imgpsh_fullsize_anim (4) copy 1

Emma Martinez​ info

hero section curve

Emma Martinez

She/Her

Guide

Emma’s journey began in Oakland, California and took her to Portland, Oregon where she spent many years supporting families living in affordable housing, adults living with HIV/AIDS, students in middle and high school, and helping build a variety of programs and services across the non-profit sector. In search of new adventures and expanding her community, Emma now calls the Rogue Valley home. 
 
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Emma centers her work in advocating with and for marginalized youth, families, and communities. She possesses a strong commitment to equity and social justice and is grounded in a firm belief in the responsibility to positively impact her community. With a background in supporting youth in school settings, Emma strives to be authentic and innovative in her approach to ensure youth have access to basic needs and build skills so they can thrive in their own unique ways- children do well if they can. Emma’s passion for working with youth is further rooted in intentional listening, leaning into curiosity, strong collaboration, and being playful!

Kerrick Gooden

Guide

Kerrick was raised in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas where he studied at the University of Texas. After some travel, he moved to the Rogue Valley of Oregon with a vision to farm and support youth. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Cultural Anthropology with Honors in 2004 at Southern Oregon University, and devoted over a decade supporting youth and their families navigate  local and state social service programs. During this time, he and his partner cultivated a food forest at their home and founded Verdant Phoenix as an educational mini-farm in 2016.

Verdant Phoenix Farm became an expression of a way of life for Kerrick. He is interested in the relationships between humans, soil, microbes, plants/trees/shrubs, food, culture, time, and the web of life. As these elements inform his horticultural practice, Kerrick enjoys supporting landscapes, gardens, farms, and their people who are interested in belonging to the land.