Margo Mejia Sikora, Garden Education Consultant

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I grew up in the inner city of Chicago. As an urban child, I lacked exposure to nature, and my schools didn’t have gardens. Like many kids in the age of convenience, I consumed fast food often. I finally learned how to cook while studying abroad in Spain and noticed a great improvement in my health. Once I started gardening, I understood how important it is for youth and people of all ages to learn about growing and preparing nutritious food.

After graduating from U of I Urbana Champaign with a double major in Biology and Spanish, my first job was at an organic farm. The farm owner gave me a book about how soils lose productivity when exposed to increasing amounts of chemical inputs. As I learned more about this topic, I decided to pursue a career in sustainable agriculture. I attended an agricultural university in Germany and completed a Master’s degree in Organic Agriculture and Food Systems. During my studies, whistleblower Monica Eng revealed how Chicago Public Schools (CPS) did not allow garden produce into school cafeterias. I investigated this issue by conducting my thesis on garden-to-cafeteria programs (see my thesis here). CPS has since changed its policies to promote and regulate garden-to-cafeteria programs with their Eat What You Grow certification. Through my research and experience, I’m convinced that gardening is the most powerful way to encourage healthier consumption choices. Studies show that when children engage in gardening, they eat more fruits and vegetables– and they enjoy the taste of them! 

My goal is to help people experience the benefits of gardening by making it more accessible. I’ve been running garden education programs in Chicago since 2014 and have collaborated with numerous organizations and stakeholders that are invested in garden education. I am certified in Edible Landscaping and Container Design (Windy City Harvest/Chicago Botanic Gardens) and Permaculture Design (Permaculture Chicago Teaching Institute). In 2021, I worked for CPS as their Garden Programs Coordinator and co-authored the CPS School Garden Toolkit.

 

Kathy Tsang, Garden Education Consultant

My love of plants started with a childhood of digging holes for my mother’s flowers every Spring.  The remnants of my grandmother’s vegetable garden next to the shed was a constant reminder of memories of gardening I was way too young to remember.  I grew up sharing a backyard with deer, black bears, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, owls, squirrels, and chipmunks.  I am forever grateful to the privilege I had in being surrounded by nature my entire upbringing.  Even while in Chicago the past 13 years, my careers have always led me back to nature.  As a teenager in Horticulture class, I never expected I would dedicate my life’s work to garden education.  I believe the benefits we gain in understanding our environment and the symbiotic relationship we all have with our surroundings are lifelong.  Understanding our role in the ecosystem and how humans are stewards of the environment show the importance of the partnership of communities, socially and environmentally.  I have been teaching garden programs and building gardens since 2014.  I was also a Special Education Classroom Assistance for Chicago Public Schools from 2018-2024.  I graduated from Beloit College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art.  

Brekke Bounds, Garden Education Consultant

Brekke first got excited about the role that food plays in our lives after working at a summer camp on a farm more than a decade ago. She became fascinated with the idea of locally and sustainably grown food and how food connects all of us. That led her to pursue a Master’s in Sustainable Food Systems and to study permaculture, holistic nutrition, and herbalism. She holds certifications in Permaculture Design (Midwest Permaculture), is board certified in Holistic Nutrition (BCHN), and is a national board certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). Brekke has worked as an experiential educator for more than 20 years, including 10 years as a garden educator. She is now the Executive Director of the Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI). She also enjoys volunteering and is an active member of the Avondale Gardening Alliance and Avondale Mutual Aid. When Brekke isn’t growing food, her hobbies include reading and spending time outside – camping, hiking, open water swimming, picnicking, you name it!

Adam Sikora, Bookkeeper and Graphic Designer

Adam Sikora programmed an innovative invoicing system for Rainbow City Gardens, and designed their logo, branding and marketing materials. Besides offering his skills and talents to RCG, Adam is the Operations Manager at Marcus Theaters in Orland Park, Illinois. He graduated with a degree in Film Video Production from Columbia College in Chicago. Several years ago he decided to pursue a career in computer programming and obtained a Web Development certification from Coding Dojo. He is currently creating original video games which have a focus on puzzles and mathematics. He has an impressive puzzle collection and has completed an 18,250 piece puzzle all by himself, without referencing the picture on the front of the box (represent!). His hobbies also include parkour and long distance running– he has run the Chicago Marathon seven times. He considers being a father the most important job of his life.

Leah Goldbloom, Garden Education Consultant

I grew up with a mom who thought sidewalks were great places to grow food. She ripped out lawns, planted flowers and trees, and taught me how to listen to nature, how to be resourceful, and how to take care of what takes care of you.
I worked at Gardeneers since 2016 where I served as Program Director, teaching students and communities about the natural world and healing food. My work has included leading health-based classes and workshops, distributing free produce, and training year-long AmeriCorps cohorts. What drives me most are my interactions with new gardeners. There’s nothing more thrilling than watching someone plant a seed for the first time, tend to it, and then light up when it finally grows!
I studied Sociology at UIC and have continued learning through programs like the Master Urban Farmer Certification, Yale’s Executive Education Women’s Leadership program, and through studying trauma-informed community care.
Outside of work, you can usually find me doing aerial silks or lyra, hand-building ceramics, or at home, knitting. I also love going on adventures with my partner and our two dogs, Bean and Mazal.