Laura Robinson

​President

Laura has a Masters in Public Health, a background in qualitative research, and is a certified holistic health and wellness coach. Laura recently co-founded a small organic veggie farm in North Yarmouth (Riverside Farm), and through her public health lens, she is also starting a baby food company, uniting her passions to help moms and families live their healthiest lives.

Judy Gatchell

Treasurer

​​Judy is a registered dietitian with a background in Public Health Nutrition. She has worked with local communities to support healthy behaviors to promote health among populations at risk for chronic disease. Judy served as Nutrition Education and Training Coordinator for the School Nutrition Program at the Maine Department of Education and in that capacity worked with schools to develop and offer training and grant funds to strengthen local school nutrition staff.  

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​Richard Rudolph

​Board Member

Richard is a retired organic farmer, activist, teacher, board member of the Green Energy Consumer Alliance in Boston and Providence, and chairman of the Green Energy Committee. He has a Ph.D. in history from the University of Connecticut, is a pro-bono consultant, has published numerous articles, and hosts a half-hour public affairs program “Community Voices for Change” at WMPG.


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Nicholas Escobedo (he, him, his)

​Board Member

Nicholas is Program Development Consultant with ICNA Relief in Portland, Maine. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Public and Professional Writing from the University of Southern Maine. Growing up in Maine his whole life, he has long sought the means to improve his community – which he does through fundraising to increase programs available to aid those in need where he lives. 
After attaining his Bachelor’s Degree, he worked with the Cumberland County Food Security Council as the Food Fuels Learning VISTA. He is very excited to be continuing the work the Cumberland County Food Security Council is pursuing in youth food security – particularly the Halal School Meals Network – that seeks to increase food security among the growing immigrant population of Maine.

Jordene Trueh

​Vice President

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Alexis Guy (she/her/hers)

Secretary

Alexis works as the Healthy Eating, Active Living Team Lead at Cumberland County Public Health. She is a Registered Dietitian with a Masters in Public Health who brings experience from the local, municipal and federal levels. She uses relationship building and an equity lens to guide her work in increasing access to healthy foods and opportunities to be active. A transplant to Maine originally from the Northwest, she loves eating local seafood and exploring the many ways to experience the outdoors across the state.

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​Kathryn Sargent

​Board Member

Kathryn is executive director of the Locker Project, a South Portland-based nonprofit that operates school- and community-based take-home food programs for children and families in Cumberland County. She worked as an academic editor for more than 25 years before moving to Maine and taking on her current role. 
Kathryn holds a B.A. in economics and religion from Bowdoin College, an M.A. in ethics from the University of Virginia, and a graduate certificate in applied research and evaluation methods from the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine.

​​Ali Mediate 

​Board Member

After studying at the University of Southern Maine, Ali went on to receive a degree in Community Agriculture and Food Science from The Evergreen State College. She made her way back to Maine to serve as a FoodCorps Service Member at Healthy Acadia. She holds Master Gardener and Master Preserver Certification through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. In 2018, she started Maine Foodscapes and the Foodscapes Garden Project (FGP), inspired by her AmeriCorps service at Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB). Since her return to Maine, Ali has worked with the Cumberland County Food Security Council, the Portland Farmers Market (promoting EBT nutrition incentive programs like Farm Fresh Rewards and Maine Harvest Bucks), and the Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative (MFSC). She is excited to join re-join the team at CCFSC as a Board Member in 2024 and to support Strategic Planning, Local Food System Reporting, and Community Outreach/Engagement! She has a passion for helping raise awareness of the many benefits of strong local food systems. She spends her time trying to excite everyone she meets about growing their own food and reconnecting with the land that feeds us. She can be found reading a book or seed catalog, riding her bicycle, or in the garden... preferably with bare feet and dirt under her fingernails!

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