Our Staff

Antoinette is a certified health coach who promotes wellness and sustainable lifestyle changes. She believes community gardening empowers individuals to achieve optimal health by encouraging physical activity, social interactions, and the increased consumption of locally grown fresh produce. Ultimately, Antoinette believes community gardening can help address food insecurity and strengthen social resilience.

Denese has been living in Superior Township for over 20 years and is passionate about uplifting her community through volunteerism. In the past, she worked as a volunteer for the Christian Love Fellowship food pantry and dedicated her time in the willow run school district in various roles. After listening to TC talk about his mission to promote food justice, she now volunteers her time at WRA focusing on community engagement and outreach.

Denese loves spending time with her family and in her own garden space.

As an American Connection Corps (ACC) AmeriCorps Fellow, John is currently helping coordinate the completion of our Strategic Plan while providing support with WRA's technology use and integration.

John is alarmed by supermarket chains, their suppliers, and policies that support their dominance of the American food market at our expense as consumers that face constantly rising prices for produce or food deserts.

John believes WRA's community driven farming and gardening practices can be a sustainable alternative to grocery stores for our local community while serving as a template for community farming & gardening practices throughout the Midwest and beyond.

I am passionate about developing educational learning environments in a multitude of disciplines. My primary focus is on enhancing and motivating learning through video games. I am writing and creating a mobile application for an educational-based video game and an educational-based children's book, among other projects. My wife, who has been gardening for over 30 years, has given me an appreciation for gardening and growing produce. I thoroughly enjoy our garden in our backyard and the fresh fruits and vegetables produced. I enjoy reading and writing and playing golf, basketball, football, and baseball during my spare time. Most significantly, I appreciate the time I can spend with my family. 

William Secrest, an active member in Superior Township for 36 years, is deeply rooted in our community as the owner and operator of Stray Dog Farm. His significant contributions include co-founding the Superior Township Chapter of the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, opening up the treasured Superior Greenway for everyone to enjoy.

William dedicates his time to his garden, to Stray Dog Farm, and to the newly established Secrest Preserve, fostering spaces where both nature and community thrive. His commitment is seen not only in his work but also in his advocacy for the township's natural beauty and its community spirit.

An enthusiast of the great outdoors, William enjoys the simple pleasures of walking his dogs through the township's preserves and taking in the serene views at LeFurge Woods. His love for the area is evident in his dedication to preserving its natural landscapes and fostering a sense of unity among residents.

At the heart of William's connection to Superior Township is the collective commitment to a diverse, unified community that cherishes its natural surroundings as much as its people.

Yahna is a SAHM and herbalist and has volunteered at many farms and provided nutrition courses in the Washtenaw area. She started volunteering with WRA in February of 2023 and has helped with different projects at Clay Hill such as, seed sorting/starting and clean up. She is also the secretary for WRA. She is working with WRA to help bring more children's programs to the community such as foraging and survival classes.