Nande gilbert

Manager of School and Teen Programs

Nande Gilbert has over 5 years of experience in youth development.She's dedicated her life to giving back to her community, The Hilltop, and learning how to better serve the youth. In previous years she's served at local Elementary schools with City Year, and worked throughout Columbus with Godman Guild, and the Boys and Girls Club. She has a Bachelors of Arts from University of Toledo. She's a child at heart growing her knowledge in gardening and diving into a new facet of youth development. Always a learner.

Sarah Zinn

Garden Manager

Sarah Zinn is a passionate gardener, educator and nature-lover . After spending time as a farmhand in Colorado, she was hooked on the lifestyle. Since then, she has spent the last 7 years learning in different outdoor education, community gardening and farm-to-table kitchen settings. She has worked in several outdoor educational settings as a Camp Counselor, a Boys and Girls Club Camp Coordinator and Preschool Teacher. She also worked as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Franklinton Farms, and in many different from-scratch kitchens, eventually becoming the Sous Chef at Jorgensen Farms farm-to-table wedding venue. She has dedicated her personal life to similar pursuits, co-founding a women's community garden in Franklinton, backpacking the Colorado Trail, and cultivating her own property into an abundant homestead.

Carmen gil

Manager for Afterschool and Family Programs

Carmen has worked in the education field for over 10 years in various roles teaching children. She has worked as a Preschool Teacher, After School Program Assistant and Childcare Director. She has worked with children of various ages and different educational institutions. An Ohio native with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Lourdes University, she is fluent in Spanish and excited to learn more about gardening while creating connections with the Highland community. 

As Manager for Afterschool and Family Programs, she leads Garden Club, helps with the Family Garden program and is designing a new Saturday morning program for families.

Carol Choup

Administrative Coordinator

We are excited to welcome Carol Choup to our team as the new Administrative Coordinator! Having served in administrative and social media management roles, she brings a wealth of experience to our organization. Carol recently completed the Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund’s 2023 Change Makers cohort right before joining us in November. In her new role, Carol will play a critical part in capturing and sharing our organizations work with the public. She’s enthusiastic about attending community events, expanding our programs in The Hilltop area schools, and contributing to the growth of our garden. Most importantly, she’s excited to build relationships with members of the community.

Carol also serves as a Co-Leader for Seeds of Caring, where she and her son, volunteer to foster kindness among children, creating a more compassionate community. We’re confident that Carol’s passion for social justice will make a significant impact in enhancing our mission at Highland Youth Garden. 

Sara Moya

Summer Garden Educator and Green Teens Assistant

Sara Moya grew up in Austin, Texas but moved to Columbus in 2021 to study Geography at OSU. After volunteering with the Highland Youth Garden for nearly two years, she was inspired to change graduate degrees. Sara is now earning a Master's in Agricultural Education. With a Master's of Science and Bachelor's of Science in Geography from Texas State University, Sara is experienced in educational programming and is interested in the human-environmental relations at the heart of the HYG. As a Latina (Chilean) and immigrant, she is thrilled to continue the garden's collaborative relationship to the Latinx and other marginalized communities of the Hilltop. Sara now works with Nande Gilbert in the Green Teens Summer Program.