The Food Action Network works to connect, advocate, and build capacity with a network of food system actors to foster an equitable and robust local food economy, a healthy and just community, and a well-stewarded, resilient foodshed.
How do we do our work?
Our Food Economy, Our Community, Our Foodshed, and Our Health and Wellness. Within those areas our network works to address 16 specific goals.
We gather individuals from different areas of the food system to collaborate as teams and affect change directly in their communities.
A local food economy encompasses the closed-loop path of food as it moves from farm to table within the same region, including where it is grown, processed, distributed, consumed, and disposed of.
Through Resource Sharing, Grant Distribution and Financing Partnerships we get funding and resources to the people who need it most. We activate our network as a Crisis Response solution, bringing people, resources, and funding to bear on immediate challenges.
The successes of the network are a prototype for positive food system change — in practice and in policy — across the country. Through listening and collaboration we equitably amplify voices to create that systemic change.
The Food Action Network responds to crisis situations, to help farms like Ebby’s Farm in Goleta. Watch a video about it. Photograph: Andrew Hill | PHAROS Creative
ABOUT THE FOOD ACTION NETWORK
OUR VISION
We envision a future for California Central Coast where locally grown, nourishing, and culturally relevant food is accessible to all; where equity, sustainability, and wise practices are championed; where both local food businesses and workers thrive; and where our communities share in the responsibility of fostering economic, physical, and environmental resilience.
OUR MISSION
The Food Action Network works to connect, advocate, and build capacity with a network of food system actors to foster an equitable and robust local food economy, a healthy and just community, and a well-stewarded, resilient foodshed.
OUR TEAM
As represented by our favorite foods and food related items. (click to learn more)
CORE OPERATIONS TEAM
Composed of staff and contractors, we are a tight-knit team that expands and adapts as needed.
Shakira Miracle
Shakira Miracle is a system solution designer, stakeholder collaboration facilitator, and social justice and planet advocate who loves engaging with people, listening to their stories, finding common ground, and building trust. When she’s not spending quality time exploring nature with her husband and two boys, you can find Shakira taste testing her favorite fruits at a local farm stand, farmers market, or straight out of the field when not falling in a ditch of said berry field. Learn more about Shakira’s expertise.
Why I love blackberries: When I lived in British Columbia, Canada, blackberries grew wild everywhere. Every summer while walking the dog or pushing my little ones in the stroller, I would pick them along the path and eat them. As the kids got a little older, they’d pick their own blackberries. They’d have constant blackberry stains on their faces, hands, and shoes. I loved it. They’re also low on the glycemic index and have fiber.
Mirella Esparza
A proud first-generation Mexican-American who was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, Mirella is currently pursuing higher education in Psychology. She and her husband are Marine Corps Veterans, who met while serving, and together they have two wonderful children. Having lived in several different states, they have first-hand experience with the food insecurities that exist in a one-income household. She is so proud to be working with SBCFAN; the welcoming yet mission-oriented force has motivated her to strive toward a well-structured food network within Santa Barbara County.
Why I love beans: my first memory of food is a bowl of beans. They have always been so filling, and brought a sense of “home” wherever life takes me. I ultimately wish I could’ve been more prepared in life by knowing; I would compare ALL beans to my mom’s Frijoles de Oya.
Lisa Javellana Hill
Lisa is a systems-minded creative professional with more than 25 years experience in developing marketing and communication strategies for small businesses and nonprofits. When she’s not puzzling on every available surface in the house she shares with her husband and two grown kids, you can find her at the farmers market trying not to spend all of her allowance. Learn more about Lisa’s expertise.
Why I love blueberries: I fell in love with blueberries (and blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, basically EVERYberries…) when we lived in the Pacific Northwest, where berries can grow to the size of small houses. That was 20 years ago, and I can still eat them until I have a stomach ache from eating too many. Aren’t they a superfood? I can get behind that.
Gus Albertsen
My name is Gus Albertsen ( Augustus Albertsen is my full name , but I like to go by Gus😀) . I just graduated from CSU Monterey Bay with a Bachelors Of Arts In Environmental studies. I enjoy protecting the environment , but I think that sometimes you (we) need to be realistic about how far citizens should go to protect the environment.I want to balance environmental protection with having a great life and typically that means going back to business as usual, but that is not bad. I am much more interested in solving the waste problem with respect to food and plastic. I am equally interested in collaborating with the agricultural sector and work with them on organic farming and more sustainable farming practices.
I was born with a brain injury known as Cerebral Palsy that affects my motor control ( how I move around. )
I grew up in Santa Barbara ( love Santa Barbara) and I wanted to study Environmental Studies because I wanted to help figure out the many different environmental issues we face. I enjoy working and doing food related research with the Food Action Network because I want to find new and healthy eating and growing practices for all.
I love kale from the garden. Chopped and Massaged with olive oil and salt.
Try it, you’ll love it!
