By: Dariana D. Guerrero

Dayanna De La Rosa digs her nails deep into earth beds, feeling for roots and underground legumes; she’s unafraid of handling bugs and critters, and knows that the best mulch is usually the stinkiest! As GWL’s first Urban Agriculture Manager, De La Rosa is an expert in sustainable agriculture and knows she’ll have to get her hands dirty to grow the tastiest kale and cabbage at Costello Urban Farm. With her leadership and expertise at Costello, she practices no-till farming, a regenerative agriculture method rooted in Indigenous practices, with the goal of maintaining the ecosystem of the soil. In Dayanna’s words: “It’s about respecting the land. It gives us life. We need to respect the intimate and sacred relationship we have with the land. Being connected to the places that grow our food is the ultimate form of respect and gratitude for the life nature provides all of us. Nutritious food heals us. In fact, working with the soil and observing and learning the ecosystem of our land has been linked to reducing anxiety and depression. The Earth is wise, and we need to protect it.”

Leadership is a skill that Groundwork Lawrence empowers all its staff members to cultivate and practice. We practice being stewards of our environment as a form of leadership. We practice showing up when a tragedy strikes. We practice taking care of each other and ourselves to create a stronger and more resilient community. We practice using our expertise to change places, lives, and systems. As the country observes Women’s History Month, so do we, as we honor all of the women who have been involved in our community. This month is a time to reflect on the strength, resilience, and impact of the women in our lives.

Demonstrating her resilience and strength, Director of Development and Communications Megan Davis spent three months traveling by bike through the United States. Davis began working within the Groundwork Trust network in Dallas in 2017 as a Development and Outreach Coordinator. She joined the GWL team in 2021, and in 2023, Davis was promoted to Director of Development and Communications, where she uses her wisdom and experience to lead her team in grant writing, donor stewardship, and executing our biggest fundraising event of the year, Glow Gala (November 20). Davis’ work has been instrumental in cultivating a collaborative and strong team to enhance, diversify, and sustain our funding.

This spirit of teamwork, collaboration and resilience is reflected in the women of Groundwork Lawrence, who are as dynamic as the history of our organization—one that has been led by women for 25 years and counting. For Lesly Melendez, effective leadership fosters stronger relationships and close-knit teams. As the Executive Director, she nurtures budding community leaders and credits her aunt, Isabel Melendez, as a major source of inspiration. Melendez, known as the “Mother of Lawrence,” was the first female and Latina candidate to make it to a general election. She founded Voters in Action, a nonpartisan group created to educate and register eligible voters in Lawrence.

Isabel Melendez’s dedication to her community inspires Lesly’s own philosophy of leadership as she reflects: “A leader’s primary goal is to lift as she rises. She makes space for those coming behind her. It is the very people coming behind her who will change the world. My job as a leader today is to make sure that I am supporting the leaders of tomorrow and helping them get the tools they need to change this world. A true leader does not take the accolades—she gives them to her team.”

A true leader empowers others to thrive, and Isae Grullon exemplifies this through her unwavering dedication to hard work and adaptability. Grullon has embraced new opportunities at GWL, envisioning herself as a leader in Lawrence and the Merrimack Valley. Starting as an Operations Manager, she is now the Community Organizer & Events Manager and plays an instrumental role in the success of our community events, such as Earth Day (April 26) and the Spicket River Cleanup (September 20). In her own words: “I feel grateful for the opportunity at a second career path.” Her leadership in organizing these events allows Grullon to use the knowledge and experience she has gained throughout her career to advocate for the people of Lawrence. She notes, “I really feel like I can make a difference in my community.”

Communications Manager, Mabel Lemoniel is no stranger to making a difference in her community and has demonstrated her leadership skills as she stewarded presidential campaigns in the Dominican Republic. Lemoniel joined GWL with a wealth of experience, and when asked where she finds her inspiration, she says: “My mother and grandmother—two women who have led our family with courage, strength, and love. Despite facing hardships in their childhood and throughout life, they always found a way to be present and support their family unconditionally.”

Lemoniel’s words highlight the immense impact strong women have in shaping future generations. This sentiment resonates deeply with Lesly, who, when asked about the most powerful thing a woman can have, offered a simple yet profound answer:

“Her voice.”

Meet our fantastic staff at one of our many community events and hear directly from them on how they are making a difference in Lawrence and our world!