Letter from Nick Stanich, Incoming ED

Dear Franklinton Farms Community,

It is with a great deal of enthusiasm that I have returned to my role of Executive Director at Franklinton Farms! Some of you may know that I served as ED from 2011-2020, have lived in Franklinton since 2010, and have been involved in several Franklinton-based urban forestry, housing rehabilitation, and bicycling initiatives over the past 15 years. 

This past week I learned of the ED position vacancy while consulting with the Board of Directors, and without hesitation, I offered to step in and serve as Executive Director for as long as is needed during this vital phase of the organization. 

We have experienced some challenges, common for non-profit organizations and urban farms around the country, but I’ve resumed my historic position of Executive Director of Franklinton Farms with new energy, several years of personal and professional growth, and the same creative, problem-solving, passion for this work in our community. 

Franklinton Farms has grown immensely over the past 4.5 years since I stepped away. 

The organization’s breadth of educational programming and community connections has expanded and flourished vastly beyond the expectations I held while I led the organization’s establishment and early growth. 

The talented and dedicated team of staff that we first began to hire in 2019 has grown and matured into a powerful group of farmers, philanthropic professionals, and educators - all united in lovingly sharing the abundance of healthy food with our neighbors and greater civic agriculture community.

Leadership change is often accompanied by uncertainty, but know that Franklinton Farms is - in no uncertain terms - resilient, robust, and well-positioned to bounce back from unexpected setbacks that may come with this abrupt transition. 

Over the next few weeks I’ll be reaching out to touch base with key community and philanthropic partners to meet or reacquaint, and to explore how we can continue to vision and create a bounty of produce grown on our urban farm, abundance through our community connections, and transformative experiences through our garden education programming. 

I’m very much looking forward to this new chapter of leadership within Franklinton Farms, and to meeting many of you soon!

Sincerely,

Nick Stanich, 

Executive Director, Franklinton Farms

nick.stanich@franklintonfarms.org

614-562-4804