Become a Leader!
Thank you to our 2026 Season Rose Roots Garden Leaders - we appreciate your commitment, passion, and time!
Service Jobs: Check out our Service Jobs and let us know if you'd like to fill any of these positions for the 2026 Season. These are not voted upon positions unless more than one person wants to be a lead, then we will vote on those lead positions at the start of next season. Read about available positions Here. Please email us at leadership@roserootsgarden.org with questions or to sign up for a team.
Laura Bennett
President, 2026
I love our community and have lived in north Arvada for 30 years. I thrive in the outdoors with biking, hiking, golfing, and skiing. Walking through our community brings me inner peace-as I realize how how "lucky we all are." The garden is a peaceful place to bond with mother nature and also people with common interests. Being a part of this community has opened my eyes to so many programs as well as other people in need that do not have the same opportunities that I have had. Cooking is my passion, and I spend hours a day cooking, planning -- planting all for nourishment of my body and soul! Happiness in my heart!
Tom Glum
Treasurer, 2026
My wife and I moved here from the Westchester County in New York a few years ago to be closer to our daughter and her husband. We love being close to the mountains and the cities of Denver and Boulder. We love to walk with such beautiful views all around us.
When we first moved here, we walked past Rose Roots Community Garden often and admired how well it is laid out and how friendly the people are. So, we started gardening here a few years ago, and when the opportunity arose to help the organization with my corporate financial experience, I jumped at the chance! The leadership team is full of dedicated, friendly, and effective people. Likewise, the larger gardening community is full of warm, interesting, and helpful people.
Jim Richards
Operations Team, 2026
Our Operations Team supports Rose Roots by keeping everything at the garden running and working!
Gary Williams
Operations Team, 2026
Our Operations Team supports Rose Roots by keeping everything at the garden running and working!
Jack Nix
Operations Team, 2026
Our Operations Team supports Rose Roots by keeping everything at the garden running and working!
Erin Newton
Vice President, 2026
Erin has managed our website for the last few years and much of our communications and marketing. Having worked as a geologist and currently a harpist, she recently chaired the Arvada Parks Advisory Committee and enjoys being part of a strong inclusive Rose Roots Leadership team. She has gardened with her husband and two sons at Rose Roots from nearly the very start. Her family has enjoyed some of their most peaceful and joyful hours, albeit dirt infused, together at the garden. Her parents now share the adjacent plot and share watering efforts.
Patty Sacks
Westside Project, 2026
Patty recently retired from her position as a Landscape Architect/Project Manager from the National Park Service after 36 years. This gave her time to start gardening at Rose Roots. She enjoys contributing at an organizational level to bring it all full circle.
Maggie Alcorn
Administrator, 2026
Our Administrator supports Roses Roots in a variety of ways, including attending 1-2 hour monthly meetings with fun creative people, taking minutes in meetings, and offering ideas for making the garden a more productive inclusive space.
Aaron Amaya
South Pollinator Garden, 2026
Aaron Amaya leads the maintenance and care of the beautifully flourishing Pollinator garden. He is always happy to share tips with anyone who cares to join in helping to maintain the garden space filled with native species at the entrance to Rose Roots garden. Join us every 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:30-7:30pm.
Gina Schley
Rose Roots Founder
Gina, among the original founders of Rose Roots Garden continues to consult while starting her own flower growing business "She Grows." In addition she co-hosted "Urban Conversation," a reality show she and her husband produced to show their family's journey towards sustainable living. Get some gardening tips and watch the fabulous PBS episodes at www.urbanconversion.com or check out her garden workshops at www.shegrows.com. She generously continues to offer Rose Roots gardeners helpful gardening workshops.