Andrew Hill
With a formal background in graphic design, Andrew has 20 years experience in brand development, user experience, and communications design, focusing on usability and beauty. Toting his camera everywhere since age 13, he enjoys editorial photography of people and places, usually with an eye toward a larger story. His portraits aim to capture sincere moments, highlighting the ways we are alike as humans, even if our passions differ. When he’s not taste testing cultural foods while globetrotting with his better half, you can find Andrew chatting up and taking photos of whomever he runs into on the street. Learn more about Andrew’s expertise and find him on Instagram.
Why I love rainbow chard: It’s yummy, colorful, and I’m all about LGBTQ+ Pride.
Core Team demographics: 75% female; 25% Latina, 25% Asian.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
100% of our Board of Directors is directly involved in our regional food system1.
Megan Raff
Owner | Dare 2 Dream Farms
Board Chair, SBC Food Action Network
Vice Chair, Route One Farmer’s Market
Member, Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce
Megan Raff is deeply rooted in the local food system as the owner/operator of Dare 2 Dream Farms in Lompoc with her partner Jeremy. Leveraging her ground-up expertise, she activates business development, recruiting, and communication skills to shape the Food Action Networks strategic plan, foster board leadership, and drive impactful food systems projects. Megan also serves as Vice Chair of the Route 1 Farmer’s Market Board of Directors, a member of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and a key player in the restoration of the local Grange Hall. Beyond the farm and her community engagement, Megan is a homeschool mother and adventure enthusiast currently converting a bus to take her family road schooling. Her love for carrots isn’t just personal—it stems from the joy of watching her children harvest and snack on this garden favorite. Megan Raff is deeply committed to nourishing communities and fostering sustainable local food ecosystems in which the relationship between farmer and eater is forged.
Amy Derryberry
Board Treasurer, SBC Food Action Network
Food is the through line in Amy’s life, from wanting to be a farmer when she grew up, interning at an apricot orchard in Chico, working in restaurants and catering, to a stint with the SBC Vintners’ Association and transitioning to work in a natural food market.
Most recently she was Veggie Rescue’s founding ED and then the Director of the SYV Community Kitchen at St. Mark’s in Los Olivos, where she gained knowledge and support as a member of SBCFAN’s Community Kitchen Working Group. Some of her favorite activities are reading about food and cooking for and eating with family and friends.
Rachel Johnson
Board Secretary, SBC Food Action Network
Rachel Johnson originally hails from Toronto, ON, and (like so many!) found her way to Santa Barbara for graduate school and never left. Transitioning from academia into the non-profit sector, Rachel has amassed over fifteen years of program development, fundraising, capacity-building, and grant management experience in higher education, food systems, museums, K-12 schools, leadership initiatives, and more. Her strengths include strategic planning, storytelling for impact, program development and evaluation, equitable data practices, trust-based philanthropy, and collaborative impact. Rachel’s personal values are rooted in equity and social justice, and she devotes her volunteer and philanthropic life to grassroots causes, systems change, and advocacy. When she’s not working or volunteering, Rachel is training for her next backpacking trip or planning another international mountaineering adventure.
Why I love my tortilla press: When my partner and I got our first authentic cast iron tortilla press, it was a game-changer for our kitchen. Transitioning to more whole, unprocessed foods, and making meals made from scratch together has become a cornerstone of our home life. I could absolutely eat fish tacos every single day of my life and be content with little else – and once you’ve had them with fresh tortillas made from scratch, you’ll never go back!
Laurel Alcantar
Associate Director of Development | Food Bank of Santa Barbara County
Laurel has worked since 2014 with the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County. She enjoys working with Food Bank supporters and dabbling in data analytics as the resident quirky Salesforce data nerd. As a single parent of four, she understands many of the hardships encountered by those facing poverty and food insecurity in the Santa Barbara County greater community. She is acutely aware of barriers that working families face while trying to raise the next generation to be healthy, productive and thrive.
Prior to her career with the Foodbank, she spent three years at the American Cancer Society overseeing community engagement and patient services for Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. During that time she met many families impacted by cancer and witnessed the impact that economic security had on their treatment. For many patients, their treatments meant higher medical bills and being unable to work. Families often faced food insecurity and the threat of homelessness while recovering from illness.
She also serves on the board the Leading for Community Impact Alumni Council.
Why I love my pink water bottle: I know we don’t think of it as a food, per se. But water is critical to everything, right? Staying hydrated is how I manage to do everything in my day, and I carry my beloved water bottle with me pretty much everywhere.
Tyler Dickinson
Bio Coming Soon!
Alejandra Mahoney
Owner | Blosser Urban Garden
Alejandra Mahoney is a passionate advocate for equitable access to nutritious food. With over 25 years of experience working in various areas of the food system, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate fully in their local food system as producers, innovators, and consumers.
As the owner of Blosser Urban Garden, Alejandra has created a space where sustainable and organic farming practices are at the forefront. Through her work, she seeks to empower individuals and communities by providing them with the necessary tools and knowledge to grow their own food and make informed choices about what they consume.
Alejandra’s belief in equitable access extends beyond just providing nutritious food. She strives to create an inclusive environment where all people, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status, can actively engage and contribute to the local food system. Her passion for fairness and inclusivity drives her to continuously seek innovative solutions that address the systemic barriers that hinder access to healthy food for many.
