HI, I’M JOY!
A PASSIONATE BAKER WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
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Food
Leaders Lab
Food Leaders Lab (FLL) is a 10-week course that provides training and coaching on food justice, systems change, and community health. Each FLL session explores food system dynamics and case studies from various social movements including anti-hunger and community food security, food sovereignty, and regenerative agriculture.
We reside, work, and cultivate food
on unceded Indigenous homelands.
We acknowledge and honor the descendants of the Tongva, Kizh, and Gabrieleño peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles Basin and the Southern Channel Islands). We pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
As part of a greater foodshed, we would also like to pay respect to and honor the Chumash, Tataviam, Serrano, Kitanemuk, ʔíviĨuqaletem, Acjachemen, Payómkawichum, and any other tribal group possibly not mentioned. As a Food Policy Council for Los Angeles we recognize this land acknowledgment is limited and engagement is an ongoing process of learning and accountability. To learn more about these First Nations, visit here.
Participants gain the knowledge needed to feel confident in their ability to discuss the history of our modern food system and the competing political interests that shape it; from understanding food movement lineages to the relevance of food systems organizing today. Additionally, participants grow in their ability to recommend policy, design community programs, and educate their respective communities and families.
Food Leaders Lab launched in 2019. Since then, we have graduated three cohorts. Our participants range from community members with no direct organizational affiliations to college students to staff from the following organizations: American Friends Services Committee - Roots For Peace Program, Brotherhood Crusade, LA CAN, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, Social Justice Learning Institute, Food Access LA (formerly SEE-LA), and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
2024 cohort
Julie Gonzalez
Jessica Vera
Ariana Contreras
Kevin Vazquez
Betty Doumas-Toto
April Williams
Teresa Flores
Bianca Molina
Javonne Sander
Anna Cho
Katherine Baker
Teresa Jasso
Nisha Bansal
Tiffany Li
Zaakiyah Brisker
Gabriela Cortes
Lucy Haro
Jonnie Tibbetts
Lindsay De May
Britany Lucas
April Foster
Melissa Gallardo
Kelly Alarcon
Tracy Luu
Mackenzie Bolger
Edgar Romo
April Cerrato
Hillary Cohen
Sam Kang
MicheLle Mata
Michelle Montenegro
2021 Cohort
Michelle Gunn
Mariana Huerta
Mariælena "Mea" Montañez
Jacqueline Diaz
Rachel Porter
Ebony Bates
Espirt Smith
Leslie Campos
Natalie Marshall
Marlene Vega
Angela Zhang
Stephanie Alcala
Heliya Izadpanah
Jessica Hernandez
Meghan Nealon
Amy Balto
Jacqueline Johnson
Terence Latimer
Nina Takenouchi
Guillermo Aranda
Nina Angelo
Melissa Acedera
Osunkoya Chavon Bryant
Gustavo Lopez
2020 cohort
Kriss'shon Day
Marlen Hernandez
Linda Leigh
Harmony Esqueda
LaNeisha Hodo
Janet Valenzuela
Raiai M. Lee
Fortina Hernandez
Gilda Sion
Magdalena Pelayo
Leslie Guardado
Dayveon White
Charmaine Mancil
Joe Ward-Wallace
Reina Flores
2019 cohort
Ashley Loville
Todd Cunningham
Ray Lewis
Blanca Lucio
Brenda Verano
Maria Sanchez
Wendy Chen-Epstein
Toya Regan
Guadalupe Zapata
Luis Yepiz
Samantha Salmon
Claudia Morales
Blanca Gonzalez
