Board Member Application
Mountain Roots Food Project
Mountain Roots Food Project cultivates a resilient food system in the Gunnison Valley by enhancing healthy connections between
food, earth, and community. We foster knowledge, teach skills, and provide opportunities that ensure access to affordable,
nutritious food that is regionally based and sustainably produced.
Our objectives are to:
 Increase local food production in the Gunnison Valley with methods that employ ecologically sound growing techniques
 Improve access to nutritious and affordable food in Gunnison Valley
 Improve quality of soil and habitat in the garden ecosystem
 Educate, engage, and empower community members to grow, eat, buy, preserve, store, share, enjoy and value locally grown food.
Name:
Amanda Byers
Date of Application: 12/17/2013
Mailing Address:
420 N Colorado St., Gunnison, CO 81230
Email:
Preferred Phone:
Amanda.aragon.byers@gmail.com
970-222-7220
Physical Address :
(if different)
B
Alternate Phone:
Why are you interested in joining the Mountain Roots Food Project Board?
I would love to join the Mountain Roots Project Board because of my belief that fresh organic foods are the key to our health. I have
talked a lot with my Dad about his childhood on their family farm. One of the things I have taking from these conversations is that even
though there were very poor financially, they were rich because they knew how to grow their own food and were able to eat healthy
and plenty each day. In a world where obesity, food related diseases, and poverty are on the rise, it is increasingly more important to
educate people and give them the tools to live a healthy and abundant lifestyle independent of socioeconomic standing. Being new to
the Gunnison community, I am looking for a place that I can share my excitement and talents. I have a passion for helping others,
educating, and health, and feel that the mission and goals of the Mountain Roots Food Project align nicely with my beliefs and know
that it is something I could passionately stand behind.
Can you participate in most monthly board meetings? Yes.
On average, how much time per month do you have to
contribute to board duties? 10-20 hours
Are you willing and able to make a significant financial contribution to the organization?
(The contribution should be something that is significant to YOU, which may be $20, it may be $1000.)
Yes.
What programs, projects, or organizational management areas most interest you?
I am interested in working with each aspect of the Mountain Roots programs! With my background in Education, the
growing number of contacts I have within the school buildings, and my love for working with students I feel that helping
with the farms to school program would be a great fit for me. The Access and Outreach food for the people also really
calls to me. When I worked as an English teacher for Refugees, it was heartbreaking to see their inability to eat healthy
due to lack of knowledge and financial means. I believe that a healthy diet and exercise can prevent most diseases and
that fresh foods should be available to all people despite their financial situations. Additionally, I have always enjoyed
fundraising and planning and would enjoy being a part of that as well.
Please answer the following questions that describe your situation and areas of expertise:
(please enter Y / N in box and # of years)
About You…
Are you a parent?
What is your ethnicity?
Are you a business owner?
Are you under 25, 25-35,
35-45, 45-55, 55-65, or 65+
Years in Gunnison Valley?
Do you identify as lowincome?
Do you consider yourself to
be a team player?
Approved January 2012
Do you have skills or expertise in any of the following areas?
No
Asian/Hispanic
No
Under 25
>1
No
Yes
Accounting / Bookkeeping
Marketing / Promotion /
Social Media
Graphic Design or Art
Gardening, Farming and /or
Ranching
Cooking / Food Preservation
Human Resources /
Personnel
Business Management /
Strategic Planning
www.mountainrootsfoodproject.org
Y, 1
Legal
N
Y, 1
Grant Writing
N
N
Fundraising
Y
Y
Public Policy
N
Y
Musician
NonProfit
Administration
N
Food Security
N
N
Y, 4
N
Updated October 2012
Do you consider yourself to
be well-networked in the
community?
Languages Spoken?
semi- am in the
schools several
times a week,
so I am getting
to know the
teachers well.
Just English
As An Educator
(youth, adult, and/or
informal education)
Y, 5+
Please describe: Coaching
Experience (collegiate and
recreational) Student Teaching,
tutoring, substitute teaching,
volunteer English teaching
Area:
Conservation
N
* Please include a 1-3 paragraph personal or professional biography with your application, and a headshot. Thank you!
Amanda Byers graduated from Drake University with a Bachelor of Science in Education as well as a minor in Business.
Her areas of concentration are: English as a Second Language, Reading, and Elementary Classroom. While at Drake she
was the Captain of the varsity Women’s Tennis team, member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, member of the
President’s List, and runner up in the John Pappa John New Business Plan Competition. Currently, Amanda is working a
substitute teacher in the Gunnison Watershed School District and studying for the ACE personal training certification test.
Amanda served as Collegiate Chair on the Iowa Tennis Association Board and specifically worked with the intercollegiate
club tennis teams to build scholarship funds and plan tournaments and other events. During this time Amanda also served
as the graduate assistant coach for the Drake Women’s Tennis team. Amanda also spent time volunteering to teach English
at the United States Center for Refugees in Iowa where she worked with a team of teachers to help refugees adjust to new
living situations, understand and use public transit, and gain enough English to find a job. Amanda enjoys being involved in
the community and working with other like-minded individuals. As an educator, Amanda worked in several areas. She
worked as a tutor for several students struggling with reading. She completed her student teaching in a 4 th grade classroom
as well as spent time as and English teacher for ELL students in 2 nd -5th grade. Amanda has also worked as a tennis coach
in two major tennis clubs teaching both youth and adult clinics.
Amanda recently moved to the Gunnison Valley with her husband Dan Byers who is the Director of Contracts and
Procurements at Western State Colorado University. She has recently picked up skiing and is looking forward to cross
country skiing and snowshoeing! Amanda enjoys tennis, running, gardening, baking, making new recipes, yoga, reading
and many other things. Amanda loves her German Shepard Koda who is always up for a good hike or tromp through the
snow.
Approved January 2012
www.mountainrootsfoodproject.org
Updated October 2012