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Niamh (pronounced Neve) has worked in the sustainable agriculture and non-profit worlds for 9 years - four years as a farmer and five years as non-profit program developer and director. In her current role at Future Harvest, she co-creates programs to support small-to-mid scale regenerative farms in the Chesapeake Region. These programs use a peer-to-peer learning model while working in partnership with the region's leading farmers, researchers, technical service providers, and food system thinkers. Her work is done with an eye towards improving environmental sustainability, farm business viability, equity, food sovereignty, improved health outcomes, and food system resilience. She lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and goes biking, kayaking, and jaunts around town to admire the birds, flowers, scents, and sunsets. Niamh holds an MSc in Sustainable Development from Trinity College, Dublin and a BS in Economics from Swarthmore College.
Allison amplifies the voice of the Food Policy Council. Her work centers on sharing resources, opportunities and events that are relevant to Rhode Island’s food community. She has been a part of the local hospitality and nonprofit sectors for over 17 years, including work with Hope & Main, various local farmers markets, locally-owned small food businesses, and WaterFire Providence. Allison is a Connecticut native, but after graduating from Johnson & Wales University she remains a proud Rhode Islander. She lives with her partner in Warren, with their beloved American Bully and ornery old tuxedo cat. She is a devoted small business supporter, ambitious home cook, very big standup comedy fan and a beginner birder.
As the Engagement Manager at The Trustees, Charissa curates climate justice education, wellness, and culturally relevant events in the East Boston Community. Working with local partners, youth, and local business to bring lively events for the community to enjoy and explore. Growing up in the city and suburbs of Boston, while also spending summers growing food on her grandparents farm in the mountains of Puerto Rico, cultivated in her a diverse perspective on life, the environment, and the places people call home. The combination of her work in retail, non-profit, and regenerative agricultural management has given her a wide scope perspective and ability to weave together the threads for building viable systems. Prior to joining The Trustees, Charissa was a Program Manager at Mass. Farm to School, co-managed Eva’s Garden in South Dartmouth and Revision Urban Farm in Dorchester MA. She holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from Syracuse University. Most importantly, she loves to eat and grow delicious food, loves being a mother, and loves her relationship with God!
Eva Agudelo is the founder of Hope’s Harvest RI. Since 2008, she has worked with beginning farmers, restaurants, retailers, farmers markets, non-profits, and hunger relief agencies, to improve community food security and bring about a food system that works for everyone. Eva started the National Incubator Farm Training Initiative through the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, served as a FINI program officer at Wholesome Wave supporting incentive programs at farmers markets across the U.S., and most recently, was the Assistant Director of Programs at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, administering federal nutrition programs and supporting Rhode Island’s statewide network of food pantries and meal sites. She holds an M.S. from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and is a member of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC).
Neena Hussey is Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP)’s Youth Education Director. She first started working at MAP in 2013 as a Growing Green Youth. Inspired by her previous relation to MAP she went on to major in Food Studies at Syracuse University. During her time in Syracuse she’s helped organized a community garden in Syracuse, developed food justice curriculum, and interned with NOFA NY. She’s very passionate about social justice and believes in emulating the change you wish to see in the world. In her free time she likes to explore new music and play with her nephew. She looks forward to engaging with the youth in meaningful ways.
Nessa J. Richman, MPP is the Rhode Island Food Policy Council’s Network Director. She leads the Council in achieving its mission to promote an equitable, economically vibrant, and environmentally sustainable food system in Rhode Island. She works closely with the Council’s 25 volunteer members, state agencies, non-profit leaders, and other core partners to build coalitions that align resources, promote good food and agriculture policy, and execute high-impact projects and programs that fill critical gaps. Prior to joining the Council, Nessa founded and directed, Brightseed Strategies, a consulting firm that worked on national projects related to increasing healthy food access for low-income households, increasing capital access for food systems enterprise and infrastructure, and building institutional markets for locally produced, harvested, and manufactured food.
