INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FARMERS MARKET COALITION

Willa uses education, advocacy, and farming to promote a just and sustainable food system, creating and sharing healthy, affordable food for all. In her role at FMC, Willa carries out her mission to transform purchasing and eating choices, fostering a real food community and collaborating with passionate leaders to make impactful changes in our food system.

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 and African American mental health. Black communities throughout the United States are chronically underserved in this area, in part due to social and cultural barriers. Dr. Walker’s scholarly work is primarily centered around mental health, correlating towards our primary goal of developing culturally-relevant models of self-care, mental health & well-being.

CO-FOUNDER, RADICAL OPTIMIST COLLECTIVE

Lisa loves to inject optimism into problem-solving and make tables larger to include more voices. She does not shy away from putting race at the center of conversations, understands her place as a white woman in racial equity, and welcomes being in the struggle of interrupting racism. Lisa embodies the core of our collective and serves as lead on engagements, design, strategy, and partnerships, while also working as a 1:1 coach and lead facilitator.

FOUNDER, THE LOLA & VENTURE FOR AMERICA

Eileen is the co-founder of the Lola, a collaborative workspace for women which was built out of their shared desire to support and empower women. Eileen serves as an advisor and mentor at Venture for America. She is also an advisor at Project Entrepreneur – a program to support female entrepreneurs, serves on the Changemaker Board at Hands on Atlanta and is a board member at Spring Research Foundation

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, 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.

FOUNDER, JUNE DRAGONFLY & THE ACB GROUP

Andrea has over 20 years in the media and entertainment industry and is the founder and CEO of The Andrea C. Bibbs Group and June Dragonfly. She previously served as Vice President of Marketing and Studio Operations at Warner Bros. Discovery and is recognized for her contributions to DE&I, media, and advertising.

THE GARDEN QUEEN

Haylene Green is dedicated to gardening in organic soil and using holistic techniques to produce exceptional crops. She aims to empower families and growers with knowledge on food security, safety, and environmental sustainability for future generations. Haylene utilizes her incredible talent in growing and preparing delicious meals to unify her community and promote food knowledge across local gathering spaces.

BLVCK LOTUS HERBALS

Lotus is a true free-spirit who specializes in creating enriching herbal teas. Our partnership with Lotus has enriched Legacy Leadership events, with the signature Ma’dear tea blend being a standout highlight. Lotus, a true free-spirit specializing in herbal teas, operates in alignment to a commitment to education and promoting the informed, intentional use of plant medicine to activate heightened levels of power and awareness.

PRINCIPLE AND OWNER,
GRIM CONSULTING GROUP

Dr. Deidre Grim is a food justice advocate, social scientist, planner and activist who believes in overcoming challenges without excuses. Growing up in South Carolina, her passion for equity and equality stems from her family’s dedication to activism. As the principal and owner of Grim Consulting Group, CEO of Ivory Bay Community Development Corporation and the former executive director of Forsyth Farmers’ Market, she strives to create opportunities for others. She earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of California-Irvine, a master’s in Public Health from Columbia Southern University and a B.A. in Urban Studies from the College of Charleston. Inspired by Vice President Kamala Harris, Deidre believes that it is her duty to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities and is passionate about food justice.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR, CREATIVE DISRUPTOR, STRATEGIC CONSULTANT

Cicely Garret holds a B.S.B.A. degree with a concentration in Finance and New & Small Business Management from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Policy degree with a concentration in Non-profit Management from The George Washington University. A lifelong volunteer and servant leader, Cicely’s involvements have included LEAD Atlanta Class of 2013, Georgetown University Alumni Board of Governors, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership’s AB67 Board, Common Market Georgia Board Chair, and Kipp Ways Academy Board. She was awarded the Outstanding Atlanta Community Service Award in 2014 and Creative Loafing’s Neighborhood MVP in 2015.

