The HEAL Food Alliance is governed by a Steering Council composed of representatives from our member organizations. Our current Steering Council includes leadership from Brandworkers, Feed Black Futures, the Food Chain Workers Alliance, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, La Semilla Food Center, National Black Food & Justice Alliance, Nihikeya, Operation Spring Plant, and Real Food Media.
HEAL Steering Council
Meet our leadership!
Ali A.
Founder & Co-Executive Director, Feed Black Futures
Ali is a public health leader, birthworker, and food justice advocate advancing liberation through just food economies. As Founder and Co-Executive Director of Feed Black Futures, she partners with Black farmers and formerly incarcerated communities to transform systems of food access, land ownership, and economic sovereignty. With over fifteen years of experience at the intersections of health, healing, and power building, Ali bridges public health and social entrepreneurship. An Echoing Green and Just Economies Institute Fellow, she serves on the Steering Committee of HEAL Food Alliance and the Board of SisterSong. Rooted on Ohlone land in the Bay Area and the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, her work envisions regenerative, community-owned futures.
Christina Spach
National Organizer, Food Chain Workers Alliance
Christina joins HEAL’s Steering Council with over decade of experience in social justice and grassroots organizing. As the National Organizer for the Food Chain Workers Alliance, Christina leads FCWA’s Good Food Purchasing Program work and is committed to supporting social and worker justice efforts grounded in grassroots solutions
Cristina Dominguez
Co-Executive Director La Semilla Food Center
Cristina is a founding director of La Semilla Food Center and is a native of the El Paso frontera. She led the transition of 12 acres of farmland into a diversified agroecological production and education farm. Cristina oversees the implementation and integration of multigenerational educational programs and regional small acreage farmers at La Semilla Community Farm. She studied ecological horticulture at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at the University of California- Santa Cruz.
Gabriel Morales
Executive Director, Brandworkers
Gabriel Morales is the Executive Director of Brandworkers. He has over a decade of experience in the labor movement as a rank-and-file member, an organizer, and as an organizing director. Gabriel works with an incredible team of member leaders and staff organizers to support food manufacturing workers in New York City and New Jersey as they build shop-floor power through worker-led unions. Gabriel is shaping a world where workers have the power they need to transform our society and he is constantly inspired by the bravery and courage of rank-and-filers across the globe.
Irene Ruiz
Executive Director, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils
Irene Ruiz is the daughter of Mexican Immigrants, she grew up in Hazelton, ID where she also worked in the fields with her family. She received her Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Boise State University. Irene currently lives in Boise, ID.
Irene has been an activist for over 20 years. She is the Executive Director for the Idaho Organization of Resource Councils. She is a board member for the ACLU of Idaho the Stay at School Quinceñera program, and Indigenous Idaho Alliance.
Dr. Jasmine R. Jackson
Co-Executive Director, National Black Food & Justice Alliance
Dr. Jas is an applied food systems research and policy-based specialist. She partners with academic research teams, anchor institutions, philanthropic foundations, and community-based organizations to identify root causes of and develop innovative solutions to food system challenges. Dr. Jas received her master’s degree in Community Planning from Auburn University and Ph.D. in Integrative Public Policy and Development from Tuskegee University. As a New Orleans native and farmer, she has developed a unique perspective when it comes to food and the effects that it has on communities. Dr. Jas believes that your zip code should not determine your life expectancy, and building relationships are essential to creating a sustainable and just food system.
Dr. Jas is an applied food systems research and policy-based specialist. She partners with academic research teams, anchor institutions, philanthropic foundations, and community-based organizations to identify root causes of and develop innovative solutions to food system challenges. Dr. Jas received her master’s degree in Community Planning from Auburn University and Ph.D. in Integrative Public Policy and Development from Tuskegee University. As a New Orleans native and farmer, she has developed a unique perspective when it comes to food and the effects that it has on communities. Dr. Jas believes that your zip code should not determine your life expectancy, and building relationships are essential to creating a sustainable and just food system.
Navina Khanna
Director, HEAL Food Alliance
Navina has dedicated over 15 years to creating a more just and sustainable world through transforming food systems. In 2014 her work was recognized with a James Beard Leadership Award. With a background in sustainable agriculture and food justice, she's worked as an educator, community organizer, and policy advocate, organizing across sectors and communities.
Phillip Barker
Co-Owner, Olusanya Farms &
Co-Founder, Operation Spring Plant
Co-Founder, Operation Spring Plant
Baba Phillip has over 44 years of experience farming, and has long history of leadership and advocacy for small family farmers. He is eager to teach others and assist in the sustainability of the small farmer including land ownership, while helping farmers navigate USDA programs and services.
Roberto Nutlouis
Executive Director, Nihikeya
Roberto is Dine (Navajo) from the community of Pinon, AZ. He is of the Todichinii (Bitter Water) clan, born for To' Tsoni (Big Water) clan. Roberto has been active for many years on Environmental Justice, Climate Justice, Just Transition and Food Sovereignty work on the Navajo Nation. He received his Bachelor of Science in Applied Indigenous Studies from Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 2005. Roberto Nutlouis currently serves as the Executive Director for Nihikeya, an organization focused on building regenerative ecological footprint utilizing Indigenous Dine knowledge and ancestral wisdom. His role is to organize and develop appropriate programs for local Dine communities to enhance the traditional lifeways that still exist on Dzil Yijiin (Black Mesa). He also developed an Agroecology Community Farm utilizing Dine alluvial farming, rain water harvesting techniques and edible landscapes as a way to show how food and water security can be achieved while healing the landscapes and the people. The farm also serves as a learning space, community organizing, work training, ceremonies and celebration.
Tiffani Patton
Creative + Storytelling, Real Food Media
Based in Oakland, CA, Tiffani is an advocate for just food systems who is particularly motivated by the nexus of race and food. She holds an MBA and an MPA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School. Tiffani brings years of active engagement in food policy discussions, event organizing, storytelling for change, facilitating important discussions around food system transformation, and the connection of art, music, and culture to food in the Bay Area and beyond.