Before starting at AUNE, Antioch Alum Cynthia Espinosa Marrero worked for an agricultural nonprofit in Holyoke, Massachusetts. As the nonprofit’s Farm Program Manager, Cynthia discovered her passion for gardening, and quickly became aware of the disproportionate availability of food among the diverse communities she worked in. This awareness mobilized her to join the food justice movement. As a student at AUNE, Cynthia became very active in Community Garden Connections, and was responsible for the organization of an Undoing Racism training at AUNE.
In 2018, Cynthia became the Education Consultant for ee360 — an initiative led by NAAEE to increase environmental literacy across a wide and diverse network. Since graduating, she has continued to work for community-based programs to promote social justice and community education.
In August of 2019, Cynthia accepted a position with the City of Holyoke as the Senior Project Manager. In this position, she wears many hats. Among them, she consults the Mayor, City Council, and other city departments on coordinating and implementing environmental policies that will serve to foster a healthier and more vibrant community. Through her committed work, Cynthia consistently promotes safe physical environments, active living, creative place-making, and healthy eating.
“I am really excited about my new position with the City of Holyoke and the opportunity to give back to my community.” Cynthia says. “I believe that my Program Evaluation course at Antioch helped me to build a solid foundation that supports this new work I am part of”.
Cynthia graduated from the Environmental Studies Department, with a focus on Environmental Education, in 2016.
