Hello! My name is Payton Byrnes and I started working with Benevolence Farm just two months ago. I joined the team as the Social Enterprise Growth Coordinator, a position that is a part of the Americorps VISTA program. I am originally from St. Petersburg, Florida but this past May I graduated from Elon University with a degree in journalism and decided that my time in North Carolina wasn’t over just yet.
In my new role, I will be working to support the social enterprise side of the farm, which in turn supports the wages of formerly incarcerated women. I will definitely be putting my communication skills to work. If you sign up for our email newsletters, you may be lucky enough to see some of my messages in your inbox!
I have already learned so much about the barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face in the workforce. I am really passionate about increasing Benevolence Farm’s ability to offer non-discriminatory employment for formerly incarcerated women. I am excited to support this mission alongside an amazing staff and group of residents.
When I am not at Benevolence I teach an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class at Alamance Community College. I also enjoy hiking with friends, reading a good book, and feeding the ducks in every pond I see.
My favorite Benevolence Farm product at the moment is the Fall Harvest seasonal candle. It has been a staple in my apartment for cozy mornings!
If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to chat favorite candle scents with me, email me at payton@benevolencefarm.org
