Niesha Alexander, CookShop Site Monitor, works in the Evaluation & Training department at the Food Bank. Niesha visits and observes the CookShop Classroom component as well as CookShop for Teens and CookShop for Adults workshops that take place within all five boroughs. Armed with a passion for change and years of experience advocating for NYC youth within the public school system – both inside and outside of the classroom – Niesha feels privileged to be able to serve her hometown and be a voice for the community.
Ashley Baughman, MPA, develops research to address the causes of hunger and poverty and inform policy solutions as the Food Bank's Director of Research & Evaluation. The Food Bank's research focuses on tracking trends in the need for and provision of emergency and government nutrition assistance programs, the consequences of hunger and long-term solutions to food poverty. Ashley is committed to issues affecting low-income individuals and families and to breaking the cycle of poverty through research and work with nonprofit organizations.
Caitlin Buckley, Communications Manager, is responsible for the Food Bank’s print publications and marketing materials, including Food For Thought, our quarterly newsletter. Caitlin works to connect the Food Bank’s supporters with the stories and individuals behind the Food Bank’s work, raising awareness of our comprehensive approach to ending hunger in New York City. Caitlin is a recent transplant from Boston and in her spare time she enjoys film, 19th-century novels and getting to know Brooklyn.
Daniel Buckley, Online Communications Manager, oversees the Food Bank's online marketing. From this blog and the rest of the Food Bank's Online Community – including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – to email communications and the organization's broader presence in online media, Daniel strives to promote the fight to end hunger in New York City and connect with supporters as a collective and individually. Daniel is also responsible for the Food Bank's website, the organization's most comprehensive resource.
Davinia Buckley, Special Projects Assistant, works with Business Partnerships and Special Events at the Food Bank. As a recent graduate from Franklin and Marshall College, and new resident in New York City, Davinia is putting her Business degree to work and following her passion for event planning by coordinating food drives, partnerships and events to help raise funds and awareness for hunger and food poverty in New York City.
Justin Crum is the Youth Development Manager for EATWISE, the Food Bank's CookShop for Teens program. A teacher by training and a food enthusiast, Justin works with New York City teens to help develop their understanding of food and nutrition issues and inspire them to help their peers make healthy eating choices.
Sasha Ginnetti, Senior Manger of Education, oversees the development and revision of the Food Bank’s nutrition education curricula. Working collaboratively with members of the Research, Policy and Education Division, Sasha finds creative ways to inspire New Yorkers to make healthy food choices. Sasha received an undergraduate degree from Eugene Lang College, and a Masters in Education from New York University. When not at the Food Bank, she enjoys teaching yoga, watching movies and exploring new places.
Ashley Goforth, Communications & Marketing Assistant, works with communications, marketing and media relations at the Food Bank to help raise awareness for hunger and food poverty in New York City. Between working on events, helping to build the Food Bank's Twitter and Facebook profiles and writing articles for Food For Thought, the Food Bank's print newsletter; Ashley also volunteers as often as possible. Currently, she is the Mayor of the Food Bank on foursquare.
David Grossnickle, Director of Food Sourcing, oversees the Food Bank's food donors and the cultivation of new food donors. He actively solicits and coordinates food donations from organizations, corporations and food companies of every shape and size. Dave loves talking with potential donors and discussing the many benefits available for donating food and other products to the Food Bank For New York City. He has been involved in hunger relief in New York City for close to seven years.
Roxanne Henry, Community Outreach Manager, oversees outreach for the Child Nutrition Initiative, a campaign to increase access to federal Child Nutrition Programs, including the promotion of in-classroom breakfast and universal school meals in New York City public schools. Born on the island of Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Roxanne is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s School of Social Work where she studied Social Action and Community Development. In her spare time, Roxanne likes to read and is an active member of two book clubs. She also volunteers at various community initiatives with a focus on food access.
Tamara Joachim is one of four Site Monitors responsible for conducting regular visits to monitor and evaluate the implementation of CookShop at participating schools. Tamara is passionate about the invested development of under-served communities and came to the Food Bank with prior experience in community organizing, grassroots advocacy, and policy research. She is completing a BA in Sociology, Political Science, and Urban Studies at CUNY Hunter College.
Heather A. Joseph, Volunteer Services Manager, oversees the progress and placement of volunteers geared toward supporting the Food Bank’s programs and working with our food assistance program network; and is responsible for outreach and development to increase volunteer involvement. Heather is a member of the New York Association for Volunteer Administrators (NYAVA) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She received a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Milano, The New School University for Management and Urban Policy.
John Leggio, Cook Shop for Adults Associate, is a member of the Food Bank’s Nutrition & Health Education department. A lifelong New Yorker, he works to educate food stamp–eligible adults to the benefits of fresh, seasonal plant-based foods. John is currently pursuing a BS in Nutrition at Brooklyn College. In his spare time, John enjoys jogging, swimming, cooking and dog training.
Katherine Mancera, Public Education Associate, works to promote the Food Bank’s nutrition education program CookShop, and to educate the public on nutrition, food access, and poverty in New York City. In her free time she enjoys cooking with farm-fresh produce from her local CSA and reading books so good that her daily subway commute disappears.
Deanna Michalopoulos is a first-time Food Bank volunteer who helps lead CookShop Classroom workshops in a kindergarten class in Brooklyn. As a multifarious media professional, she has published nutrition, weight loss and fitness features for Women’s Health magazine, iYogalife.com and Lifetime networks. In her free time, she practices yoga, scours flea markets and resale shops for decorating gems, participates in a storytelling show and is launching an online vintage clothing store.
Brian Kenny Pham, Volunteer Services Coordinator, recruits and manages volunteers for the Food Bank's Community Kitchen and Food Pantry of West Harlem, Bronx warehouse, the CookShop nutrition-education programs and special events. In addition to his work at the Food Bank, Brian volunteers as the Technology-Chair on the Board for New York City’s Young Non-Profit Professionals Network. Prior to the Food Bank, Brian has worked with coordinating and deepening relationships with volunteers through one of United Way of America’s national programs, Alternative Spring Break.
Carly Rothman Siditsky, Public Education Manager, works to engage New Yorkers in the Food Bank’s nutrition and health education programs, and to inform the public on issues relating to food, nutrition and poverty in New York City. A graduate of Yale University and an MPA candidate at the NYU Wagner School of Public Service, Carly previously worked as a reporter and web editor for The Star-Ledger in Newark.
Astrid Spota, Research Associate, works on projects that help the Food Bank ascertain trends and determine the need for emergency food, nutrition education and income support programs throughout New York City. Astrid received an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Spanish from Drew University, and a Masters degree from Milano The New School University for Management and Urban Policy. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, reading and volunteering.
Triada Stampas, Director of Government Relations & Public Education, works to inform government officials, policy makers and the general public about the needs of the city’s network of emergency food organizations and the more than 1.3 million people who rely on them; and to advance public policy that meets those needs. Triada occasionally travels from her base in New York City to Washington, DC and Albany to bring the Food Bank’s message to our nation’s and state’s capitals.
