Meet Our Staff
Delanie is originally from Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!) where she studied urban planning with a focus on sustainable development. Her previous work heavily focused on broadening food access and eliminating food insecurity on college campuses, and she am extremely eager to bring the knowledge she gained from those roles and my coursework into this season! Delanie has a heartfelt belief that access to healthy and nourishing food is a human right, not a privilege and she cannot wait to help provide that for the people of Denver! In her time outside of DUG, you can find her knitting up a storm of hats, baking one too many baked goods, or biking around the park in my cruiser. She is excited to be a part of the DUG network that connects people to gardens all around the city and provides access to those as eager as I am to get gardening!
Max has lived and gardened here in Colorado his whole life. After earning a master's degree in Sustainable Food Systems last year, he's been looking for ways to make a positive impact in his home state. Max's food journey began in restaurants and has led him to work in vineyards, wineries, organic farms, landscaping/edible gardening, food retail, and food policy. These days, he's passionate about food, wine, gardening, cooking and baking, canning and preservation, fermentation, and just about anything else garden or food-related. In his free time, Max is an amateur birder and loves exploring the amazing world of Denver’s parks and diverse ecosystems. He is thrilled to be part of the DUG team, helping to grow Denver’s beautiful garden spaces and bring together our communities.
Osiris is originally from Jacksonville, Florida and has lived all over the country (and even a few places oversees). And while Osiris moved for work, they stayed for the snowy mountains of Colorado. Osiris enjoys bridging their passions for language, community, and stories at DUG and is new to gardening! Osiris is all about holistic wellness and is an avid yogi (you can find Osiris teaching yin at the local climbing gym), passionate powerlifter, and novice climber. When Osiris is not working, they're sipping iced matcha, reading a cheesy romance book, or cuddling with their dog, Betty!
Fun Fact: Osiris speaks Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese!
Brit has over 10 years experience in food systems work and began volunteering with DUG in 2014. She is deeply passionate about localizing our food system and deepening knowledge around growing food. Brit holds a Master's Degree in International Development from the Josef Korbel School for International Studies at the University of Denver. Brit enjoys yoga, hiking, reading and gardening with her two daughters, Willa and Indigo, and pup, Max.
Fun fact: Brit has over 50 first cousins!
Caroline (she/they) comes to Denver via the Northeast. She is a nonprofit administrator with prior experience in civil rights law and the arts. Caroline has been privileged to learn from food justice, community, and mutual aid organizers in Denver and beyond, and brings a systems-level framework to the daily details of event management.
Fun Fact: My favorite holiday is Halloween!
Vanessa holds two Bachelor's degrees from Arizona State University in Sustainability and Spanish and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Development Practice from Regis University. Vanessa has a passion to eradicate environmental injustice and ensure a sustainable future for all. In Vanessa’s professional career she has had the opportunity to work with youth who have inspired her lifelong curiosity and desire to learn every day. In her position at DUG she hopes to promote autonomy in the young people of Denver and empower them to bring positive transformation to the systems that affect them. In her personal time she enjoys Latin dancing, cooking, and appreciating nature.
Fun fact: Vanessa’s favorite sport is American Football - Go Cardinals
Lara Wirtz Fahnestock has a passion for building community, teaching children where their food comes from and finding places of beauty and healing wherever she can. Lara joined Denver Urban Gardens as a Garden Leader in 2010 and DUG staff in 2015. As the Director of Garden Operations, she coordinates land use with DUG partners, oversees all new garden builds and oversees DUG's Therapeutic Garden Initiative. She has a BA in Biology from the Colorado College, a certificate of Authentic Leadership from Naropa University and is a Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in trauma healing. Lara is currently studying Horticultural Therapy.
Fun fact: Lara is a second degree black belt in taekwondo
Eve was born and raised in Colorado Springs. She attended the University of Colorado Denver and earned a Geography degree with an emphasis in environment, society and sustainability. After her studies she moved to France for over a year and attended the American University of Paris where she studied French. During my year in France, she visited eleven countries! In her free time Eve enjoys gardening, watching movies, and exploring my neighborhood. She is so excited to be a part of the DUG team!
Interested in working with DUG?
Learn more about our available employment opportunities.
Explore what fuels our work.
Learn more about Denver Urban Gardens.
All PR inquiries should be directed to Stef Jones at stefanie@feedmedia.com
Meet Our Board
Briana Borin-Lygizos
Jolon Clark
Tim Craft
Andrew Feldman
Charon Earnest
Brooke Gabbert
Richard Hess
Adam Larkey
Jason Longsdorf
Kelly Nordini
Jesse Ogas
Melissa Rosas
Chris Shaffner
Melinda Warner
Zane Way
Interested in joining the DUG board?
Board recruitment generally happens each spring. If you’re interested in joining, please email Linda Appel Lipsius, Executive Director.
Meet Our Advisory Council
Advisory Council members provide guidance and thought partnership to DUG senior leadership and lift up our work through their networks. We also ask them from time to time to engage in educational opportunities and fundraising events.
Dana Bryson
Zach Bush, MD
Steve Culbertson
Robert Egger
Ryland Englehart
Justin Evans
Beverly Grant
Daniela Ibarra-Howell
Jeff Krasno
Laura J. Lawson
Ashley Williamson
Meet Our Partners
Our Partners support the work we do inside and out. Their encouragement, participation, and enthusiasm for the work we do incites our collective passion towards building a regenerative urban future.
Community Collaborators
Market Station
CPV (17th Street Gardens)
City of Lakewood (Porter Park)
Archway Communities- Mosaic
Independence
Corporate Funders
DaVita
Henderson
Tito’s
Milgrom
Brownstein
Deloitte
Southwest Airlines
TIAA
Tagawa Gardens
Alec’s Ice Cream
Patagonia
Farmer’s Defense
Canna
Alvéole
Garden Adopters
McKinstry
Marcus Foundation
Liberty Global
DaVita
Snooze 7th & CO
Graland Country Day School
CU-EMBA
Jeffco Public Health
Good Karma
Alpine Bank
New Hope
PhotoBucket
Conver Wonder Foundation
United Health Care
Brownstein Law
Secret Sauce
Gaming Lab International
Fairway Independent
Xcel Energy
Illegal Pete’s
Meow Wolf
Birdcall
Rachio
Snooze Ballpark
Tributary Real Estate
MolsonCoors
SeEds Foundation/Milgrom
Oz Architecture
Emich Automotive
Amazon
TIAA
Whole Foods
Huntington Bank
Chase Bank
HFDK
AdCellerant
Broncos Foundation
Slalom
Grant Partners
Technology Partners
Prolacity
DDP
Vendors
A1 Organics
GrowOya
Specialty Wood Products
Botanical Interests
Blooma Farms
Oogie’s
Wallaroo Hats
Great Divide