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
Co-Executive Director
Kerry Rodgers
Co-Executive Director
Haley Nielsen
Development Director
Chef DJ Hollister
Culinary Director
Maria Castro Noboa
Program and HR Director
Ramesses Olivares-Ochoa
Associate Director of Community Food Programs
Itzel Rojas
Program Manager
Anselmo Gonzalez
Chef de Cuisine
India Michael
Events Manager
Devon Jordan-McFeely
Cook and Trainer
Mauro Juarez-Ramos Cook & Trainer
Melvin Perez
Kitchen Porter & Trainer
Jade Quizon
Development Manager
Adrian Lewis
Weekend Meals Program Manager
Louisa Montes
Custodian
Divya Saikumar
Food Programs Intern
Lisa Frare
Photography Consultant
Kevin Madrigal
Co-Founder
Jamie Stark
Co-Founder
Board of Directors
Stephanie Weiler
Board Chair
Tricia Chandiramani
Vice Chair
Maddy Shannon
Treasurer
Michelle Minori
Board Secretary
Becca Plofker
Board Member
Joan Hanawi Carlock
Board Member
Kathy Gu
Board Member
Noa Davidson
Board Member
Salim Shariff
Board Member
Sarah Salomon
Board Member
Victor Smith
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
Reports
Farming Hope is a registered 501(c)(3) Tax ID: 83-2393341
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.