Board of Directors & Staff

Staff

 

Executive Director, Jennifer Denson smiles at the camera. She has short, dark hair, and is wearing a purple shirt with the words "Burrito Brigade" in white print, with the logo. She stands against a sage green background.
Jennifer Denson, Executive Director of Burrito Brigade

Jennifer Denson

Executive Director

I’m Jennifer Denson. I have lived in Eugene most of my life. I got involved after seeing Facebook request for more volunteers when Burrito Brigade was in a home in the Whit (June 2014) I have always wanted to help others and this is a great way to give back. Bonus is, I get to share this wonderful project with my brothers Charles and Steve.

 

 

 

Board of Directors

 

 

The Burrito Brigade logo is round, with a black background. There are alternating red and black rays (like sunshine) emanating from the center of the logo. In the middle, there is an illustrated hand in black and white, holding a tan colored burrito. Around the perimeter of the logo there is white font against the black background that reads: "Burrito Brigade – We rise by lifting others."
(Board member photo currently unavailable.)

Kathy Calise

President

I live in Eugene with my husband, Chris. We first heard about the Burrito Brigade when a group of folks were making burritos out of a house in the Whit and they were looking for donations. We have supported the Burrito Brigade almost from the beginning. We believe in the mission of the organization and the impact it can have, and has had, on the community. Burrito Brigade brings people together for a better Eugene/Springfield. People helping people.

 

 

 

Board member Asher Kramerberry looks at the camera. He has shoulder-length, brown hair, and is wearing a dark colored zip-up jacket with a light colored t-shirt underneath. He is standing against a sage green background.
Board Secretary, Asher Kramerberry

Asher Kramerberry

Secretary

I am Asher Kramerberry, a Eugene, Oregon native and avid animal lover. I joined Burrito Brigade in 2017 with my family. As a young person, I appreciated that Burrito Brigade valued my participation. I wanted to become involved because I felt that it was important to work towards the changes that I wanted to see in our community, one of which being food insecurity. I think that organizations like Burrito Brigade are fundamental to creating a positive and equitable future by helping to provide those in need with a basic human necessity: food.

 

 

 

Board member Naomi smiles for the camera. The has long, dark hair that is pulled back and swept over one shoulder. She wears a maroon and white striped long-sleeved shirt. She is standing against a sage background.
Board member Naomi Saenger

Naomi Saenger

Member-at-Large

As someone who has grown up in Eugene my entire life, I’ve always been surrounded by inspirational people and organizations that encourage fighting for social justice causes. When the pandemic gave me the opportunity to help those in need, I started to volunteer regularly with the weekend Burrito Brigade. Soon after, I spread out to the other branches of Burrito Brigade, and I now focus on the Little Free Pantry project, which is a unique way to both strengthen the community and fight food insecurity. Burrito Brigade has not only given me a wonderful group of people to hang out with every Sunday, but it has also widened my perspective on the many aspects of food insecurity. I am super excited to see what I can do to help and learn.

 

 

 

Christy faces the camera directly with a big smile. She has short blonde-ish hair that is pulled back partially with a blue bandana scarf tied around her head. She wears a black top, with a green jacket, and she stands in front of a sage green background.
Board member-at-large, Christy Maeder

Christy Maeder

Member-at-Large

I am a new Eugene resident and have been volunteering with Burrito Brigade for a little under a year. I have worked in community mental health and local government agencies for more than 20 years. I love the mission of Burrito Brigade and feel privileged to be part of such an amazing organization that does so much for the community.

 

 

 

The Burrito Brigade logo is round, with a black background. There are alternating red and black rays (like sunshine) emanating from the center of the logo. In the middle, there is an illustrated hand in black and white, holding a tan colored burrito. Around the perimeter of the logo there is white font against the black background that reads: "Burrito Brigade – We rise by lifting others."
(Board member photo currently unavailable.)

Lynn Huynh

Member-at-Large

Whenever I move to a new city I always look for ways to give back. As a university staff member in a position that has a high attrition rate it’s important to me to know about concerns happening beyond the campus. Just because I might be a resident of a community for one year doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about what’s happening around me. That’s something I hope to role model to the students that I work with. I hold a Master in Educational Administration with a specialization in Student Affairs. I have seen the growing trend of houseless college students and what food insecurity looks like in my role, and see the support provided from the university, but know this is an ever changing and growing concern in the community. I started volunteering with Burrito Brigade in June 2020 on Saturdays.