FOUNDER & OWNER, HUMAN TEMPLE THERAPEUTICS LLC

Adwoa is an educator, business owner, founder, master social worker, genealogist, wellness coach, and Pilates instructor with over 15 years of experience in various fields of education, social work, and wellness. She is passionate about fusing physical conditioning with spiritual connection, creating a nurturing and empowering environment centering women of color and youth. She is the owner of Black Star Pilates, a holistic wellness practice that offers engaging, challenging, and rewarding private or small group sessions virtually and in-person. She is also the founder of Human Temple Therapeutics LLC, a company that works to connect the experiences of past generations to present life experiences through the lens of ancestral research, individual and group coaching, and Pilates for pre and post-natal mothers. She uses her skills in education, workshop facilitation, cultural diversity, and youth empowerment to support her clients and community in their journey of healing, discovery, and growth.

AUTHOR, CULINARY EDUCATOR, FOOD ACCESS ACTIVIST

Chef Juju Harris is a food insecurity advocate committed to highlighting the strategic ways that organizations and educators can collaborate on creating a healthier, stable food system. A culinary expert and organic gardener, she believes that food education is crucial to food accessibility and demonstrates h w healthy eating can be affordable in her cookbook, Healthy and Homemade: Eating Well on a Budget.

FOUNDER, BLACK AND BROWN HERB EXCHANGE.

A former teacher in higher education, Shiny is committed to healing her community by increasing accessibility and visibility to Black and Indigenous Farmers and producers. Currently serving as the interim Executive Director for the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition, Shiny works to empower Black and Brown communities to fully participate as leaders and innovators within the food system.

CULINARY DIRECTOR, FOOD JUSTICE ADVOCATE

Stacey Whitney is an experienced food justice advocate whose work is focused on facilitating the intricate connections between food systems, social justice, and empowerment of disenfranchised communities. Her expertise in these areas positioned her perfectly to offer meaningful contributions to the Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit.

OWNER, YELLOW MAT WELLNESS & RAREBIRD

Siha’s passion for creating great culture and organizational excellence led her to integrated wellness, becoming a meditation teacher and trauma-informed educator focused on social impact and justice. She authors and facilitates experiences on wealth, wellness, social justice, and community care. Through her brand, Yellow Mat Wellness, Siha has curated innovative wellness content for brands like Lululemon, Google, and The Honey Pot Co. Siha is also the owner and creative director at Rarebird, a freelance agency and design collective in Decatur, GA.

LEADERSHIP COACH & FOUNDER, ALIGNED AF

Naeemah is a manifestation and mindset coach and founder of Aligned AF, a personal development lifestyle brand. She helps women transform unfulfilled lives into ones filled with passion through specific manifestation and embodiment techniques. Her mission is to help women live in their magic and remember their purpose, empowering them to understand their true power and flow into the life they desire. Naeemah’s unique approach, rooted in vulnerability, creates a comfortable space for clients to share their experiences and move forward.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FARMERS MARKET FUND

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. She serves the Oregon food space by overseeing all Farmers Market Fund operation, developing and executing strategic plans, and managing a motivated team of staff, contractors, and volunteers.

PROGRAM COORDINATION

Joslyn is a second-year Master of Development Practice candidate at Emory University. With a BA in Political Science, International Development and Ethnic Studies from Colorado State University, Joslyn demonstrates a deep commitment to facilitating social change and impact at various levels, a tool that has proven to be pivotal in supporting the work of SageD and Legacy Leadership.

DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Rachel is a dedicated development and support specialist with a knack for maximizing the impact of social entrepreneurs. Rachel manages the back-end of project planning, event planning, program management, and scheduling, while also providing intentional executive support to Sagdrina and SageD partners.

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER

Lita Hooper-Simanga is a highly skilled professional in instructional design, training and development, course design and development, storyboarding, scriptwriting, eLearning, universal design, learning management systems, curriculum development, competency-based education, program management, and leadership development. With a B.A. in Communication, an M.A. in Creative Writing, an M.A. in Education, and a D.A. in English and Humanities, Lita brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any project or organization she is involved with

BRAND STRATEGIST / SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Lynn brings her passion for creative storytelling to the SageD Collective. Her goal will be to amplify the efforts of the entire collective by bringing visibility to Its multifaceted participants.