Dear Arlington Garden Community,
As some of you might know, Michelle Matthews has stepped down as our Executive Director. We encourage you to take a moment to read her announcement below.
Michelle became Executive Director in June of 2017. Since then, the garden and its place in our local community and the wider world have grown dramatically. We are grateful to Michelle for her years of service and many contributions to the Garden.
Among those many contributions, we celebrate Michelle’s focus on equity and community building, which created a vibrant network of organizations with which the garden collaborates and from which it continues to benefit and grow. Michelle has a unique and wonderful ability to engage folks with the garden, and this expanded community continues to enhance Arlington and advance our mission in important new ways.
We thank Michelle for her dedicated work to build this unique and treasured place of learning, inspiration and enjoyment for all.
We wish Michelle all the best in her future endeavors.
Sybil Grant
Arlington Garden, Board Chair
Iesha Siler
Arlington Garden, Board Secretary
George Brumder
Arlington Garden, Board Director
Mel Alonzo
Arlington Garden, Board Director
Letter from Michelle Matthews
Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,
I am writing to share the news that, after seven transformative years, I have decided to step down from my role as Executive Director of Arlington Garden.
Since joining Arlington Garden on July 1, 2017, I have had the immense privilege of working alongside an incredible team, passionate volunteers, and supportive partners. Together, we have made significant strides in growing this beloved garden and its impact on the community. During my tenure, we increased the garden’s operating budget sevenfold, secured key grants from foundations like the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation, Pasadena Community Foundation, and completed important capital improvements.
I am particularly proud of the creative initiatives we’ve launched, from distributing illustrated field guides to every fifth-grade student in the Pasadena Unified School District to collaborating with key partners such as LA Compost, Outward Bound Adventures, Pasadena Beautiful and Pasadena Water & Power. These projects, among many others, helped foster greater community engagement and environmental stewardship.
In 2021, I had the honor of contributing to our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access statement, reinforcing our commitment to fostering a welcoming space for all. Through these years, I also found time to participate in leadership programs like Leadership Pasadena, the Executive Directors Leadership Institute, Justice Outside Rising Leaders Fellowship and the CORO Climate Resilience Leadership Network, ensuring I could better serve Arlington Garden.
As I prepare for the next chapter in my career, I leave with deep gratitude for all we have accomplished together. I have no doubt that Arlington Garden will continue to flourish under new leadership and that the community will rally around this special place with the same passion and care.
I would like to thank everyone—staff, volunteers, donors, and community members—who have supported me and Arlington Garden throughout this journey. The garden’s mission of providing a green sanctuary for all will always be close to my heart, and I am excited to see what the future holds for this cherished space and wish you all the best success in anticipation of the Garden’s 20thAnniversary.
With warm regards,
Michelle Matthews
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