meet our team

At Rising Lights Project, I combine my love for serving families impacted by disability with my passion for gardening.  I’m the author of a book for parents of children with disabilities. I have always loved supporting families and individuals with disabilities in my community!  Several years ago, I became very interested in organic gardening and feeding my family healthy homegrown foods. I received my certificate in Permaculture Design from the Resiliency Institute in Naperville, IL, in 2020 and am thrilled to have found my dream job at Rising Lights where I am able to use my gardening knowledge to run our garden-focused programs for adults with disabilities.

• CPR certified

• Root in Nature: Therapeutic Horticulture Ally

Tessa Manek

Community Outreach & Events Coordinator

Leads Rising Moms and Community Events

Tessa is a mother of twin boys, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. With a strong commitment to supporting the special needs community, she has served on the board of the Rising Lights Project for two years before transitioning into a staff position. Tessa holds a degree in English from the University of Iowa and has spent the majority of her career in Human Resources. Her passion lies in connecting with and advocating for caregivers of individuals with special needs. In her free time, Tessa enjoys family activities, boating, and reading. She deeply values the relationships she has cultivated within the Rising Lights Project and the Rising Moms group.

Meredith Pihl

Program Assistant

Supports Monday Funday, Wednesday Club

Co-Leads Social Club

Meredith is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. She has a passion for supporting, engaging and learning from individuals with varying abilities and neurodiversity. As a mom and substitute teacher, she found herself gravitating to special education classrooms and wanting to connect more. Her Auntie Colleen was born with cognitive and physical disabilities, which guided Meredith to be committed to inclusivity. She feels a strong connection to the mission of the Rising Lights Project.In her free time, Meredith enjoys spending time with her husband, two teen daughters and dog. She loves to decorate cakes and go running (even though she's not fast!)