Meet the 2024 Arkansas Food Systems Fellows!

Congratulations to the 2024 Arkansas Food Systems Fellows!

The Food Systems Leadership Network is thrilled to announce the 2024 Arkansas Food Systems Fellowship cohort! Over half of fellows identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and represent a broad spectrum of food systems work and roles working across the state. Over the next four months, fellows will participate in an in-person retreat followed by virtual calls to build collaborative relationships, build their capacity and amplify the work they are already doing. Read on to get to know this stellar group!

Alexandra Curatolo

I am new to Arkansas and previously worked in and studied local food systems in the Midwest for nearly 20 years. After organizing community gardens and founding a nonprofit farmers market in my neighborhood in Chicago, I went on to study local food systems in the Masters of Urban Planning and Policy program at University of Illinois at Chicago. I then transitioned to opening up a plant-based cafe & local food market, Belli’s Chicago that I operated for ten years, working with local farmers and sourcing over 50% of the menu from the Midwest region. I am passionate about creating more sustainable and equitable local food systems so that we can grow more nutrient dense foods, build & strengthen local economic development in the region, and create a more viable & resilient environment for future generations.

Amber Kennon of Forward to the Basics

I have been a wife, mother, homemaker, photographer, and farmer as my vocation for more than 14 years. I have lived and learned as we built our family, our farms, businesses, and most recently co-founded our non-profit, Forward to the Basics. I am passionate about the art of homemaking and the strong family unit.  I am passionate about learning, getting adequate sunshine, servant leadership, nutrition, growing food, and humble self-reflection.  I am passionate about loving others and encouraging them to grow and learn. Traveling, working and learning with my family, preferably outdoors, is my most treasured pastime. I look forward to the opportunity to share the wisdom I have gathered to help others in their journey and in turn, learn from each person I come in contact with.  

Andrew Goodloe, Chicken House

My name is Andrew Goodloe SR. I was born and raised in a small farming community called Wabbaseka, AR. I have raised small vegetable crops over the course of my life and owned small retail food and grocery stores. I am currently serving as mayor of the city of Wabbaseka.

Ashley Niblett, The Transfarmation Project

Ashley Niblett is a business engagement specialist for The Transfarmation Project®, a nonprofit program working to help farmers transition from factory animal farming to growing specialty crops. She has spent the past 20 years working in retail marketing and product development, shopper marketing, and consumer packaged goods. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a master’s in nutrition education from American University. Ashley uses her retail and CPG experience to connect Transfarmation farmers with buyers, develop resources to help farmers better understand topics around marketing and distribution, and report on the needs of buyers in specific markets. Each of these free resources is published through the organization’s website for download by anyone who can use them. Ashley is passionate about moving the food system toward a more compassionate model that is better for farmers, rural economies, animals, and the planet and looks forward to gaining skills and connections through this fellowship to help accomplish these goals.

Brooke Anderson, Center for Arkansas Farms and Food

Brooke Anderson serves as the Farm School Business Instructor at the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food (CAFF). She teaches business planning to specialty crop farmers and organizes networking events to connect beginning farmers with local resources. Her career objective is to enhance the financial resilience of agricultural communities through strategic policy initiatives.    Brooke holds a B.S. in Accounting, an M.S. degrees in Agricultural Economics, and an M.S. in International Rural Development from the University of Arkansas. Her career includes roles such as Community Development Specialist at UMB Bank and Emergency Shelter Grant Administrator at the Missouri Housing Development Commission, where she managed federal grants and promoted economic revitalization. Through the Arkansas Food Systems Fellowship, Brooke seeks to deepen her understanding of food systems theory and the interplay of programs and policies. She is eager to learn from seasoned leaders in the fellowship, gaining insights into strategic decision-making and coalition-building. Brooke aims to forge meaningful connections with diverse stakeholders in the food systems community, leveraging mentorship and guidance to navigate challenges and contribute effectively to advancing sustainable and inclusive food systems.

Carolyn A. Prowell, Director PeaEye INC

Born, raised and reside on a small farm in Phillips County Arkansas. Attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. Employed with UAPB for the past 30 years. I started my own agricultural business in 2022, providing assistance to women and youth in the area of agriculture.

Cassie Jones, Food Bank of North Central Arkansas

Cassie Jones is a registered nurse at Baxter Health and a service leadership project intern at the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas (FBNCA). Currently, she is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Arkansas State University. She plans to continue her education at the University of Arkansas Medical School and become a psychiatric nurse practitioner and public health researcher. In her background, Cassie has championed access to equitable food systems. She has served as an inaugural Student Leadership and Advisory Council member at Swipe Out Hunger and on the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance college hunger summit planning team. Through her internship at FBNCA, Cassie created the first anti-hunger task force at her local community college, performed statewide research on the needs of college pantries, and spearheaded capacity building of the college pantry. In her role as a nurse, Cassie is a member of the Baxter Health Interprofessional Ethics Council, Rehabilitation Unit Council, and Service Council. 

