Okra Abbey Staff
Rev. Hannah Quick
ORGANIZING Pastor and EXECUTIVE Director
Rev. Hannah Quick is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She hails from northern California but comes to New Orleans from Philadelphia where she previously served as a Pastoral Associate at Beacon Church, a new church focused on neighborhood engagement. Hannah loves being a neighborhood pastor and enjoys the opportunity to extend the reach of a worshipping community through the simple act of being neighborly.
Angela Theresa Henderson
Lead Gardener
Hello friends; my name is Angela Theresa Henderson and I am the Lead Gardener here at Okra Abbey.
Unlike most, my love of gardening started a little sideways. My original obsession was food waste. I was consumed with the amount of food going into my garbage can. That’s when I started composting. For years I made garden humus and gave it away.
Then one day I decided to try using it myself by starting my own garden. After years of trying and achieving intermittent success with some vegetables growing and some not, I decided to work with LSU Ag Center and become a Louisiana Master Gardener. That was one of the best decisions I ever made - the amount of information I learned is staggering.
Okra Abbey was a successful community garden before I got here - I’m simply hoping to add something to the pot that makes the gumbo even better.
Jamie Goodwin
ASSISTANT Gardener 2023-2024
My name is Jamie Goodwin. I am 33 years old and a native of Glasgow, Scotland. I most recently worked at Govan & Linthouse Parish Church as an Arts & Worship Development worker for the past 6 years, although originally studied Primary Education with experience in retail management.
I am very much looking forward to working alongside Okra Abbey, trading in the office job and mucking in where I can. I've had a growing interest in locally grown produce and have been working on a growing area within my own garden, although not to great success. I cannot wait to learn from those involved at Okra Abbey, and hope I can share in some great meals and stories along the way.
Personally, I have become really disenfranchised with society as a whole. It seems every other day there is some new sign of injustice , corruption or lack of kindness and that is one of the main reasons I have joined YAV. The prospect of becoming part of an intentional community that is part of my everyday life, not only work but loving together, is extremely appealing. It mirrors how I feel community, the world and faith should work and I hope it will provide all involved the support and strength we need as we journey through the year ahead.
I see both my placement and being part of the YAV is my first step on a long road towards alternative living.
Dan Campbell-Rodger
ASSISTANT Gardener 2023-2024
Hello, my name is Daniel but some people call me Dan. I'm from the east coast of Scotland in the countryside near St Andrews. I like to hike and climb in the mountains; and spend my evenings playing the banjo. I've spent a lot of time travelling and working different jobs. Everything from the Scottish government to stacking boxes of carrots in a factory. I also have a degree in Biochemistry. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. I'm excited to work at Okra Abbey and experience the Pigeon Town community.