FOUNDER, THE HAND, HEART AND SOUL PROJECT

Wande is the Executive Director of the Hand, Heart and Soul Project and the Liaison for Community, Quality and Engagement at Little Ones Learning Center, where she oversees the operations of a holistic early childhood center. Her distinguished Farm to Early Care and Education programs have served as a national model for connecting children to nutritious food and wellness education.

FOUNDER, A SIP OF PARADISE GARDEN

Keyatta was born in Liberia and has spent more than 20 years in hospitality, 18 of those as a bartender in Atlanta. In 2016, Keyatta created “Pictures and Cocktails," focused on developing cocktails, systems and content for spirits brands. In 2020, she also created the Sip of Paradise garden in Atlanta to help cultivate a happier, healthier bartending community by offering therapeutic gardening activities.

FOUNDER, THE HIGHLANDER SCHOOL

Rukia has worked with young children and their families for over 20 years. She has a unique interest in reflective practices, especially as it relates to curriculum planning for young children and building partnerships with families. She is the Founder of the Highlander School, an anti-racist, nature-centered learning community that fosters collaboration and a celebration of childhood.

AUTHOR, THE UNAPOLOGETIC GUIDE TO BLACK MENTAL HEALTH

Rheeda Walker, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist whose program of research emphasizes two understudied areas—suicide science and African American adult mental health. Communities throughout the United States are chronically underserved, in part due to social and cultural barriers. This is perhaps especially true of mental health initiatives. All of Walker’s scholarly work has focused on suicide, and it correlates toward the primary goal of developing culturally-relevant models of mental health and well-being.

FOUNDER, HUMAN DESIGN COACH

Communities are strengthened, lives are enriched, and creative solutions to huge problems are discovered when we are in alignment. When Andrea discovered Human Design, something just went click! It’s such a powerful system for truly seeing ourselves without the conditioning that can cloud our ability to see ourselves. We all have the potential to experience an incredible life and make a tremendous positive impact. When you are living in your design – miracles happen!

FOUNDER, THE LOLA

Eileen is the founder and former COO of Venture America, a company that recruits recent college graduates into startups. As COO, Eileen made an impact by creating an internal women’s and diversity initiative to support 1,000+ Fellows and aspiring entrepreneurs and a supportive culture with a benefits program that was second to none regarding parental leave for her 30+ and growing team. Eileen started The Lola out of her desire to support and empower women. She believes women are vastly underserved and under-supported, yet remain driven, ambitious and hungry to find and re-define their success.

FARMERS MARKET COALITION

Rachael Ward brings 10 years of project management experience in the non-profit sector at the intersection of nutrition, public health, and agriculture. She is passionate about tying the fields of food assistance and local food together to create equitable and inclusive environments. At FMC, Rachael manages projects within the farmers market support team. Her current focus is on managing FMC’s work as part of the Nutrition Incentive Hub. This project provides training, support, and resources to Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grantees working with farm direct sites like farmers markets, CSAs and farm stands. Rachael facilitates this work across staff at FMC as well as with external partners Ecology Center and Michigan Farmers Market Association.