Ecolibrium3 is pleased to announce four new staff members! Jackie and Toussaint Stewart, Laec Lekander, and Reese Van Houten joined the Eco3 team this fall and will be strong assets to our mission of building a more sustainable and equitable community.
Jackie shows onlookers groceries commonly found in areas of food insecurity
Jackie Stewart joins our staff as the Eco3 Grocery Store Developer and Manager. In this role, she will oversee the development of the new Eco3 Grocery store and manage its operations.
Jackie holds a B.A. in Organizational Leadership and has years of experience as a public school teacher and pathway coach, creating internship and job opportunities for students within communities. She has partnered with various industries to help foster a pathway for students to be successful after graduation. Jackie is excited to work for an organization that aligns with her personal values to create opportunities and provide resources in Lincoln Park.
Originally from Germany, Jackie moved to California in 2017. She moved to Duluth with her husband Toussaint Stewart, their two children, and two cats in mid August. Jackie loves kickboxing, reading, being outdoors, cooking, and baking. Welcome Jackie!
Toussaint and Adam discuss Eco3’s future grocery store needs
Toussaint Haki Stewart joins our staff as the Food Access and Community Wellness Specialist. He is helping develop the new Eco3 grocery store and facilitating educational programming for community members centered around holistic health and wellness. Toussaint is a holistic health and wellness practitioner specializing in whole food, plant-based nutrition, body weight strength training, flexibility, breath work, meditation, and nervous system regulation. He is the author of Plant Based 101: Whole Food Whole You. Toussaint is excited for the opportunity to help make nutritious food accessible in the Lincoln Park community and eager to use his expertise in holistic health and wellness to create programs that contribute to the community’s longevity and quality of life.
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Toussaint loves the outdoors, especially swimming in lakes and hiking. He writes and performs spoken word poetry, and enjoys playing West African percussion. Since moving to Duluth in mid August, Toussaint claims, “So far it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived.” Welcome Toussaint!
Laec informs visitors about Eco3 at the 2024 Harvest Fest
Laec Lekander joins our staff as the Eco3 IT and Database Coordinator after a year of serving Ecolibrium3 as an AmeriCorps VISTA. He is excited to continue his work in expanding Eco3’s capacity through database, technology, and educational projects.
Laec graduated from Lake Superior College in 2021 with an Associates of Arts degree. Prior to Ecolibrium3, Laec worked as a special education paraprofessional for both Northern Lights Academy in Cloquet and for Benton Stearns Education District in St. Cloud.
Raised in beautiful northern Minnesota, Laec has developed a deep sense of pride for his community and a desire to see his community grow and prosper. In his free time, Laec likes to juggle several projects including, but not limited to, game development, cooking, and art. Welcome Laec!
Reese converses with others about the VISTA program at Harvest Fest
Reese Van Houten joins our staff as the Eco3 AmeriCorps VISTA Program Coordinator. She oversees the VISTA program, working with host sites and strengthening the program. She has worked with Eco3 since 2022 as a Communications and Community Resilience VISTA, a VISTA Team Leader, and now Program Coordinator. Reese believes strongly in the mission of Eco3 and is excited to see each cohort of VISTAs make a difference in the community.
Reese has a B.A. in International Relations with a concentration in Urban Studies and an Executive Master’s in Natural Resources and Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech. Before coming to Ecolibrium3, Reese worked with the Center for Disease Control, researching the health outcomes of PFAS exposure through drinking water in Parchment, Michigan.
Originally from Southwest Michigan, Reese moved to Duluth in 2022 for her VISTA position and has been here ever since. In her free time, Reese enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, bird watching, enjoying the cideries of Lincoln Park, and hanging out with her cat Bigfoot. Welcome Reese!
We are thrilled to welcome this strong group onto our staff, and are excited for the community to get to know them through our events and projects.