Our Work

Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, Nick developed a passion for taking care of the planet, food justice, and working with young people. After working in the nonprofit sector for several years, he founded Ujima in 2018. Since then he has engaged over 750 youth in outdoor education, launched the urban farm George Washington Carver Farms, developed a job program for teens called The Sunflower Institute, cleaned up over 10,000 pounds of trash in North St. Louis city, as well as manage the Clay Community Garden that produces over 2,000 pounds of produce, herbs, and flowers annually. Nick is inspired daily by the greater St. Louis area, his wife, daughters, family, close friends, and colleagues.

Tori Sombright joined the Ujima board because she has a commitment to service that expresses itself in many forms, including volunteering and supporting causes that prevent marginalization of BIPOC. She is an advocate for all humankind with an explicit interest in community building and culture sharing. Currently, she is a Grant and Program Manager at The Opportunity Trust, an organization that aims to improve education outcomes for PreK-12th grade students in St. Louis.

Born in southern California, raised in rural Ohio, and now a St. Louis resident of eight years, Rebecca grew up exploring creeks, prairies and woodlands. Over the course of her life, she’s developed a passion for wildlife, environmental stewardship, and outdoor recreation. Prior to moving to St. Louis, Rebecca served as a Protected Species Observer, performing passive acoustic monitoring for marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico and completed her master’s degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology from Miami University’s Global Field Program. She holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and was named a FOCUS St. Louis Emerging Leader in 2018. From 2017-2022, Rebecca served as the Cities Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri, where she led the development of the Healthy Cities Program, working alongside local communities to grow equitable, nature-based solutions that aim to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for both people and nature in the St. Louis region. Rebecca’s previously held positions include the Director of River City Outdoors, City of St. Louis Urban Ecology Coordinator, Co-founder and Coordinator for Green City Coalition, and she was appointed to Mayor Tishaura Jones’ Stimulus Advisory Board in 2021. Rebecca is passionate about and dedicated to community-based conservation, environmental and social justice, and organizing for regenerative, community-driven solutions and policy change. In her free time you’ll probably find her hiking, climbing, gardening, birding, paddling, or enjoying St. Louis' music scene.

Anna Ortiz-Aragon, business coach & consultant helps ethical organizations grow & scale so they can increase their impact. As a former classroom teacher turned online coach, digital literacy, personal & professional development are central to her values, mission & work. As a mother of two & health devotee, Ujima & it’s work resonates deeply resonates. Connect with her at Align With Anna.

Donald, a native of St. Louis, is a seasoned finance leader with a deep commitment to community service and social impact. With a career spanning 10+ years in finance, he brings a wealth of expertise in financial management, strategic planning and operational efficiency to the nonprofit sector.  Driven by a passion for social justice and community empowerment, he is dedicated to addressing issues of food justice, youth empowerment and environmental stewardship. Believing in the power of food as a tool for positive change, he advocates for equitable access to healthy and sustainable food options for all members.  With his strong financial acumen, dedication to social impact and commitment to community service, he is honored to serve as a board member for Ujima, contributing his skills and expertise to advance the organization's mission of creating positive change and improving the lives of individuals and communities in St. Louis and beyond. 

Drew is a St. Louis native with a passion for community empowerment and holistic wellness. Their background includes social work, community health, and nonprofit management and leadership. Drew works to build connections between local organizations, uplift Black and Brown communities, and address systemic challenges in food security, social support, and economic liberation. Their commitment to Ujima aligns with their lifelong goal of building resilient, thriving communities rooted in solidarity, self-care, and mutual aid.

Dr. Jessica S. Samuel is an educator, interdisciplinary scholar, and decolonial activist whose work focuses on race, education, colonialism and the environment, including where they all might converge, in the United States and Caribbean. She is the founder & CEO of Radical Education & Advocacy League, LLC (REAL), a decolonial education organization focused on helping BIPOC students thrive, not just survive. Her work has been supported by Washington University in St. Louis, Social Welfare History Project, Mellon Foundation, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Social Science Research Council. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Environmental History Now, Environment & History, and the History Workshop Online. Dr. Samuel holds a PhD in American Studies from Boston University, a Master of Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a Bachelor in African American Studies and Anthropology from Wesleyan University.