Susannah Barton, Memphis, TN
Development Director, Overton Park Conservancy
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Susannah is the Development Director at Overton Park Conservancy in Memphis, TN. In this role, she is responsible for the organization’s fundraising efforts, including grant writing, donor cultivation and corporate sponsorships. In 2015, she helped bring a farmers market to Overton Park – the Overton Park Community Farmers Market., where they were awarded a farmers market promotion grant from the USDA, and since the market’s transition to the Park, they have seen significant sales increases, including the use of SNAP/EBT benefits.
Prior to joining the Conservancy, Susannah lived in Buffalo, New York where she received a Masters in Urban Planning. While in graduate school she worked for a local farmers market, and upon completion of school, she went on to serve as the Executive Director of Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo (GGB) for 4 years. GGB is a non-profit organization that facilitates and supports community gardening on vacant lots in Buffalo. At the time of her relocation to Memphis, GGB supported nearly 70 community gardens on 120 previously vacant lots with education, tools, supplies and materials.
Susannah currently lives in Memphis with her husband and two spoiled rescue mutts. She enjoys riding her bike in and around Memphis, being outside, hiking, kayaking, exploring new places, and learning about different organizations and community groups.
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Advocacy
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Grantwriting
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Other forms of fundraising
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Storytelling/Public Speaking
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Permitting/navigating regulatory requirements
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Volunteer management
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Leadership development / organizational strategy
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Tactical urbanism
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Urban farming and food justice
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Activating vacant lots / vacant spaces