Christine L. Bennett, The Naked Truth Training & Empowerment Center, Inc.

I am the senior Pastor of The Naked Truth Training & Empowerment Center, Inc. and Director of Spirit of Excellence Ministry Faith in Action Project.  Both of these entities are non-profit and with both we offer services.  Faith in action does volunteer caregiving for senior citizen and the disable.  The Naked Truth we have a pantry and in 2024 we planted our first Garden of Blessings.  Most of the vegetables are given out to our pantry clients.  I am a board member of The Mississippi County Community Foundation and a member of the Mississippi County Non-Profit Coalition. Volunteer for the Haven (A domestic Violence Shelter).  Volunteer for The Daddy lacy Project (We go into the schools and work with the children)

Connie Robinson – Union Valley Outreach Ministries

Connie Robinson is a dedicated Paraprofessional at New Start ALE within the Wynne School District. With a passion for mentoring and empowering youth, she strives to help them reach their full potential. Outside of her work in education, Connie is a committed community advocate, regularly coordinating food giveaways, back-to-school events, and efforts to support those in need. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Before her current role, she served as the Facility Director for the Harrisburg Juvenile Treatment Center. A native of Wynne, Arkansas, Connie is married and resides in Vanndale, Arkansas.

Elizabeth Bell-WSBZ FARMS

Elizabeth Bell is a third-generation farmer and U.S. Air Force Veteran.  She founded WSBZ FARMS in 2019 as a means to advance farming of the under sourced farmer in Pulaski and Lonoke Counties. The entire WSBZ FARMS CREW as she lovingly calls her daughter and grandchildren continue to educate the community and surrounding areas by having workshops, and implementing projects to facilitate goals of a sustainable small to mid-sized farm that will sustain itself now, and far beyond in the future.

Harvell L. Howard, PhD; Essential Solutions, Inc

Dr. Harvell Lamont Howard is a humanitarian community builder who has committed his life to be of service to others in various capacities. He has worked with organizations and communities throughout Arkansas and beyond as a humanitarian community-building strategist, educator, program developer, and personal development specialist. For nearly two decades, Harvell has facilitated efforts to bridge educational gaps and support communities among culturally diverse groups. In 2003, Harvell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business from Hendrix College. He later earned a Master of Public Service degree from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in 2010. As a member of the Clinton School’s fourth class, Howard received the Shannon Butler Bridge Builder award, which is the highest honor given to a graduate, and while there, his efforts focused on youth and economic development. Howard has worked with Cable Vision, several non-profit organizations and foundations, and many educational institutions. Today, through a consulting company, Essential Solutions, Inc. and a nonprofit, Arkansas Summits, established by him and his family, Harvell supports individuals, organizations, and communities to build the necessary capacity needed for health, wellness, and success. Whether working with or managing strategic collaborations, conducting scholarly research, teaching youth and adults, or developing innovative projects, Harvell Howard builds community and enhances outcomes for people and projects in the public and private sectors.

Kimberly R Haynie, PhD

Dr. Kimberly R. Haynie is an Assistant Professor of Food and Nutrition Science at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). In this capacity, Dr. Haynie facilitates courses in nutrition and food science, including Nutrition and Wellness, Elementary Nutrition, Experimental Food Science, and Nutrition Through the Life Cycle. She will also oversee internships, and contribute to student recruitment, retention, advisement, and mentoring.    Prior to employment at UAPB, Dr. Haynie served as a regulatory team leader at Registrar Corp in Hampton, Virginia. There, she served as a regulatory consultant to domestic and international food manufacturer and distributors, managed a team of specialists, and ensured project success through effective problem-solving and innovation. Additionally, Dr. Haynie has a background as an adjunct professor at Rappahannock Community College in Warsaw, Virginia and Virginia Peninsula Community College in Hampton, Virginia. In this capacity, she designed and delivered Principles of Nutrition courses. She holds a doctoral degree and a master’s degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, along with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, all from Virginia Tech University. Dr. Haynie is poised to make significant contributions to UAPB through teaching, research, and community service.

Kyndal Brown – Each1 Teach 1 of Little Rock

 My name is Kyndal Brown, and I serve as the Program Director for Each1 Teach1 of Arkansas. Although our nonprofit is in its startup phase, we have been dedicated to planning and researching various ideas and strategies for several years. Each1 Teach1 was founded in response to a critical need we identified in our communities: many people lack access to healthy food and do not have the knowledge or resources to grow their own. Our mission is to empower our communities by providing the necessary resources and education to ensure everyone has the opportunity to access and grow.

