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Katie Church
Director Katie (she/her) co-founded YFP in the winter of 2009, and has been with the program ever since. Katie works as development lead, HR and office manager, and provides administrative and jack-of-all trades support for all programming. Katie comes from a small-farming background, and has worked in the local food system for 20+ years. 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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Yamilka Portorreal
Farm Assistant Yamilka (she/they) is an artist, library, and farm worker who moved to Ithaca in 2022 from New York City. They received a bachelor's degree in Urban Sustainability from Brooklyn College, and through it, they developed a passion for sustainable agriculture, food justice & sovereignty & climate change solutions. Their experience as a Garden Assistant at Kelly Street Garden nourished their love for growing food and the plant world. In their spare time, they love to read and immerse themselves in the world of art-making through photography and drawing/painting. |
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Lechandre Mix Chef Lechandre (she/her) is an artist, a free spirit, a lover of authentic and purposeful human connection. With adventure always calling her and the perpetual eagerness to learn and grow, she is always ready to jump in to something new. And that pertains to cooking as well. Never afraid of trying something unfamiliar at least once, she strives for every meal to be exciting and bold (and delicious :) ) She learned how to cook on her own and is excited to spread the joy she found in it to others. She believes that like music, good food is a connector. It can be something that is able to gather people together, creating a space that allows for exciting and bold conversation. |
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Stephen Nunley
Bookkeeper Many years ago Stephen (he/him) sidestepped a career as a junior high math teacher to become a modern dancer. Over the years he danced with a variety of companies and choreographers around the world, most notably with Rachel Lampert & Dancers during the 80's and early 90's, and Jane Comfort & Company from 1995 thru 2004. He arrived in Ithaca in 2004, serving as the the Managing Director of the Kitchen Theatre Company thru 2020. He is currently working part-time as the bookkeeper for Groundswell Center and the Youth Farm Project. |
Past core team members
We are grateful to those who have been part of our core team over the years and showed love and dedication to the Youth Farm Project and its mission:
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Liz Coakley, Farm Manager, 2021 - 2024
Astrid Castillo, Co-Director, Director of Education, 2019 - 2023 Leila Kiraz, Farm Assistant, 2022 Maryam Adib, Art Program Coordinator, 2022 Rose Fleurant, Farm & Program Assistant, 2021 Ezra Baptist, SJI Program Assistant, 2021 Ann Piombino, Co-founder, Farm Manager and Educator, 2009 - 2020 Natalia Rathbun, Assistant Farm Manager, 2019 - 2020 Christa Nunez, Manager of Fresh Snack Program, 2018 - 2020 Laura Arias, Farm and Social Justice Educator, 2017 - 2019 Rafael Aponte, Executive Director, 2016 - 2018 Vanessa Wood, Manager of Fresh Snack Program, 2010 - 2018 Zale Hutchington, Assistant Farm Manager, 2018 Rayna Joyce, Assistant Farm Manager, 2017 Joseph Amsili, Assistant Farm Manager, 2013 - 2014, 2016 Simon Warhaft, Assistant Farm Manager, 2014 - 2015 |