Originally from Pennsylvania, Summer moved to Bakersfield, CA in 2017 to begin a role as the California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Edible Garden Coordinator through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Along with lots of community folks and students, Summer worked to start a sustainable, student-led garden at CSUB with the aim of addressing a 40% campus food insecurity rate.

This experience led Summer to look at food insecurity through a systemic lens and prompted her decision to pursue a Master’s Degree in Global Studies at UC Berkeley, where she focused her research on economic, social, and environmental justice. She graduated in Spring 2019, and after a brief internship abroad, is so excited to join the Petaluma Bounty team as the Nutrition Incentives Coordinator.

Summer brings experiences rooted in community engagement, educational empowerment, and environmental sustainability. She enjoys doing all things outdoors- farmer’s markets, hikes, jogs, beaches, etc.- reading, writing, practicing yoga, and cooking with fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies. Her favorite season is indeed the summer!