Our Team

MEET THE TEAM

Leadership Team

Raija Medeiros - VP & CFO

Raija Mederios (he/him) is Green Garden Bakery’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President. He is 16 years old and is a 10th grader at FAIR School for the Arts. His role in GGB grew through his family connections within the community. He joined Heritage Park’s summer program at the age of 7 years old . He witnessed his cousin Autumn, a GGB Alumni baking within the community and was inspired to join! Raija loved baking and also saw an opportunity for growth and signed up every year until he was able to join. Once in GGB , Raija initially participated in the bake team but wanted to explore more responsibilities within the business leading him to his current positions as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President. He is very creative and is currently working on a blue butterfly tea based and date infused dessert. Raija has learned better communication and internal business skills. In the future, Raija plans to stay connected to GGB.

Jaden Scott - Executive Bake Crew Lead

Mandeyen Donzo - Executive Co Bake Crew Lead

Jaden Scott (he/him) is the Executive Bake Crew Lead. Jaden is 19 years old and has been living in Heritage Park for 11 years, though he's gotten involved in GGB more recently through the City of Minneapolis's StepUp Summer Employment Program in 2021. Jaden came into GGB with a passion for cooking and skills from another cooking class he takes. During his time spent with the GGB team, his enjoyment of cooking and proven leadership skills are reflected in his position as Lead Baker, in which he oversees bake shifts including bake prep, baking for farmers markets, and catering orders. One thing that being a part of the GGB has taught Jaden is that "vegan desserts can be pretty good when they’re done right. And we do them right!" As lead baker, Jaden is looking forward to trying out new recipes and seeing how they do at farmers markets, but his favorite memories with GGB have been with the friends he's made, many of whom he says he probably wouldn't have met if not for GGB. Field trips to other bakeries, business tours, and team building are his favorite. In the future, Jaden's one hope for GGB is that it continues to grow, but that it doesn't lose vision of its mission or values it's had from day one.

Mandeyen Donzo (she/her) is the Executive Co Bake Crew Lead. Mandeyen is 17 and she has lived in Heritage Park for 8 years with her mother and sister. Green Garden Bakery is important to Mandeyen because it teaches her executive skills, learning responsibility, and having authority in a business. She participated in summer programs in the community for multiple summers and attended Active Chefs. She learned the skills that help her with her current role at GGB.

Sarod Williams - Executive Community Crew Lead

Sarod Williams (he/him) is the Executive Community Crew Lead. Sarod is 16 years old and has lived with his mom and siblings in Heritage Park since 2005. Sarod was basically born into GGB with both of his older sisters as founding members of GGB and his older brother as a member of the production crew. Sarod participated in youth cooking and garden classes and first joined a GGB workforce crew that was started during the pandemic called 'Community Crew.' The Community Crew installed 40 little pantries into all of the apartment buildings in the community and kept them stocked with PPE, cleaning supplies, and food. Community Crew has been active over the years and recently has been supporting community events like Toys for Tots, Spreading Community Love, and an Eid celebration. Through all of Sarod’s time with GGB his favorite memory was traveling to Florida, because it was his first time travelling with GGB.

Tay'Shawn Coleman - Executive Garden Crew Lead

Tay’Shawn (Tay) Coleman (he/him) is the executive Garden Crew Lead. Tay is 16 years old, and he has been working at Green Garden Bakery for 2 and a half years. His favorite memory with GGB is when the executive team had a team building water fight while on a trip in Columbus Ohio. GGB has been important to Tay because it is his first job and he enjoys seeing the positive impact that GGB has in Heritage Park.

Zariah West - Executive Social Media Director

Nate Wilson - Executive Sales Lead

Zariah West (she/her) is the Executive Social Media Director. Zariah is 17 years old and has lived and been around Heritage Park her whole life. She has participated in the youth summer programs like many others in GGB. Her aunt participated in Active Chefs and inspired Green Garden Bakery to start. Zariah started at 15 years old with experience in each of the GGB crews. Her favorite memory with GGB was taking a small road trip to Wisconsin to Foxtail Farms in Wisconsin. She was able to be around cows, goats, pick apples from the orchard, and help them pick beans.

Nate Wilson (he/him) is the Executive Sales Crew Lead. Nate is 17 years old and has been working with GGB for 4 and a half years. Like many of his peers, Nate got involved with GGB through summer programs when he was younger. One of Nate’s favorite memories was while he was selling at TC VegFest in St. Paul and he saw his family there. It brought him a lot of joy to see his family while he was working.

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