Who’s Who at SCLT

  • Margaret DeVos

    Executive Director (401) 210-2888

    Margaret believes everyone benefits when we take on troubling issues in our most challenged communities. She came of age in Detroit questioning systems that offer...read more

  • Appoline Alphonsine

    Food System Intern 401-273-9419

    Appoline joined SCLT’s Youth Program in 2019, and became a food system intern in 2022 after graduating from Hope High School. Since then, she has helped manage youth...read more

  • Ellen Asermely

    Youth Program Coordinator & City Farm Steward (401) 210-2466

    Ellen came to SCLT in 2021 as a TerraCorps service member and fell in love with the work immediately. She spends her mornings at City Farm as Rich Pederson’s wonder…...read more

  • Director of Garden Programs

    Tarshire Battle

    Director of Special Projects (401) 266-3279

    Tarshire has combined her interests in art and nature to help people heal from the effects of trauma, mental illness, homelessness and incarceration, and to...read more

  • Kakeena Castro

    Kakeena Castro

    Food Program Coordinator (401) 210-3993

    Kakeena helps community members obtain high-quality, locally grown food from farmers selling their fresh produce through SCLT’s Farm-to-Market Center. ...read more

  • Andrew Cook

    Director of Community Gardens Network (401) 210-2827

    Andrew came to SCLT after working at local community organizations and on area farms. He counseled students at the Community College of Rhode Island and later taught...read more

  • Marcel De Los Santos

    Grants & Communications Manager (401) 273-9419 ext: 830

    Marcel joined in January 2024 as SCLT’s Grants & Communications Manager, bringing more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit development, grant writing, and fundraising. Marcel graduated from Western Michigan…...read more

  • Isabelle Izobankiza

    Finance Coordinator (401) 266-3370

    Born to Burundian parents, Isabelle and her family were uprooted due to regional wars, moving among Burundi, Congo and Tanzania before emigrating to Belgium....read more

  • David Kuma

    Conservation Associate 401.210.2795

    David Kuma officially joined SCLT staff in July of 2024, after 10 years of agriculture and farming experience. Experience which includes three years of apprenticeship through Southside Community Land Trust…...read more

  • Kelly Keenan

    Development Associate 401.210.2540

    Kelly started SCLT in 2021 as a seasonal Membership data entry person. She fell in love with the work SCLT did and has taken on more responsibilities every year. In…...read more

  • Tammy Kim

    Office & Administrative Manager (401) 266-3438

    Tammy joined Southside Community Land Trust in June 2023, bringing years of experience to her role as Office & Administrative Manager. Life has led Tammy to build an array of…...read more

  • Amelia Lopez

    Food Access Associate (401) 210-2547

    Amelia’s journey with SCLT began in 2016, when their mother and step-father, Margarita and Teodulio, started farming with SCLT where it became their livelihood. In 2018, Amelia participated in SCLT’s…...read more

  • Rich Pederson

    City Farm Steward (401) 210-2361

    Many years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Kiribati, Rich learned that growing food brings people together. This turns out to be just as true...read more

  • Raffini headshot

    Raffini

    Youth Program Director (401) 210-2547

    Raffini has been educating young people most of her life. She is a poet, oral historian and playwright, best known as a member of RI Black Storytellers....read more

  • Dan Roberts

    Properties & Equipment Coordinator (401) 210-2881

    After working at Waltham Fields Community Farm in Massachusetts for many years, Dan joined SCLT in early 2022 to manage our properties in Providence, Cranston and Hope, RI....read more

  • Sam Shepherd

    Grants & Communications Coordinator (401) 556-0243

      Sam joined in April 2023 as SCLT’s Grants & Communications Coordinator, bringing years of experience in nonprofit development, grant writing, and multichannel communications. Sam graduated from the University of…...read more

  • Urban Edge Farm manager

    Ben Torpey

    Urban Edge Farm Manager (401) 210-4005

    Ben caught the farming bug in 2003 and has co-managed Scratch Farm, a low-till, community-supported market garden at Urban Edge Farm in Cranston since 2012....read more

  • matt tracy

    Matt Tracy

    Land Access Manager (401) 210-2837

    Matt’s previous farming experiences prepared him well for his role at SCLT, which he joined in early 2021....read more

  • Chandelle profile pic

    Chandelle Wilson

    Education Program Manager (401) 210-2212

    Besides her life-long interest in plants, and parenting three children, Chandelle is also committed to creating healthy spaces in her community. ...read more

  • Blong Yang

    Community Gardens Network Associate 401-266-3485

    Blong has held many positions in his past. Some examples would be Engineer, Commercial Fisherman, Insurance Agent, and Financial Advisor. He first started with SCLT as an apprentice farmer then…...read more