We have a new Executive Director!
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Community! I am so excited to share that we have hired a new director for Our Village Gardens! Ida Lombardozzi will be joining our community in our work to cultivate creative solutions to food issues in our neighborhood. Over the many years of food justice work in this community and elsewhere in North Portland, Our Village Gardens has been catalyzing action alongside community leaders to put the people and the land at the center of the neighborhood food systems that support us. We are proud to welcome Ida to step into this work with us.
“As a passionate, radical advocate and an anti-racist leader, I am really energized to join the OVG community and continue the food justice work you have worked hard to build. Through your programs, materials, and from the beautiful things I've heard from the staff and board, OVG bravely acknowledges that the oppressive structures we exist in are not working. Healthy food is a human right and yet right here under our noses, food is operating as a commodity that is gate-kept and withheld, especially from BIPOC communities, single-parent households, folx in poverty, and many other groups. Our Village Gardens has radical solutions and ideas to create a new structure where healthy food can be easily accessed by all of us. That radical work that points to the systems as the problem is something that feels so wonderful to me and I can't wait to dig into the work and to warmly connect with all of you.”
- Ida Lombardozzi, incoming Our Village Gardens Director
Ida will join us in mid-July with years of experience organizing for justice, enacting structural changes for equity in the workplace, and community building. We made the decision to hire Ida in a group of 25 of our board and staff members after a rigorous months-long search process and consensus building process. Being able to come to this decision with everyone on board is immensely encouraging, and a testament to Ida's demonstrated ability to successfully step into this role.
“I am grateful beyond words for the mindfulness and the many efforts that lead to hiring Ida as our next director. Both her experience and character set her apart and undoubtedly prepared her for this opportunity. I am excited to partner with her as we continue to center our community, Our Village Gardens, and our mission-driven work.”
- Joemil Santos, Our Village Gardens Board Co-Chair
Ida’s experience managing large budgets, recruiting and supporting a diverse staff, fostering partnerships, and creatively building teams makes her the perfect person to continue our work within the community. We look forward to you meeting Ida and welcoming her to the community.
