Our Someone 2 Know, Sydney Roberts, is one of the executive directors at Urban Roots, a non-profit teaching farm in Reno.

Roberts is also a very accomplished gymnast, who recently returned from Germany - with a medal - at an international competition.

We met up with her in the gardens at Urban Roots, where Sydney was feeding the hens. With her gentle nature and positive energy, Roberts is at-ease in the chicken coop and happy to get her hands dirty tending vegetables.

"Working outside is really wonderful and working with kids is even better,” she beams.

Sydney joined Urban Roots in 2015, shortly after college. "…Teaching our summer camp and (I) stayed for eight years, so it's been a long summer job!"

Roberts is the Executive Director of Programs and Staff at Urban Roots - their mission is to change how communities learn and eat, especially kids. “Being able to teach them about gardening which is something I love to do."

Sydney's other love is decidedly more indoorsy - gymnastics.

"I started at the age of three, I was doing pullups in ‘mommy and me’ class and they said I think she should sign up for gymnastics class." Roberts is now 30 years old and still competing as a member of the U.S. Adult Gymnastics Team. 

She participates in 14 disciplines - 

“Four of them are women's events, six are men's and four are trampoline events, and I have 15 national titles in a combination of all three,” confirms Roberts. Plus - a silver medal she just brought home from The Master's Gymnastics World Cup in Germany.

Sydney credits the sport for making her who she is today. "It's taught me so much about hard work and determination and perseverance."

Lessons that Roberts puts into action at Urban Roots where the staff works to change the way that kids eat and learn through garden-based education. "So they start with a healthy foundation in life and so they can succeed even better as adults."

Roberts plans to continue her success, as well. At Urban Roots, a current goal is an indoor kitchen. "Because then we can have lots of workshops for adults, as well, to learn cooking." And in the gym. "To make the U.S. team again and go to the World Cup in the Fall."

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If you would like to learn more about Urban Roots - they have a great variety of programs – we have a link here;

Urban Roots https://www.urgc.org/