Wishing you and yours the happiest of New Years! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday and is feeling rested, refreshed and ready for a bountiful 2026.<\/p>\n
As we round out our 40th year, things at DUG are humming.<\/p>\n
DUG continues to provide the skills, access and resources to grow healthy food in community and regenerate urban green spaces. In addition, DUG:<\/p>\n
Standing on solid ground, as DUG goes into its 41st year, further change is afoot. On December 31, I stepped down as Executive Director. With a happy heart and great pride in the exceptional organization that is Denver Urban Gardens, I feel that my personal mission with this organization is complete – it is time for new leadership to write the next chapter.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d like to thank DUG\u2019s extraordinary founders, team, board, advisors, funders, partners, gardeners, garden leaders, tree keepers, volunteers, educators, students, and enthusiasts for the inspiration, support, and encouragement you\u2019ve shown me in the last five years.<\/p>\n
My time at DUG has been one of the most important experiences in my professional life \u2013\u00a0the people I\u2019ve met, the things I\u2019ve learned, and the work I\u2019ve had the pleasure and honor of doing every day since October 2020. I remain fervently committed to DUG\u2019s vision and mission and will be an enthusiastic evangelist for the organization.<\/p>\n
Today, DUG\u2019s mission is more critical than ever. \u00a0We\u2019ve risen to the challenges posed by COVID, the epidemic of loneliness, the climate crisis, and the changing federal funding landscape, staying true to our vision of a thriving urban future where people are deeply and directly connected to the earth, each other, and the food they eat. Undoubtedly, new, unforeseen challenges will present themselves in the years to come but I have complete confidence that the foundational, fundamental work DUG does will always be part of the solution.<\/p>\n
I will continue to be involved in the urban agriculture space and invite each of you to keep in touch on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0email<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last but not least, I\u2019m over the moon to share that DUG\u2019s Senior Director of Partnerships and 11-year DUG veteran, Nessa Mogharreban, has stepped in as Interim Executive Director as of January 1. The board will soon begin a search for the permanent ED. I will be supporting the transition through January.<\/p>\n With gratitude,<\/p>\n Linda Appel Lipsius<\/p>\n Former Executive Director, DUG<\/p>\n I\u2019m deeply honored to step into the role of Interim Executive Director as we begin the search for DUG\u2019s next permanent leader. Having been part of this organization for the past 11 years, I\u2019ve had the privilege of watching DUG grow, evolve, and deepen its impact across Denver. Our gardeners, partners, volunteers, supporters, our staff, and board are what make DUG the powerful force it is today.<\/p>\n Linda\u2019s leadership has shaped DUG in extraordinary ways, and we are incredibly grateful for her vision and dedication. Thanks to her work, and the work of so many of you, DUG is recognized locally, nationally, and internationally as a leader in community-driven food access, education, and climate-resilient green spaces.<\/p>\n As we move forward, one thing remains constant \u2013 DUG\u2019s commitment to providing access, skills, and resources for people to grow healthy food in community and to regenerate urban green spaces. Our foundation is strong, our network is thriving, and our team is deeply dedicated to continuing the impactful work we do every day.<\/p>\n I\u2019m excited to help guide DUG through this moment and ensure stability, continuity, and momentum as we look toward the future. Thank you, truly, for being part of the community that makes this work possible. I\u2019m looking forward to connecting with many of you in the weeks and months ahead.<\/p>\n With gratitude,<\/p>\n Nessa Mogharreban<\/p>\n Interim Executive Director, DUG<\/p>\n For the past five years, Linda\u2019s innovative leadership has strengthened DUG and positioned us for a bright future. Her vision and dedication have created a stable foundation for continued growth, and we are deeply grateful for her contributions.<\/p>\n We are equally excited to welcome Nessa as Interim Executive Director. With more than a decade of experience at DUG, she brings deep knowledge of our mission and operations. The Board is committed to supporting this transition and ensuring that the vital work of our staff and volunteers continues to contribute meaningfully in our community.<\/p>\n Best,<\/p>\n Jason Longsdorf<\/p>\n Board Chair, DUG<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":13228,"template":"","class_list":{"0":"post-13227","1":"latest_news","2":"type-latest_news","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"news_type-dug-team"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news\/13227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/latest_news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news\/13227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13229,"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/latest_news\/13227\/revisions\/13229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dug.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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