our team
A Note on Shared Leadership
Roots Rising is proud to have a leadership structure that reflects its values as an organization. Shared leadership is collaborative in nature. It stands in opposition to traditional leadership models with top-down structures of power. Shared leadership reflects a belief that wisdom is not confined to any single individual, and that success comes from the raising up of multiple voices and perspectives. Shared leadership at Roots Rising goes beyond its executive level: we honor the knowledge and experience held by staff and youth and encourage their participation in decision making and direction setting for the organization.
Jessica Vecchia
Co-Director
Jessica is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Roots Rising. She served as the Director of Alchemy Initiative for ten years, where she helped launch the Pittsfield Farmers Market in 2013. Over the years as market manager, she transformed the market into a vibrant community hub. With the belief that everyone in our community should have access to fresh, healthy food, she created Market Match, a nutrition incentive program for low-income residents. Jessica studied social work both in the U.S. and abroad and holds a Masters Degree in nonprofit management from The New School. In 2017 she was honored by Berkshire Community College as one of the Berkshires' "40 Under Forty" and by 1Berkshire’s Trendsetter Awards as the “Under 40 Change Maker”. In 2019 Jessica and Jamie jointly received Berkshire Magazine's Berkshire 25 award for the "Most Dedicated, Most Creative, and Most Influential" individuals in Berkshire County.
Jamie Samowitz
Co-Director
Jamie is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Roots Rising. Jamie is passionate about facilitating transformative education experiences for young adults. She has led student expeditions to Brazil, wilderness expeditions in Teton National Park, and violence prevention workshops in New York City. Jamie has a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England, a Graduate Certificate in Field Ecology and Place-Based Education from the Teton Science School in Kelly, Wyoming, and a Bachelor's Degree in Cultural Anthropology from New College of Florida. In 2019 Jamie and Jessica jointly received Berkshire Magazine's Berkshire 25 award for the "Most Dedicated, Most Creative, and Most Influential" individuals in Berkshire County. In 2020 Jamie was honored by Berkshire Community College as one of the Berkshire's "40 Under Forty".
Eileen Rice
Operations Director
Eileen is a non-profit pro who believes in caring for our Earth and each other at every opportunity. She's previously worked on farms abroad, and in transportation advocacy, health-centered non-profits, and food co-ops at home. A good to-do list and a well designed fundraising letter are her love languages, and she works to help expand Roots Rising's capacity and impact in the community.
Lauren Piotrowski
Program Manager
As a farmer and educator, Lauren believes that creating a personal connection to the natural world is the first step towards building thriving and resilient farms and communities. Over the past decade, she has found great satisfaction in the responsibility that has come with growing nutritious and accessible food.
She is inspired by the endless opportunities for learning when we partner with nature. Whether pulling a beautiful jewel of a beet from well-tended soil or being chased by a curious steer across a pasture, Lauren finds the farm to be an exceptional setting to learn to love our planet and ourselves.
Brennah Brickle
Assistant Market Manager, Farm and Market Crew Alum
Hannah Wheeler
Assistant Market Manager, Farm and Market Crew Alum
Roots Rising Board of Directors
Regina Burgio, Co-President
Susan Kelly, Co-President
Sandra Thomas, Treasurer
Julia Marko, Clerk
Marlee Barry
André Lynch