Please join us in welcoming Denele Hughson, Grow Pittsburgh’s new Education and Outreach Coordinator!
Denele is a Pittsburgh native who grew up in Homewood and lived there for the first 11 years of her life. After graduating from Allerdice High School, Denele went to the University of Pittsburgh and majored in Political Science with minors in Classics and History.
Denele graduated from Pitt in 2008 and served as an AmeriCorps KEYS volunteer at Peabody High School, followed by several years of working at nonprofits across the city including the Community Empowerment Association, the Student Conservation Association and the YMCA.
While studying at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College, Denele had internships with the Smithsonian Institution and the PIttsburgh Public School district. She graduated from CMU in 2013 and served as the Mentoring/Women’s program coordinator with Pittsburgh Jobs Corps Center before coming to Grow Pittsburgh.
“I was drawn to this position because I believe in Grow Pittsburgh’s mission to teach low income communities the importance of growing food and investing in their communities,” Denele said. “I’m excited to get the opportunity to introduce Grow Pittsburgh to more people in Pittsburgh and to show communities who we are and how we can help them help themselves.”
In her time outside of the Grow Pittsburgh office, Denele spends time with her dogs Spencer (a giant schnoodle) and Bolin (a goldendoodle). She’s a huge Steelers fan and her favorite vegetable is the asparagus.
Drop Denele a line and welcome her to the team!