Our Team

Co-Chair

Vanessa C. is a mother of dragons (4 children) and is a proud wife of Fire Captain Durant. She was raised in Northern Maine where she developed her love for creating beautiful spaces that feel welcoming. She has a BS in psychology and focused a major part of her career on supporting families with children through household management, nannying, and supporting new parents with sleep consulting and lactation consulting. She currently homeschools and runs her own website design business while assists non-profits through board involvement. She believes raising children is important revolutionary work.

Treasurer

Larry D. (no pronouns) of Bangor came to Maine in 1974 and has been here ever since. Some of Larry’s activities since then: Done community organizing on numerous issues through INVERT and then Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC), committed civil disobedience several times, grown a garden yearly since 1977, joined various food cooperatives and two men’s groups, refused to pay federal income taxes for war, lived on a community land trust for 23 years, and met a wonderful partner whom Larry has loved for over 40 years. Larry has produced Outside the Box radio features on WERU since 2007 and enjoys bicycling in free time.

Secretary

Cathy O.

Program Advisor

Carolyn Patrick (she/her) is a mother, wife, registered nurse, lactation consultant, University of Maine alumni, and land steward. She also is an avid sports mom and advocate for Black maternal health, she is passionate about improving equitable access to quality healthcare. Drawing on her frontline healthcare experience and attention to detail, Carolyn provides thoughtful guidance to help ensure GRGF's programs are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of families and communities.

Farm Program Director/HR Lead/Co-founder

David P. (he/him) is a father, husband, fisherman, gardener, sports coach, and outdoor enthusiast who is passionate about building strong, connected communities. David has over 20 years of experience as a social worker, educator, facilitator, and therapist. He holds a B.S. in International Business & Marketing and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Maine. His career has included care coordination, outpatient therapy, higher education, and advocacy for diverse and underrepresented communities. He also volunteers with the NAACP and enjoys farming, martial arts, and mentoring youth. He uses his educational and experimental background to provide realistic and grounded program development to GRGF.

Infrastructure Lead

Attaquin W. (he/him) is a father, fire fighter, business owner, land steward, enrolled member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and of Narragansett heritage. As a cultural keeper, he dances, sings, drums, and creates traditional crafts. He has a decade of experience in construction and carpentry, including framing, painting, concrete work, reading blueprints + more. He also educates youth through school speaking engagements and cultural presentations. Over the years, he has coordinated Rumble on the Rez, an initiative that raises awareness about substance use disorder through boxing and wellness. He resides in York County with his sweetheart and children and spends his time outdoors, with family, at the beach, swimming, running, boxing, and hitting the powwow trail.

Executive Director/Co-foudner

Desiree (Anakoniwa) V. (she/her) is a Cape Verdean, Boricua-Taíno Indigenous, and Portuguese mother, educator, herbalist/farmer, neurospicy community organizer. She is a business owner, State of Maine-certified DEIA facilitator, Matunhero of the Higuayagua Taíno Tribe, and facilitator of the Taíno Women's Circle. With a long career in workplace consulting, organizational development, management, strategic planning, culturally grounded program development, and community engagement, Desiree approaches her work through her holistic wellness, yoga, and anthropological studies. She enjoys creating spaces that foster healing, belonging, and reciprocity while helping communities plant resilience and sustainable nourishment for the next 7 generations.