About

Who We Are

Farming Hope began by two graduate students who had a dream of nourishing dreams and nourishing community through food and job-training. Years later we are still driven by the same core principles that our co-founders wove into the fabric of our work:

Food is a human right. Everyone needs to be needed. Neither food nor human potential should go to waste. Thank you for supporting our Apprentices and our team!

2016

Founded at Stanford Graduate School Lecture

2017

 Started at farmer’s market with Apprentices

2018

Opened cafe in Mission District

2020

Began food security meals program

2021

Opened Refettorio San Francisco

2023

Moved to 690 Van Ness

Our Team

Andie Sobrepeña

Andie Sobrepeña

Executive Director

Haley Nielsen

Haley Nielsen

Deputy Director

Kris Sosa

Kris Sosa

Program and HR Director

Chef DJ Hollister

Chef DJ Hollister

Culinary Director

Ramesses Olivares-Ochoa

Ramesses Olivares-Ochoa

Associate Director of Community Food Programs

Itzel Rojas

Itzel Rojas

Program Manager

Sylvia Nguyen

Sylvia Nguyen

Development Manager

Alex Yan

Alex Yan

Kitchen Manager

Luis Ceron

Luis Ceron

Kitchen Manager

Mauro Juarez-Ramos

Mauro Juarez-Ramos

Cook & Trainer

Mafe Guacheta

Mafe Guacheta

Chef Trainer

Esther Fuero

Esther Fuero

Prep Cook

Marvin Rodriguez

Marvin Rodriguez

Prep Cook

Louisa Montes

Louisa Montes

Custodian

Divya Saikumar

Divya Saikumar

Food Programs Intern

Jamie Stark

Jamie Stark

Co-Founder

Kevin Madrigal

Kevin Madrigal

Co-Founder, Advisor

Thank you to Lisa Frare Photography for many of the photos on our website.

Board of Directors

Stephanie Weiler

Stephanie Weiler

Board Chair

Tricia Chandiramani

Tricia Chandiramani

Vice Chair/Secretary

Maddy Shannon

Maddy Shannon

Treasurer

Marina Abayev

Marina Abayev

Board Member

Joan Hanawi Carlock

Joan Hanawi Carlock

Board Member

Noa Davidson

Noa Davidson

Board Member

Yasmin Elbaily

Yasmin Elbaily

Board Member

Kathy Gu

Kathy Gu

Board Member

Adrian Lewis

Adrian Lewis

Board Member

Michelle Minori

Michelle Minori

Board Member

Michelle Morrison

Michelle Morrison

Board Member

Becca Plofker

Becca Plofker

Board Member

Sarah Salomon

Sarah Salomon

Board Member

Chris Viscount

Chris Viscount

Board Member

Emeritus Board Members

Lyndsey Boucherle, Hector Calderon, Terri Dayal, Shelley Dyer, Michael Fu, Sheena Jain, Xochitl Hernandez, Ilana Lipset, Lucia Gaia Pohlman, Dina Polanco-Mendoza, Savannah Schoelen, Salim Shariff, Victor Smith

Press

KQED logo
Eater
KQED logo
Emerson
GreatBigStory
Hoodline
Eater
Marco
FoxLogo

Reports

Farming Hope is a registered 501(c)(3) Tax ID: 83-2393341

IRS status Determination letter

2024 Annual Economic Statement

 See our Annual Reports (Gratitude reports) and 990’s below.

Join us in the fight

 Farming Hope is different — we pay Apprentices while they learn in our program.
Paying people makes sense, but costs dollars.