Angela Lindstrom, President
Health Center Association of Nebraska | Director of Communications
Randy Vyhnalek, Vice President
Conagra Brands | Scrum Master
Maria Pauley, Secretary
Community Volunteer
Liz Tipton, Treasurer
Union Pacific Railroad | Director Finance, Budget and Administration
Board Members
Sonita Buddi
Brighten Our Future Learning Center | CEO
Kelly Favara
ConAgra | Human Resources Director
Meghan Kallhoff
Union Pacific | Attorney
Shanda Ross
Nebraska Medicine | Director of Engagement, Outreach, and Belonging
Taylor Daniels
Aradius Group | Director of Marketing
Emily Ramelb
Communications + Development Manager, DEIA Practitioner
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.