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Rafael Aponte - Director
Born and raised in the South Bronx, NY, Rafael Aponte has a deep commitment to education, food justice, and sovereignty. He brings over twelve years of experience working as a community activist, advocate, and educator in NYC. Rafael relocated to Tompkins County and established Rocky Acres Community Farm, a 10-acre farm which focuses on education and the sustainable production of local vegetables, herbs, and meat for underserved communities in Freeville, NY. In 2014, Rafael began working with the Youth Farm Project, bringing his experience in farm operations and after-school education in facilitating workshops dedicated to equity, food justice, and livestock production. Rafael piloted and partnered with the Youth Farm Project to implement the Harvest Box program, a way to increase agency of marginalized residents of Tompkins county in our local food system. Rafael is currently the acting director of YFP where he works alongside dedicated youth, staff, and farmers to fulfill YFP's mission and vision for the future. |
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Katie Church - Administrator
Katie Church co-founded YFP in the winter of 2009, and has been with the program ever since. Katie is currently in the role of Administrator, keeping things rolling on the office end of the program. Katie's passion for the powerful voices of young people, and her love for the land, drive her commitment to the Youth Farm Project. Katie grew up in the Ithaca area, and is raising her own family here. For much of her life, Katie's work has centered around food, from working on farms, to managing a large CSA, to working as a chef. Katie's work with the Youth Farm Project ties all of these passions together. |
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Audrey Baker - Director of Fresh Snack Program, YFP Farm to School Coordinator
Audrey has spent the past nine years immersed in community-based school food, school gardens, and farm to school programs. She sees this work as fundamental for building a more equitable, ecologically balanced world. Audrey focuses on intersections of community food systems with public institutions, including schools and prisons. She has designed and taught experiential learning curriculum for primary and secondary grade levels, and a college course for adults, mostly in Tompkins County and surrounding areas. In 2012, Audrey began to work with Ithaca City Schools to bring fresh, locally grown food into meals and snacks, and involving youth in every step from growing and preparation. Three years later, these farm-to-school programs were adopted by the Youth Farm Project, where we are building new synergies between schools and community, institutions and youth. |