Meet Our Team
Sara L. Stewart, RN, MSN
Executive Director, Board President
In 2008, Sara saw the need for fresh, barrier-free food in our community and decided to grow a garden. This spout of an idea has grown and spread throughout our region providing opportunities, resources, and life-long relationships. Her passion for connecting people to healthy food and each other keeps her striving to make this "outrageous" idea the standard everywhere. Contact Sara sara@theunitygardens.org
Executive Director, Board President
In 2008, Sara saw the need for fresh, barrier-free food in our community and decided to grow a garden. This spout of an idea has grown and spread throughout our region providing opportunities, resources, and life-long relationships. Her passion for connecting people to healthy food and each other keeps her striving to make this "outrageous" idea the standard everywhere. Contact Sara sara@theunitygardens.org
Katie Lane
Director of Operations
Katie joined Unity Gardens as an intern in 2021 and has since taken on the role of Director of Operations. She oversees all aspects of the day to day at Unity Gardens, including our full time staff, internship program, Giving Grove partnership, satellite gardens, and our main free-pick garden. She's always happy to talk gardening or fruit trees or rock climbing. Contact Katie katie@theunitygardens.org
Director of Operations
Katie joined Unity Gardens as an intern in 2021 and has since taken on the role of Director of Operations. She oversees all aspects of the day to day at Unity Gardens, including our full time staff, internship program, Giving Grove partnership, satellite gardens, and our main free-pick garden. She's always happy to talk gardening or fruit trees or rock climbing. Contact Katie katie@theunitygardens.org
Emily Haluda
Educator
Emily was born and raised in St. Joseph County, and lives in the local community. She enjoys hiking, kayaking on the St. Joe river, mixed media art, family, and bluegrass music. Tommy Boy is her two year old dog. She graduated from Lake Superior State University with a bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation and an associates degree in Natural Resource Technology. She worked with the Cass County Conservation District, as a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program Technician. Before then, she worked in summer camp programming, and child development. Contact Emily emilyh@theunitygardens.org
Educator
Emily was born and raised in St. Joseph County, and lives in the local community. She enjoys hiking, kayaking on the St. Joe river, mixed media art, family, and bluegrass music. Tommy Boy is her two year old dog. She graduated from Lake Superior State University with a bachelor's degree in Parks and Recreation and an associates degree in Natural Resource Technology. She worked with the Cass County Conservation District, as a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program Technician. Before then, she worked in summer camp programming, and child development. Contact Emily emilyh@theunitygardens.org
Hannah Bansen
Product Coordinator
Hannah joined Unity Gardens as an intern in 2023. She now keeps our products in stock, keeping inventory, making soaps, pouring honey, and much more. She still really likes transplanting tomatoes. Contact Hannah hannah@theunitygardens.org
Product Coordinator
Hannah joined Unity Gardens as an intern in 2023. She now keeps our products in stock, keeping inventory, making soaps, pouring honey, and much more. She still really likes transplanting tomatoes. Contact Hannah hannah@theunitygardens.org
Danny Davis
Volunteer Coordinator
Danny joined us in August of 2023 as a jack of all trades. He has since taken on the job of leading volunteers in the garden and taking care of our market farm area. Contact Danny volunteering@theunitygardens.org
Volunteer Coordinator
Danny joined us in August of 2023 as a jack of all trades. He has since taken on the job of leading volunteers in the garden and taking care of our market farm area. Contact Danny volunteering@theunitygardens.org
Will Russell
Construction & Maintenance
Will is a union carpenter who joined us in August of 2023. who loves building opportunities with new people in the community and taking the time to help build further possibilities for children. He wants to give back one day at a time, one moment at a time, and one gift at a time. Will's goal is to connect communities with less opportunities to resources and possibilities to ensure everyone has potential for the future. Contact Will volunteering@theunitygardens.org
Construction & Maintenance
Will is a union carpenter who joined us in August of 2023. who loves building opportunities with new people in the community and taking the time to help build further possibilities for children. He wants to give back one day at a time, one moment at a time, and one gift at a time. Will's goal is to connect communities with less opportunities to resources and possibilities to ensure everyone has potential for the future. Contact Will volunteering@theunitygardens.org
Molly Carlisle
HR Manager
Molly has been with Unity Gardens since July 2022 and helps to promote a cohesive, supportive, and efficient working environment. She aids in the hiring of new interns and full time staff and she helps with harvest during the growing season. Molly loves growing food almost as much as she loves growing community. Contact Molly molly@theunitygardens.org
HR Manager
Molly has been with Unity Gardens since July 2022 and helps to promote a cohesive, supportive, and efficient working environment. She aids in the hiring of new interns and full time staff and she helps with harvest during the growing season. Molly loves growing food almost as much as she loves growing community. Contact Molly molly@theunitygardens.org
Chad Bartalone
Chad Bartalone is a recent graduate of IUSB School of Social Work pursuing a graduate degree in clinical therapy. Prior to joining the team at Unity Gardens, Chad worked for the past twenty years as a firefighter and paramedic in the Southwest Michigan area and later for the South Bend Fire Department. He lives on the west side of South Bend with his wife Raquel and two children. Chad facilitates a men's support group here at Unity Gardens called "Contemplate" and is undergoing training to serve as the new beekeeper.
