Jacquie Berger, Executive Director

Having served briefly as a non-profit executive director early in her career, Jacquie set out to acquire the wide variety of skills, hands-on experience, and academic expertise needed to lead and further develop a thriving food systems-oriented organization. Over the past eight years, Jacquie has held both direct service and senior management positions with a of number non-profit organizations focused on sustainable food systems and environmental issues. During that time she also completed a Master of Business Administration degree at the Yale School of Management, having previously obtained a BA in Environmental Science from Barnard College. In addition to a well-rounded, practical understanding of food security and food justice issues, Jacquie brings a facility and passion for organizational and project management, staff and Board development, fundraising and financial oversight. Jacquie became Just Food’s Executive Director in August 2006, but has been a long-time admirer of Just Food since 1996 when she volunteered with the organization for several months. She can be reached at tel: 212.645.9880, ext. 242 or e-mail: jacquie[at]justfood.org

Amy Blankstein, Grants and Communications Manager

Amy joined the Just Food staff as Grants and Communications Manager in 2007.  An enthusiastic omnivore and home cook, Amy’s interest in the sustainable food movement deepened after she joined her local Brooklyn CSA in 2004. A former magazine and book editor, she has explored a broad range of subjects, including the visual arts, music, food, technology, and business. Amy is thrilled to have the opportunity to use her writing skills to highlight the amazing work of Just Food’s staff and partners. She received her BA from James Madison University in English and Anthropology.  She can be reached at 212.645.9880, ext 243, or e-mail: amy[at]justfood.org.

Angela Davis, Community Food Education Program Coordinator

Angela brings more than 12 years of program management, public relations, and education experience, along with a passion for local agriculture, food and community health to her role as Just Food’s Community Food Education Program Coordinator.  She recently received her certification as a Holistic Health Counselor from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition which is affiliated with Columbia University ’s Teachers College. As a volunteer at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts, she continues to develop her love for cooking delicious and healthy food.  Angela has a Master of Education degree from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College. She can be reached at 212.645.9880, ext. 239 or email: angela[at]justfood.org.

Margie Davis, Bookkeeper

Jennifer Griffith, Farmer Outreach Coordinator

Jen Griffith joined Just Food in 2007 starting as an Americorps VISTA and has since joined the staff as the Farmer Outreach Coordinator.  Jen comes to Just Food with a passion for sustainable agriculture, social justice, and the New York City/northeast landscape.  She moved to New York City to study environmental science at Columbia University which sparked her interest in food issues from both an ecological and social angle.  Since then, she has worked on farm projects in Nicaragua (El Rancho Ebenezer), California (UC Santa Cruz's CASFS and Camp Joy Gardens), Tanzania (The Arusha Project), and with the UNDP's Small Grants Programme.  She received a certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UC Santa Cruz after completing their seven month apprenticeship in sustainable food production.  These days she is applying what she has learned about farming in the rural environment to the urban landscape including beekeeping, composting, cultivating mushrooms, and gardening in small spaces.  She can be reached at 212.645.9880 ext 231 or farmeroutreach[at]justfood.org. 
 

Jane Hodge, The City Farms Program Manager

Jane Hodge has been with Just Food since 2005, starting out working with La Familia Verde's and Bissel's farmers markets as an Americorps* VISTA. In 2006, she served as the City Farms Market Coordinator, helping to build a strong network of community-based farmers markets run by city farmers. Currently Jane is the City Farms Program Manager, working closely with other City Farms staff and partners to increase the amount of food being grown in NYC. Jane received a BA at University of Richmond in Leadership Studies with a concentration in Environmental Leadership and Social Movements and a minor in Women's Studies. Her previous experience includes working with urban agriculture projects in northern England. She can be reached at 212.645.9880, ext. 228 or e-mail: jane[at]justfood.org.

Nadia Johnson, Food Justice Program Coordinator

Nadia joined Just Food in 2008 and works with food justice advocates, community gardeners, regional farmers, concerned citizens and elected officials to increase awareness and action around local food and farm policy. She also coordinates Just Food's biannual Food Justice Summit. Nadia spent eight years at Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) working with social justice groups worldwide on issues such as trade, corporate accountability, food sovereignty, water rights and climate change. She also taught Women's Studies, worked as a community organizer on breast cancer-pesticide linkages, and has her Master's in Sociology. She can be reached at 212.645.9880, ext 237, or email: nadia[at]justfood.org.

Paula Lukats, CSA in NYC Program Manager

Paula has ten years of experience working in community and program development in New York City. Originally from Ohio, she obtained her BS in economics and sociology in 1991 from the University of Notre Dame and her Masters in Social Work from Ohio State University. Recently she chose to pursue her long-time interest in environmental sustainability and is currently working toward a Certificate in Conservation Biology at Columbia University. Paula also brings experience having been a volunteer with Just Food and a member of the Prince George CSA in midtown. She can be reached at tel: 212.645.9880, ext. 233 or e-mail: paula[at]justfood.org.

Owen Taylor, The City Farms Training and Livestock Coordinator

Owen has been growing food since he was twelve years old in his backyard gardens, on several organic family farms, and in community gardens. He graduated from San Francisco State University in Urban Studies, where he focused on the role of urban agriculture in food security and community development. Owen has also completed the 8th International Agroecology Short Course at the University of California, Santa Cruz and was a member of the Food Project’s 2006-2007 BLAST Leadership Cadre. After a year teaching urban ecology and design in New York City public schools, and several years giving gardening and composting workshops in San Francisco and New York City (as a Just Food trainer), he is excited to help community garden and urban farm leaders learn to pass on their agricultural skills through hands-on participatory workshops and consultations. He began with Just Food in late 2005 as the Chicken Intern, and continues this work with dreams of delicious eggs, fertile soil, and delighted hens, hen-keepers, and the people who love them. He can be reached at 212.645.9880, ext. 229 or email: owen[at]justfood.org.

Abby Youngblood, Fresh Food for All Program Coordinator

Before joining Just Food as the Fresh Food For All Program Coordinator, Abby co-managed Old Path Farm, a diversified organic vegetable farm located near Utica, New York. She also worked as a staff person at the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) to organize a series of regional gatherings for farmers in the winter of 2008 as a part of a new initiative to build support for Community Supported Agriculture in New York State. Before beginning her farming career in 2004, Abby worked with the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger on a campaign to increase access to food stamp benefits for low-income households in Philadelphia. Abby has also conducted research on organic agriculture in other countries. In 2007, she spent three months learning about organic farming and food security in China while at the Soil Science Research Center in Nanjing and during visits to other regions of the country. In 2001, she received a fellowship from the Thomas J. Watson Foundation to conduct a year long research project focused on sustainable agriculture and food systems in Kenya, India, and Russia. Abby’s current work at Just Food combines her passion for farming with her commitment to increase access to fresh food for all NYC residents. She can be reached at 212.645.9880, ext 227, or abby[at]justfood.org.