Board of Directors
Lenora Gooden
PresidentLenora is a native of St. Louis and she received her BS in Sociology & Minor in Criminology from The University of Missouri St. Louis. She is an alumni of FOCUS St. Louis (FOCUS Fellows Class 2020-2021) and served as a member of the Supply Chain and Analytics Advisory Board for the University of Missouri – Saint Louis. Her career in hunger relief began at The St. Louis Area Foodbank in 1996 and she spent 26 years gaining a wealth of experience within food banking and the issues surrounding hunger and food insecurity. In 2021, she decided to change environments and went on to join another food bank in the area, Operation Food Search, where she spent almost a year before joining her current employer, Umoja Supply Chain Solutions. Her passion for providing food to help communities thrive is the main objective of her current position in hunger relief as she serves on the Procurement team at Umoja, purchasing food items for food boxes that are designed for food banks. Full circle! Lenora feels this is a great time to serve on the Board of The Rustic Roots Sanctuary! “It is a great fit, I’m passionate about fresh produce and providing that option to communities and Rustic Roots Sanctuary is a great organization doing great work!” In her spare time, she loves to cook, travel, enjoy great music, enjoy family and relax with her husband of 8 eight years/best friend of 18 years, Reginald Gooden.
Janett Lewis
Founder/Executive DirectorHolds an Early Childhood Education degree and has been a licensed holistic health provider for over twenty years. Lewis began her twenty plus year holistic health care career while obtaining an Associates Degree in Real Estate. Lewis has twelve years experience as a RE professional and investor and two years experience marketing for small businesses. Lewis has served her communities in many ways including two years as a board director of the Clairemont Town Council (CA), two years serving on the board of the Spanish Lake CDC, one year as the Board Chair of the Spanish Lake CDC, and is a St. Louis Neighborhood Leadership Fellow. Lewis is passionate about fighting for food equity, teaching people to grow food, the importance of nutrition, and how to live more sustainable lives. Having a background in Waldorf education, holistic health care, and business prepared Lewis to launch Rustic Roots Sanctuary Co.a culmination of her life's greatest works.
Connie Risby
TreasurerHas a background in marketing and sales and is a long time Spanish Lake resident. A seasoned business and marketing professional with forty years of experience, Connie Risby’s experience crosses several industries, including: Retail, Fast Food/Quick Casual/Full-Service Restaurants, Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Employment Recruitment Marketing, Government/Military and Financial Services/Banking. Connie has expertise in identifying problems area(s) and developing key objectives, strategies, and tactics at every level including, budgeting, branding/creative, consumer/trade media (online and offline), sales projections, product mix analysis, promotion evaluations, competitive analysis and measurement.
Monica Watson
SecretaryI am a culinary and community food system professional who is committed to creating an equitable and just food system. I have a degree in Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts as well as a few farming apprenticeships. Food has always been central to my story. My childhood exposed me to a variety of food cultures and summers gave me the opportunity to see food grow while visiting grandparents. I first began working as a chef and manager in restaurants, hotels, and private clubs both in Ohio and Chicago before relocating to St. Louis more than 20 years ago. My food journey soon led me to farm to school programs locally, where teaching culinary arts and nutrition focused on gardening and our relationship to food and the earth. I have created curriculums for food education programs that embrace food as cultural and central to our human experience. In my current role as Manager of Community Food Systems for Operation Food Search I work to enhance the nutritional, economic and environmental health of those living in areas with low food access and poverty. I focus on building relationships and connecting our local disinvested BIPOC farmers to disinvested community. Empowering all communities with food access, knowledge, and healing possibilities provided by nature gives people the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives. Food is incredibly powerful. I believe it has the power to root, connect, and heal communities. Supporting Rustic Roots allows me to be part of the work that is the most meaningful to me and mirrors my values.
Jeremiah Sampo
Board of DirectorsJeremiah grew up in a small north woods town in the state of Wisconsin, spent almost 2 years in Minneapolis where he attended North Central University. He has worked with an organization that reached out to the homeless and runaway youth with the purpose of helping them turn their lives around. He was an assistant leader at the Joshua House that provided a stable environment for young men so they could transition out on their own. He moved to St. Louis, MO in 2003 and has fallen in love with the area and the wide variety of businesses and entertainment it offers. He has held many positions in the workforce from general laborer, and small business owner, to department manager. In 2015 he earned his B.S. in Business Administration from UMSL. In August 2020 he accepted a position as a Receiving Coordinator at the St. Louis Area Food Bank. It has been his desire to work with organizations that support the community. He brings a strong work ethic, organizational skills, and critical thinking. He looks forward to building relationships, and learning new skills. He sees challenges as building blocks to a strong mind and body.
