Cornerstone West CDC Team
Cornerstone West CDC serves as the fiscal agent and operating backbone for West Side Grows Together.
Sarah Lester
President & CEO
Sarah is responsible for overseeing Cornerstone West CDC’s housing and community economic development programs, including West Side Grows Together. Sarah has cross-sector experience growing businesses and coordinating networks, events, and resources to strengthen communities. A native Delawarean, Sarah spent several years in Rhode Island working for a food hub where she managed all aspects of the farmers’ market program, before returning to the Mid-Atlantic region for graduate school in Public Administration. Sarah is passionate about bikes, farmers markets, and the West Side of Wilmington, and she is committed to working with her neighbors to drive positive change.
Contact Sarah at slester@cornerstonewestcdc.org or (302) 888-5331.
Operations
April Pagliassotti Barrett
Operations Manager
April is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations. You may have seen her with her small business as a vendor at several county farmers markets and local festivals, or connecting with area micro-businesses. With a passion for community connection, she has been a fan of West Side Grows Together since long before her employment. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, and reading.
Contact April at apagliassotti@cornerstonewestcdc.org or (302) 888-5334.
Community Development
Vanity Constance
Community Development Manager
Vanity Constance Sanders is a community-focused leader with 10+ years in project management and economic development through art. She empowers and uplifts communities with initiatives like after-school programs, public art, and small business support, spreading joy and authenticity where it's needed most.
Contact Vanity at vconstance@westsidegrows.org or (302) 888-5430.
Yun Sik Sheen
Community Engagement Coordinator
Public Allies AmeriCorps Apprentice
Yun Sik graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a B.A. in English and a minor in marketing. He is currently a member of Public Allies, and was matched with West Side Grows Together. He's new to the world of nonprofits, and looks forward to learning all he can about them and the type of work they do. He enjoys reading in his free time.
Contact Yun Sik at ysheen@westsidegrows.org or (302) 658-4171 ext. 205.
Ally Klabunde
Transportation Planning Intern
Ally is a Geography and Public Policy student at the University of Delaware. A lifelong Wilmington resident, she is excited about entering the community planning and non-profit world. Ally is particularly passionate about developing walkable and people-first communities. She enjoys swimming and running in her free time, along with being a passionate Philadelphia Phillies fan!
Contact Ally at aklabunde@westsidegrows.org or (302) 658-4171 ext. 209.
Housing
Starr Wilson
Housing & Real Estate Manager
Starr holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Service with a minor in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Organizational Management & Leadership from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Starr is passionate about children by supporting youth through her organization Just P.L.A.Y. (Promoting Lifetime Activities for Youth). She has more than 13 years of experience and a firsthand understanding of how positive interactions can develop and nurture empathy, love, acceptance, and forgiveness. Starr enjoys playing games, camping, and Zumba during her free time.
Contact Starr at swilson@westsidegrows.org or (302) 888-5345.
Economic Development
Gabrielle Lantieri
Project Manager
Bio coming soon…
Contact Starr at glantieri@westsidegrows.org or (215) 901-8360.
Alethea Smith-Tucker
Kitchen Inbcubator Manager
Bio coming soon…
Contact Alethea at asmithtucker@cornerstonewestcdc.org or (302) 658-4171 ext. 196.
Parks & Gardens
Dylaan Jarmon
Healthy Neighborhoods Coordinator
Bio coming soon…
Contact Dylaan at djarmon@westsidegrows.org or (302) 658-4171 ext. 192.