Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Senior nonprofit leader, community advocate and educator with over 30 years’ experience of creatively driving and directing innovative programs that support and empower children and families in the Greater D.C. Region.
Design and direct capacity-building outreach, advocacy, and education programs with community leaders and collaborators to ensure access to real, whole foods for all school children, alleviate food insecurity and improve public health outcomes. School-based programs include Fresh Food Explorers, a preschool nutrition education program engaging low-income students, and the Culinary Challenge, a competition for middle and high school students to create USDA-compliant school meals. Community-based programs include Chefs Feeding Families, a partnership with local restaurants to provide, on a school-food budget, healthy, free, chef-inspired meals to children and families impacted by the pandemic. Currently serving on the Fairfax Food Council’s Access and Nutrition Literacy Working Group and Healthy Messaging Task Force and The Healthy Communities Action Team Arlington’s Food Insecurity Task Force. Real Food for Kids is recognized as a prominent voice for nutrition equity in the National Capital Area as a result of our positive advocacy and community-building approach.
Managed daily operations for hands-on budgeting and personal finance simulation at facility hosting 14,000 eighth grade students annually. Recruited and maintained community volunteers to meet student outreach goals and continuously built relationships with all stakeholders – students, volunteers and educators – to ensure a high-quality experience. Initiated parent engagement strategy through relationships with school PTAs leading to marked increase in parent participation from previously disengaged schools. Redeveloped orientation programs and other touch points for volunteers and students including communication and recognition plans. Created tracking and reporting processes that allowed program and development teams to access critical funder volunteer engagement information on demand. Collaborated in the on-boarding of new Finance Park team in Prince George’s County, including development of volunteer recruitment strategies and training in constituent data management and reporting. Designed continuity handbook for ongoing reference by staff at both facilities and to onboard staff at a third facility planned for 2018.
New position created for this JA Area office. Assumed management of all area public and private elementary schools, working with on-site coordinators to deliver in-classroom programming focused on building financial literacy and developing entrepreneurial awareness and work-ready skills. Managed Federal IT Job Shadow programs at 12 government agency sites, including the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior, requiring coordination with agency HR teams, JA program managers and school administrators. Coordinated administration of Career Partnership Day with large county school division, chamber of commerce and over 40 job shadow host sites. Explored potential growth of student reach within existing lines with low impact to area resources.
Elevated visibility and function of family engagement office at Title I school through expanded educational offerings and constituent services. Created inclusive workshops and programs designed to better build parents’ capacity to effectively engage with school and their children to support the educational process. Workshops featured topics such as Building Resiliency and Developing Readiness for Higher Education. Collaborated on quarterly workshop series in conjunction with other pyramid elementary schools to expand the reach of these learning opportunities. Successfully secured free Family Literacy Program for non-English speaking families. Served as Family Engagement liaison with representatives from area schools. Collaborated with INOVA Partnership for Healthier Kids to increase enrollment in free/reduced health insurance program. Teamed with school Care and Share representatives to address disparities among economically disadvantaged families.
Built constituent base through education, outreach and communications for Fairfax County advocacy group, an organization championing the transition to whole foods in county schools. Collaborated on grant development resulting in awards above requested funding. Teamed with steering committee to create events featuring industry experts and a culinary challenge to raise awareness of the links between school food, academic achievement and behavior. Collaborated with the Fairfax County School Board and like-minded advocacy groups including Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. Served as RFFK representative on the Strategic Issue Team for Healthy Lifestyles with the Partnership for Healthier Fairfax as part of a CDC Community Transformation Grant Implementation Plan. Featured panelist on creating positive change for Fairfax County Council of PTAs. Recognized by Mount Vernon District Supervisor for RFFK’s impact in the community.
Successfully built private nutrition/lifestyle counseling and education practice through marketing, programming and speaking engagements. Appointed in 2012 to the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) for Fairfax County Public Schools and drove the creation of a comprehensive coordinated school wellness policy for the district with an emphasis on nutrition education. Produced bi-weekly column for Patch (2010-2012) focused on current health affairs, de-mystifying nutrition and encouraging lifestyle changes.