Communications and Development Manager Spotlight: Caele Panares
Caele (she/her) is the Communications and Development Manager at CitySprouts! She is a passionate and experienced artist highly skilled in social media and content creation with a strong background in community engagement and event coordination. Find out more about Caele below.
What originally inspired you to get involved in youth garden education?
Growing up as a Third Culture Kid, I moved around a lot, and the only way I could keep in touch with my family and friends around the world was by documenting my life on social media. I traveled to many different countries and had many places I called home, but the one place that had a special place in my heart was my summer camp in Austin, Texas, where I got to work with kids from ages 9-18. After studying Advertising at Boston University, I went on to work several social media marketing jobs as well as work as a summer camp counselor, babysitter, and daycare teacher, and when I eventually came across it, I felt that the role of Communications and Development Manager at CitySprouts was the perfect mix of all the things I love. I am constantly inspired to be creative, see children's education flourish, and continue to grow with an organization whose mission is important to me.
How do you use storytelling or cultural connections to make gardening more meaningful for the students?
I understand what it's like to be the new kid or the only person of color in a classroom, so I think that my diverse experience and love for connecting with different communities are reflected not just in my personality but in my work. Being able to relate to others and adapt to so many different cultures is one of my strong skills and allows me to understand how to get kids involved in learning while having fun.
Could you share a treasured memory of being outdoors that impacted you deeply?
I was (and still am) a huge nerd growing up, and the Percy Jackson series was my absolute favorite book series (and still is).In the books, the characters are demigods, half-mortal, half-Greek god, and they attend a summer camp where they can train to fight and master their skills. Well, lucky me, after hours of looking up anything Percy Jackson related, I found there was a real-life Camp Half-Blood in Austin, Texas, just three hours away from where I grew up! Every year since 2013, I've dragged my entire family to Austin in 100° heat so I could attend this out-of-the-ordinary camp, where I was sword-fighting, doing archery, learning martial arts, and using my "powers" against any "monsters." I fell in love immediately, and this camp became my home, and I eventually worked there as a camp counselor for many years. Running around in a beautiful state park, where I could just have fun with people who are as passionate about storytelling as I am, became my favorite thing to do in the summer. Every year, I couldn't wait to go back. This experience of attending a literary camp, being able to share my love, has forever impacted me and inspired me to continue to nurture children's education, both through books and also the outdoors.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Vienna by Billy Joel. A beautiful song that reminds us all to slow down and embrace the passage of time. I love that song so much.
What is your go-to restaurant or cafe in Boston/Cambridge?
My go-to is always Trident Booksellers & Cafe: the perfect place to look for a new book, sit down and have some food, catch up with a friend, or attend a fun event.
What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
Sleeping in, having a delicious big breakfast, exploring a new city or beach with my loved ones, hosting a fun night of trivia, and ending the night curled up with some hot chocolate while putting on a comfort movie.