Designation Team Members

Kristen grew up on a small ranch in the mountains between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Growing up working, hiking, skiing, camping, and playing under the endless New Mexico sky, Kristen developed a deep respect for nature and sustainability. She left…

I was born in a small town in the mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico. I grew up in a poor family, what my parents made was not enough to provide for my 12 brothers and sisters. So I would help my…

I came to this country 45 years ago from Zacatecas, Mexico. My father was not present in my life so from a very early age, I worked the fields to help my mother provide for 7 siblings and me. I’ve…

I was born in a small town pueblo called San Miguel in the country of El Salvador. My name is Omar but everyone calls me Panchito. I had previously worked at a produce company where my boss at the time thought…

Melina is a New York City native who recently moved to Los Angeles. She previously worked in various forms of education, ranging from acting, to gardening, to queer sex ed. In 2020 she began volunteering with hunger relief organization City…

Nkemdilim comes to Food Forward with years of experience in entertainment, digital media, and building nonprofit partnerships. Her passion for education, service, and equity led her to Food Forward, and she has jumped right in to help expand Food Forward's humanitarian efforts.

I am originally from Mexico, from the state of Puebla. I grew up in a town called Huachitlantla Puebla. Before I came here I studied and worked in agriculture, and I enjoyed hunting a lot. I worked as a driver in Davalan for 17 years. I met Luis and he told me to come work with him; when he explained what Food Forward does with the harvest I was interested! In my free time, I enjoy spending time with the family and playing soccer.

Sam Cahall spent her childhood in rural Kentucky running wild in the woods near her home. She attended Centre College and earned a degree in Sociology and Anthropology. After school she held various sales and food industry jobs, and served…

I am from Mexico, Monte Escobedo, Zacatecas. I grew up in an area of ​​Zacatecas called Rancho Jacales—it was a community of 80 people. I worked in a produce store for 17 years, and I was in charge of giving…

Jen Cox grew up just outside of Detroit, Michigan on the sixth Great Lake, Lake St Clair. When she graduated from college, Jen moved to Washington, DC for a six-month internship that turned into a twenty-year career in environmental policy and organizing. After serving…