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
Executive Director

Haley Nielsen
Deputy Director

Kris Sosa
Program and HR Director

Chef DJ Hollister
Culinary Director

Ramesses Olivares-Ochoa
Associate Director of Community Food Programs

Itzel Rojas
Program Manager

Sylvia Nguyen
Development Manager

Alex Yan
Kitchen Manager

Luis Ceron
Kitchen Manager

Mauro Juarez-Ramos
Cook & Trainer

Mafe Guacheta
Chef Trainer

Esther Fuero
Prep Cook

Marvin Rodriguez
Prep Cook

Louisa Montes
Custodian

Divya Saikumar
Food Programs Intern

Jamie Stark
Co-Founder

Kevin Madrigal
Co-Founder, Advisor
Thank you to Lisa Frare Photography for many of the photos on our website.
Board of Directors

Stephanie Weiler
Board Chair

Tricia Chandiramani
Vice Chair/Secretary

Maddy Shannon
Treasurer

Marina Abayev
Board Member

Joan Hanawi Carlock
Board Member

Noa Davidson
Board Member

Yasmin Elbaily
Board Member

Kathy Gu
Board Member

Adrian Lewis
Board Member

Michelle Minori
Board Member

Michelle Morrison
Board Member

Becca Plofker
Board Member

Sarah Salomon
Board Member

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
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.
- 2024 Gratitude Report
- 2023 Gratitude Report
- 2022 Gratitude Report
- 2021 Gratitude Report
- 2023 Form 990
- 2022 Form 990
- 2021 Form 990
- 2020 Form 990
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.