YP Educator Spotlight: Mandi Nguyen

We are excited to spotlight Mandi Nguyen this month as part of the new USCC YP Educator Spotlight program! 
 
Mandi currently works at AHRC where she teaches adults with developmental disabilities at two daycares in the Bronx (in New York City). At the daycares, Mandi has built two small-scale compost operations and oversees food scrap collection in the kitchens, ensures proper sorting and safe storage of feedstocks, collects food scraps from nearby businesses, and processes food scraps every week. At the daycares, she creates lessons and leads daily compost educational sessions for groups of adults with varying disabilities. Mandi’s lessons are focused on environmental justice and food sovereignty, ranging from thoughtful discussions on food and waste equity and soil health activities to practical and more physical lessons. One of Mandi’s favorite memories while educating groups is seeing their smiling faces as they use tools to compost for the very first time. 
 
When asked if Mandi has any recommendations she would share with educators just getting started in this work, she shared that she finds composting to be very grounding work and encourages curiosity and connection to the earth, both physically and emotionally. 
 
If you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know to be featured as an upcoming USCC YP Educator Spotlight, fill out the form linked here.