Board

ANNA SIRIANO

Board President

Anna is the IT Manager at Aviation Medicine Advisory Service. She brings her previous work experience in nonprofit communications, technology, fundraising, and community building, as well as curriculum development and after school childcare, to her board role with the Highland Youth Garden. She joined the board to be part of a nonprofit doing great work in her own neighborhood. She enjoys the boisterous moments of discovery and food-sharing with kids and neighbors, as well as the private, peaceful moments enjoying the space and smelling all the flowers. Anna lives on the Hilltop!

Keisha Hairston

Board Treasurer

I am originally from Detroit, MI.  However, I moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1997.  I later graduated from Independence High School.  Then obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Franklin University.  I currently work for Huntington National Bank, in our Mortgage Division.  However, I have several years of banking/finance experience which I believe would be an asset to your organization.  I am married and have 2 children, ages 18 and 12.  My passion is for helping children and ensuring our communities thrive.  My goal with joining the board is to increase awareness of The Highland Youth Garden and to assist the community in any way possible.  I believe this move will help me fulfill my achievements of making a difference. 

Yolanda Owens

Yolanda considers herself a homegrown Buckeye. A product of Columbus City Schools, she developed a connection to food at a young age and believes that all young people deserve access to agricultural education in their STEM classrooms--as discussed in her TEDx in 2020. She and her husband try to model concept to their two "boss" daughters, through his landscaping work and her work as Pathways and Partnerships Strategist in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.

Adero Robinson

Adero is the CEO/Executive Director with Communities in Schools of Ohio and brings 29 years of non-profit experience to the Highland Youth garden Board. He has also served in roles with City Year, the Columbus Compact Corporation, United Way of Central Ohio, and the Columbus Urban League. He is passionate about non-profits and youth programming and development. Adero is excited to join the board and participate in programming that brings valuable resources, education, and positive experiences to the community. In his spare time Adero volunteers as a youth basketball trainer and coach and is also a practicing martial artist.

Javier Sanchez

Javier is the Founder and CEO of R.E.A.C.H. Communications, Inc., a Health and Wellness Marketing firm focusing on campaigns and initiatives that support our most vulnerable populations and disenfranchised communities. He's done extensive work with various non-profits including Youth to Youth, My Brother's Keeper, Urban Family Development Center, Columbus Urban League, and Action For Children. He was born and raised on the Hilltop and is passionate about being part of the work being done in this community through Highland Youth Garden. Javier is also the co-host of the Emmy winning television show, Columbus Neighborhoods on WOSU TV. When he's not working, he's walking, painting, or spending quality time with friends and family.

kayla davis

Kayla, a proud Columbus & Westside native and devoted mother of one, serves as the Executive Director of A Step in the Right Direction, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Westside of Columbus. With a deep commitment to community service, Ms. Kayla has also held various roles in social services, including her position as Program Manager at Huckleberry House, Inc. Her extensive experience spans case management, advocacy, event planning, program development, budgeting, marketing, and administration. A few years ago, Ms. Kayla was introduced to Highland Youth Garden, where she and her son developed a passion for gardening, both at home and through the garden club. Now, with her enthusiasm for gardening, Ms. Kayla is excited to join the board and share her love for gardening with the Westside community.

Sue Wolfe

Sue was born and raised on the Hilltop and graduated from West High School in a year she won’t disclose! She now lives on the South Side where she was a founding member of the UM Church and Community Development for All People (CD4AP).When she retired from the Ohio Department of Health, she helped to create the Healthy Eating and Living Programs at CD4AP which includes a Fresh Market that provides healthy foods to more than 400 families every day, Thrive to Five that serves families with children from pregnancy through kindergarten readiness, and the Mari Sunami community garden which she coordinates. She loves the mission of HYG and is excited to be a part of the Board.

BRE JACOBS

Bre grew up in the wheat fields of Northwest Ohio and has been living in Columbus for the past 7 years. She works as a Service Designer, helping clients leverage human-centered design to drive change in complex systems. She is passionate about design for social and environmental impact and believes that we have a responsibility to align strategies to the greater needs of our society and world. Bre loves to travel, cook, and learn new things. She has been a volunteer at the garden for just over 3 years and her favorite thing about the garden is the way it promotes creating sustainable, connected communities.