Tonji Cromwell, PLUM Foundation

Tonji Cromwell was born in Goodwin, Arkansas, a small town surrounded by fields of corn, cotton, rice, soybeans, and wheat. Growing up as the granddaughter of a farmer, she developed a strong connection to the land. At the age of 14, Tonji’s family relocated to Memphis, TN, where she attended Central High School. She later graduated from LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Science in 1992. As a committed humanitarian, Tonji sought to further her professional development by returning to school, where she earned a master’s degree in ‘Teaching and Learning’ with a focus on Educational Technology as well as a master’s degree in ‘Human Services Counseling’-Executive Leadership. Additionally, She is a successful Realtor and Real Estate Broker. Tonji Join PLUM Foundation in 2006. PLUM Foundation is a federal and state-recognized 501 c (3) non-profit established in 2006. We focus on community development in impoverished communities by offering social services and economic development. Our community programs revolve around supporting historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups, low-income earners, at-risk youth, and seniors living within impoverished communities. Tonji has actively volunteered at various food and clothing donation events for PLUM, demonstrating her leadership skills and a positive, “can-do” attitude.

Margie Raimondo, Urbana Farmstead

Margie Raimondo is a chef and farmer at Urbana Farmstead. She teaches both kids and adults how to cook using ingredients from the garden and how to preserve food. She also prepares farm-to-table dinners and teas in her farmhouse kitchen. Additionally, she makes jams, preserves, and Mediterranean meals that you can buy in Urbana Farmstead’s onsite market.    Chef Margie also shares stories about traditional foods and farm life through books and movies. She wrote a cookbook called “Mangiamo,” filled with recipes from her family and her travels. She’s also the director of an award-winning documentary called “The Soul of Sicily,” which showcases how people in Sicily keep their traditions alive, even when farming faces challenges.

Meredith Martin-Moats, McElroy House and Sulphur Springs Truck Patch

Meredith is a cultural worker,oral historian, researcher, community organizer, tiny farmer,  writer, radio producer, and caregiver. Her work focuses on re/weaving connections across generations, building and supporting place-based work that is focused on a deep understanding of land and community history, working across divides, anti-racist community-based research, situating and elevating caregiving as central to community work, and getting hands in the dirt. She is cofounder of the McElroy House: Organization for Cultural Resources located in Dardanelle, Arkansas and the Executive Director of  River Valley Adult Learning Alliance, an organization working to provide community-based literacy and multilingual resources across five rural counties in central Arkansas. She also works with Highlander Center’s Participatory Action Research team in the mid-south. She received her M.A in Folk Studies from Western Kentucky University. She and her family operate Sulphur Springs Truck Patch, an experimental tiny farm and increasingly research focused project in Harkey Valley, Arkansas on land that was passed down from her grandfather. She lives with her family, dogs, cats, many critters and beloved donkey on what is rightfully Osage ancestral land in Yell County Arkansas. In her spare time she enjoys learning from her children, boxing, finding snail shells, and historical research that can build new futures.

Monique Jones

Minister Monique Jones proudly serves as Director of Outreach for the Historic St. James Missionary Baptist Church. She leads one of the fastest growing food pantry operations in Washington, County. She used her learned experience with Kaizen to improve the processes, such as purchasing, logistics and shipping/receiving to streamline the food pantry process. She also serves as the 1st Vice President of the Northwest Arkansas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Branch #60AC, Vice-President on the Arkansas Support Network Board. Monique has a strong passion to advocate for equal rights for all oppressed in order to challenge race-based discrimination and provide connections between BIPOC communities to access resources. Originally from Minden, Louisiana and resided most of her adult life in the Dallas Ft. Worth metroplex, Monique graduated from Northwood University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Monique has worked concurrently in Human Resources for 20 or more years while working towards earning her degree. Her purpose and passion lie in serving her church and community. She recently started her own business, CPR NWA, offering Life Coaching and Case Management to provide training, coaching and life mapping through authentic business principles. Monique has been to Washington, D.C. in partnership with Bread for the World to advocate successfully to pass a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill – the single biggest piece of anti-hunger legislation in the U.S.; She serves as a national representative on the campaign to Nourish our Future. Locally, she wants to improve the food pantry process in all areas to remove barriers and provide access to more.  She served 1500 families a week during the pandemic and continues to serve around 900 families each week in Northwest Arkansas through drive thru pantries, Door Dash deliveries, community mobile pantry and the only Food Storage Locker which is client choice and addresses the ALICE community by providing access to food 24 hours a day.  

