A former City Auditor for the City of Oakland, Brenda Roberts has many years of experience in executive leadership in areas such as internal auditing, and risk and compliance. And on a personal note, Brenda Roberts enjoys volunteering at the Gardens at Lake Merritt in her hometown City of Oakland.

For more than half a century, the Gardens at Lake Merritt has offered residents in the Oakland area the opportunity to explore a variety of themed gardens near the country's first wildlife refuge in Lakeside Park. One of these gardens, the Edible Garden, provides the local community with an education in growing organic produce.

The Edible Garden features a demonstration program hosted by Oakland's Office of Parks and Recreation. Over the years, hundreds of volunteers have contributed their time to managing the garden, including designing, planting, and harvesting.

Anyone in the area can volunteer and learn more about growing plants under the guidance of experts in the field. Community organizations have also become involved in the garden to teach residents skills such as self-reliance and the growing of herbal remedies.

For more information about the Lake Merritt Gardens, the Edible Garden, and how you can be involved as a volunteer, visit the park' website at www.gardensatlakemerritt.org/edible-garden