Ruth’s 30 career spans the environmental, youth development and experiential education fields, both in the philanthropic and non-profit worlds. Her consulting practice focuses on critical environmental issues including climate change, food systems, green infrastructure, sustainable communities, and the role of urban youth in the emerging green economy. Ruth is the Consulting Program Officer at the Merck Family Fund for the Urban Agriculture and Youth Leadership program, a position she has held since 2011. Prior to this, she held contracts with the Barr Foundation and The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities as well as numerous non-profits. Ruth holds a BA in Comparative Religion and Education from Dartmouth College and an M.Ed. from the University of Toronto. In 2014, she was elected to the School Committee in Newton, MA and now serves as Chair.
Tarshire Battle is a native of Bostonian, has residing in Pawtucket, RI for 12 years. She is a self- taught artist, using this medium as catalyst for change for subgroups of people in our population such as the homeless, battered women, youths and returning veterans, who have experienced trauma. Over the years, she has collaborated with nonprofit organizations using art social change vehicle to address pressing social such as homelessness, mental health and addiction. She developed an art drop-in center while working at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, collaborated with Boston’s MFA for guided tours of traumatized female veterans and two annual art shows showing casing talented homeless artist. She currently is employed as a contracted DOC Mental Health Discharge Planner, assisting individuals re- integrate into the community. She is the founder of Roots 2Empower, formerly Restoration Urban Farm of New England, a social enterprise to provide business and agriculture training for formerly incarcerated individuals. She holds a M.P.A from Northeastern University, a M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston University and is an herbalist and Master Gardner.
Tenaya Taylor is a Black, trans, and autistic nonbinary artist, rapper, fundraiser, author, and executive director at the Nonprofit Accountability Group in Hartford, CT a nonprofit organization focused on reparations, antiracist education, and mutual aid. SInce the beginning of the pandemic they've worked to fund free food pantries across the city of Hartford, organize against slumlords, and distribute over 1000 PPE items to children and families. They work to dismantle oppressive systems by centering communities impacted by the nonprofit, medical, and prison industrial complexes. They believe in centering Black, trans, and neurodivergent identities in decision making spaces to facilitate equity and sustainability. Loves cats and all animals; even spiders.
Ulum Pixan Athohil Suk’il (Bird Spirit) AKA Dania Alejandra Flores-Heagney (colonizer Name) – is an indigenous mixed Woman (Maya, Xinca, Garifuna, Russian Jew and ladino), a mother and Grand mother. She was born in Guatemala, mesoamerica, and moved to the US in 1999. She has always organized in her country around aboriginal, women’s, language issues and the environment. She continue her work here in the U.S. as a volunteer, staff and consultant. She is a board member of the Environmental Justice league of Rhode Island, now the Farming Director at Global Village Farms and Access Co-op member owner. Ulum is a critical thinker, advocate and activist – Co-founder of Indigenous Peoples Network of RI and MA a collaboration with local indigenous peoples and people all over the state recognizing our ancestral struggles and forming unity by sharing resources, technologies and ancestral knowledge.
Vivien received an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, a Master of Science degree in nutrition from Framingham State University, and a Master of Public Health degree from Boston University. She received an honorary Public Health Doctorate from Merrimack College in 2021. She is a registered dietitian and public health professional with extensive work in Boston’s communities. She is a founder and chair of the Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition, an organization that she is most proud of. She is a founder of the Boston Organization of Nutritionists and Dietitians of Color (BOND of Color). BOND is a professional organization devoted to increasing the number of African American and Afro Caribbean nutritionists and dietitians and providing nutrition education in the community. Vivien coordinates the Kennedy Community Garden and Edgewater Neighborhood Association, both utilizing the passions of local residents to make the Edgewater neighborhood a wonderful place to live. She serves on the steering committee of Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, a statewide effort working towards a sustainable and equitable food system. Vivien has been a community activist throughout her life and gets the greatest joy from seeing the coming together of community members of all ages to strengthen relationships and use collective power to improve our village.