Nena Hammer, Spring Creek Food Hub

For as long as I can remember, food has been an important part of my life. As a child, I have fond memories of picking sugar snap peas and cherry tomatoes in my family garden. Pulling weeds was like therapy on difficult days. Tending the garden with my family instilled a love of food and farming that has never left me. Throughout college and my professional career, I have had the opportunity to be a part of several local food-based organizations, from serving as an AR GardenCorps member, to owning/operating a farm/forage to table restaurant, to managing livestock and garden operations at Cobblestone Farms. Through all these roles, my love and connection to food have grown. With that love has come the desire to own my own farm and support other farmers throughout AR. While our own farm is a work in progress, I currently have the opportunity to support other farmers through my role at Spring Creek Food Hub. As the Farmer Relations Manager, I work to build relationships with our local farms, learning about their successes, challenges, goals, and how we can help them achieve those goals. Through these relationships, we are working to cultivate a vibrant, resilient local food network. Participating in the AR Food Systems Fellowship will allow me to grow my leadership skills to better serve our farmers, our community, and our state.

Nicole Chandler, FoodCorps Arkansas & Mississippi Impact and Partnerships Lead

Community and equity are cornerstones for Nicole. She has an extensive background in public service. Her career spans AmeriCorps, community development and organizing, and city government. She spent nine years in Boston and moved back to Little Rock in 2020. Food justice has been a constant in all her jobs, from pantries to gardens and everything in between. Food is a human right. Currently, she is FoodCorps’ Arkansas and Mississippi Impact & Partnerships Lead. Nicole enjoys genealogy research, watching baseball, and traveling.

Sarah Bakker, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service

Sarah Bakker is a Program Associate with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service where she aids farmers in developing produce safety programs for their operations and navigating federal regulatory requirements. She has been working in the agriculture sector for almost ten years in operations ranging from diversified organic produce to goat dairies across the US and West Africa. Most recently, Sarah served as the Market Garden Manager at Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR where she managed a 3-acre working educational market garden using sustainable and regenerative techniques. She has a deep passion for the intersections of food, sustainability, and community, and believes that building up rural communities is key to developing a resilient food system in Arkansas.

Stephen Booth (Little Rock, Ark.)

Booth earned his degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He served with AmeriCorps through FarmCorps. His public service interests are access to healthy  food, voting rights, and community development. He is currently a student at the Clinton School of Public Service.

Sun Ferreira

Sun Ferreira is an Assistant Professor of Food Processing and Engineering at the University of Arkansas. With a passion for enhancing local food systems, Sungil serves as a process authority, dedicated to supporting and boosting value-added foods. My goal is to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications, ensuring that local producers can thrive and innovate.

 Tish Mindemann, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative

Tishina (Tish) Mindemann is the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative’s Communications Manager & Program Specialist, with a decade of successful experience in education, curriculum management, and professional development. Tish specializes in communication technologies and regularly attends national training sessions to showcase new educational tech trends. Tish is also a PhD candidate with an emphasis on decolonization in education through effective leadership. Tish is a strong believer in the power of science education in institutes of higher education and its ability to provide equity. Tish enjoys a good cooking competition show but can also be found curling up with a great fantasy.

 Vickie Woodard

I’m a musician, retired teacher and community activist working to be a part of the change I want to see in my hometown of England AR.  I founded a nonprofit called MELOSONG C.I.T.Y. (Community Impact Team Yes) that sponsors the Ollie Woodard /Cassie Stewart Serenity Garden a green space/event center that aims to ease the food burden in our underserved community.  The space features amenities that helps our senior citizens 55+ community to garden with ease with counter height raised beds, accessible walkways, auto-watering systems and a “she shed” with bathroom facilities. We are the recipients of the AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT and have added an exercise circuit path, a bike rack and vibrant murals to our garden through these funds. We just hosted our first concert in the garden in connection with the Gartrell School Reunion.

Facilitation Team:

Tina Gilbert, Next Level Training Solutions

Tina E. Gilbert is a seasoned interactive workshop leader and facilitator, leadership coach, and author. Tina is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, and has over twenty-five years of experience with designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating training solutions.

After graduating from the University of Central Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in Marketing, she continued her education at Webster University, where she received a Master of Arts in Management Leadership.

Tina is a lifelong learner, and her goal is to help others discover and fulfill their highest potential in life. In 2011, Tina finally actualized her dream when Next Level Training Solutions Group LLC, opened to be a world-class business that offers innovative and high-quality training, workshops, and Human Resources services. She has deployed her mission of consistently delivering high quality services and programs that promotes results.

Andrew Carberry, Wallace Center at Winrock International

Andrew is a Project Manager at the Wallace Center at Winrock International where he serves on the Food Systems Leadership team. He helps to create dynamic programming for the Food Systems Leadership Network and manages the food systems mentorship program. He leads the team’s evaluation efforts and enjoys the challenge of capturing the impact of systems change work. Andrew was drawn to food systems work by the passionate individuals and the endless opportunities to learn. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds Masters’ degrees in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

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