Rhonda Mckenzie
Board of DirectorsMy name is Rhonda McKenzie. I am a dialysis Nurse in St Louis. I am excited to support the work of Rustic Roots Sanctuary CO. I believe in holistic health. As a Dialysis Nurse, I understand nutrition is extremely important for good health. I daily see the negative impacts of improper nutrition, the lives it ruins, and the strain on our health care system. Looking at North County as a whole I believe fresh fruits and vegetables should be increased. I will support efforts to increase fresh food access in North County. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts in our community from an increase in access to fresh food.
Sandy Thornhill, MPA
Board of DirectorsCivically engaged, community organizer of integrity, committed to values that uplift antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Looking to apply my nonprofit and development experiences to build power for transformational change. Ability to work independently while actively contributing to cross-functional teams.
Our Farm Family
Sharon "Cookie" Mitchell
Senior Programs/OutreachHer neighbors and friends call her MS. Cookie. She's also been referred to as Ms. Spanish Lake. She has served on the Community Development Board (CDC) for 4 plus years. She volunteers as the Bingo caller at the Twillman House, Helping Hands Food Pantry and the Innovative Crime and Safety Summit in Bellefontaine Neighbors. You will see Cookie at the weekly farmers market @ Rustic Roots Sanctuary and at the check in booth for our public celebrations. She has been instrumental at building our Senior programs and makes weekly confirmation calls to all our participants. She has been a resident of Spanish Lake since 1998 and a member of God's First Church (GFC - Pastor Lucas) in Spanish Lake. Her background is in education and has work experience of 40 years in accounting and business. For her serving her community is a honor. She has a deep love for Spanish Lake and advocates passionately on behalf of the underserved in our community. She helps people get the information they need to live a better quality of life and for growth of Spanish Lake. Her desire is for each of us to live together as one for all and to be active and engaged in Spanish Lake. In 2022 she was the 1st resident of Spanish Lake to receive the Lieutenant Governors’ award for her community service.
Eric Scott
Facilities Manager/Farm OperationsEric started his working career in Operations/Facility Management with emphasis in Agricultural International Business. After over twenty five years in this line of work he decided to make a change and left the corporate world to continue his passion for the building trades. A1 General Contractors was started and grew into STL RE Investments LLC. which served Residential Veterans, and Seniors in the Saint Louis area. Scott has been instrumental in every step of property development, maintenance, and construction buildout of Rustic Roots Sanctuary. He envisions a space where the community is welcome to enjoy the bounty of fresh produce and find peace in the beautiful surroundings.
Eric Stevens
Farm ManagerEric has been involved with growing local produce for over eighteen years. Eric and his wife, Crystal, co-founded FLOURISH along the bluffs of the Mississippi River which encompasses a farm, a plant nursery, and an apothecary. Additionally, Eric has extensive knowledge in edible and ecological landscapes. Eric has been the Farm Manager for various organic farms around St. Louis such as Confluence Farm, EarthDance Organic Farm School and La Vista CSA Farm. He has also been a consultant for other small farms in the area. In 2016, he was selected as a US Delegate by Slow Food St. Louis at Terra Madre, an international food conference in Turin, Italy. Eric is also a fine artist with an emphasis on printmaking and woodblock prints and hand painted house portraits. He is a carpenter, woodworker and land steward.
Karen Schone (Kari)
Farm Assistant ManagerSince returning to Missouri 19 year ago, Kari has discovered her passion for sustainable agriculture and volunteered at an organic CSA, elementary school gardens, an urban farm, grown a backyard garden, and spearheaded a collectively-worked neighborhood garden. She continues to raise her three boys and work at a family-owned skating rink. She is thrilled at the opportunity to join the Rustic Roots Sanctuary team and is most excited about getting to know the people who are a part of the farm and community!
Joy Hargrove
Creative Food Utilization ManagerHello! I'm Joy! I am a birth Mother of 3 amazing sons and a village Mother and Auntie to many other amazing people. I have been trained as a chef, a musician and in multiple construction trades. My true passion lies in building community. I use all of my skills and love to bring people together and experience true Joy that we all deserve.
Josh Hagene
Farm SupportJosh is a 23-year-old tattoo artist from St. Louis. He enjoys making art, gardening, and traveling to new places around the world. He loves animals and has a deaf American Bulldog named Buddy.
Jasmine Pirtle
Farm SupportI am a 22-year-old local resident and grower of Spanish Lake. I am deeply devoted to reconnecting my family and local community with food and their growth processes. Outside of work, you'll find me gardening of course, reading, capturing moments through photography, and crafting all sorts of things! I'm overjoyed to dive into the world of livestock and eager to learn every aspect of how creation aids us in sustainable living!
Eltoreon Hawkins
Landscape MaintenceHi, I'm Eltoreon. I have been in St Louis for 28 years. I cut my first lawn at the age of 10 and have been cutting every since. On weekends I love enjoying the outdoor activities with my kids. I love being surrounded by all the plants and positive energy here at Rustic Roots.