Chad Bartalone is a recent graduate of IUSB School of Social Work pursuing a graduate degree in clinical therapy. Prior to joining the team at Unity Gardens, Chad worked for the past twenty years as a firefighter and paramedic in the Southwest Michigan area and later for the South Bend Fire Department. He lives on the west side of South Bend with his wife Raquel and two children. Chad facilitates a men's support group here at Unity Gardens called "Contemplate" and is undergoing training to serve as the new beekeeper.
Bernadette Bradley
Bernadette Bradley grew up gardening for her family’s CSA in South Bend. She takes on various jobs tending to the gardens on the property, and is always happy to show people around or stop for a chat. She also leads volunteers in the satellite locations when support is needed. Last May, she graduated from IU Bloomington with degrees in Contemporary Dance and Spanish and now spends much of her time teaching dance classes and playing in various folk bands.
Bernadette Bradley grew up gardening for her family’s CSA in South Bend. She takes on various jobs tending to the gardens on the property, and is always happy to show people around or stop for a chat. She also leads volunteers in the satellite locations when support is needed. Last May, she graduated from IU Bloomington with degrees in Contemporary Dance and Spanish and now spends much of her time teaching dance classes and playing in various folk bands.
Intern Team
Ana Carmona
Ana is a current IUSB student majoring in Social Work. She wants to be a medical social worker once she graduates. She has a passion for helping others in her community. One of her hobbies is gardening; she hopes to learn and gain experience so she can have her own little garden in the future. Ana is also bilingual in Spanish!
Ana is a current IUSB student majoring in Social Work. She wants to be a medical social worker once she graduates. She has a passion for helping others in her community. One of her hobbies is gardening; she hopes to learn and gain experience so she can have her own little garden in the future. Ana is also bilingual in Spanish!
Yvette Williams
Yvette has been a longtime supporter of Unity Gardens. She works in our Welcome Center to meet those who come in, share what we've got going on, and spends her extra time making products for the farmers market and learning about gardening.
Yvette has been a longtime supporter of Unity Gardens. She works in our Welcome Center to meet those who come in, share what we've got going on, and spends her extra time making products for the farmers market and learning about gardening.
Isaiah Roeber
Isaiah is currently a senior at Trinity School at Greenlawn. This coming fall, he'll attend Colorado School of Mines to study Design Engineering. He enjoys the outdoors, sports, and music and actively volunteers at the South Bend Bike Garage. With a growing interest in gardening and sustainability, he's excited to expand his knowledge in these areas. He looks forward to meeting more people along the way!
Isaiah is currently a senior at Trinity School at Greenlawn. This coming fall, he'll attend Colorado School of Mines to study Design Engineering. He enjoys the outdoors, sports, and music and actively volunteers at the South Bend Bike Garage. With a growing interest in gardening and sustainability, he's excited to expand his knowledge in these areas. He looks forward to meeting more people along the way!
Eve Morningstar
Martin Couch
Tobias Neil