With her extensive experience and unwavering dedication, Alejandra Mahoney continues to be a catalyst for positive change in the food system. She not only envisions a future where everyone has equal access to nutritious food but actively works towards making that vision a reality.
Miguel Ramirez
Bio coming soon!
1producers, distributors, education, workforce development, policy and regulation, marketing, food waste reduction, food security and retail
Board demographics: 75% female; 25% Latina, 13% bi-racial.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Specialists who extend our core capabilities and provide invaluable insights and services.
PHAROS Creative
Andrew and Lisa Hill co-founded Pharos Creative, a branding firm that helps clients with marketing and communications strategy, design, and photography. First launched in 1996 as a multimedia firm, their focus was on helping organizations and small businesses share their stories. Over the last few decades, they have worked with clients across the globe to clearly identify their audience and create targeted marketing strategies.
Through their work with the Community Environmental Council, Andrew and Lisa learned about the Food Action Plan, a project that immediately appealed to their love of food as it relates to place and passion for helping to expand food access in our region. Together, they designed marketing collateral and a website for the Plan, eventually becoming involved with the early stages of the Network. They continue to play an important role in the strategic direction and development of SBCFAN.
What does a successful Food Action Network look like?
Increased food access, expanded funding for farms, and the Network serving as a model that other communities can emulate to achieve greater food resiliency.
“Santa Barbara County – we love the place and the people. Food is a level playing field in the sense that everyone needs it, but it’s NOT in the sense that everybody doesn’t have equal access to it. This is an opportunity to do really impactful work and use our skills.”
Mercury Press International
Mercury Press International has been creating award-winning content for magazines, newspapers, books, television, and streaming since 1991. Today, owners Nancy Black and Isaac Hernandez focus on crafting moving and inspiring films for their many nonprofit clients, including Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Community Environmental Council, and SBCFAN.
An early partner of the Network, Nancy and Isaac love that the work we accomplish together is directly fulfilling a promise to create a better world and has local impact – extending to their own neighborhood.
Their skills and talents have helped the Network craft stories that foster conversation around strengthening the local food system. “Every single story is an opportunity to learn about communities doing something awesome. Film gets to your soul… it is a way to empower and uplift people into action. Our hope is that the films we produce for SBCFAN not only inspire our local audience to begin the process of creating this system but become ideas that can be replicated by a wider audience in their own communities.”
What does a successful Food Action Network look like?
The possibility that together we create a closed-looped economically vibrant food system that provides healthy food to all of our community.
“The Network provides resilience for the community we live in and we all eat so securing our food system just seems smart.”
– Nancy Black
“Every single story is an opportunity to learn about communities doing something awesome,” says Nancy Black.
Squared Away
Who are we? Military Spouses!
This pool of unique & talented personalities is where a significant amount of our assistants are chosen. The drive and dedication of our assistants is astounding & we know we have a great fit for your team!
Estrat Solutions
Estrat Solutions has worked with local, State, and Federal agencies in the United States on urban planning, disaster relief, and water resource management. The principal, Rubayi Estes, spent the last 13 years in different capacities with community-based organizations (domestic and international) and, most recently, as the VP of programs at the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Estrat Solutions has also worked as an independent evaluation and strategy consultant on projects for World Bank, Orfalea Foundation, Root Change, Save the Children, California State Office of the Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, and Oxfam International.
Economic Development Collaborative
The EDC creates confident, connected and directed business owners, civic leaders, and community partners by providing tools to build pathways for economic development.
Bridging Voices-Uniendo Voces, LLC
Bridging Voices-Uniendo Voces, LLC provides consulting services, training and professional interpretation, and translation services focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, and language justice. With more 10 years of experience, owner Lena Moran Acereto uses an educational, research based approach with a lens of equity to create inclusive, multilingual spaces where all voices are valued. Through her work with the Community Environmental Council, Bridging Voices cultivated a partnership with SBCFAN, providing interpretation for webinars and supporting the development of a language justice plan for the Network.
“The Network really understands the value of bringing all voices in – the commitment to diversity and inclusion drew me to SBCFAN. As an eater, I am becoming more curious about local food system options and what we can do to ensure that the Santa Barbara community has access to a just, equitable food system.”
What does a successful Food Action Network look like?
Embedding language justice into the culture of the work so that everyone can join the conversation and have a voice at the table.
A LITTLE HISTORY
FOOD ACTION PLAN ORIGIN…
Our story begins with the Santa Barbara County Food Action Plan, which was published in 2016. It provides a community-driven strategic plan that assesses and provides recommendations about how we as a county grow, distribute, consume, and dispose of food. The 104-page plan is framed around four pillars — investment in our food economy, health and wellness, community, and foodshed — and is a roadmap for food system resilience for generations to come.
It was soon realized that an organization was needed to steward The Plan’s continuous activation. This organization would ensure access to, knowledge of, and shared responsibility for countywide food system resilience building. SBCFAN was launched in fall of 2019 and later successfully received its 501(c)(3) status.
…THEN CAME THE FOOD ACTION NETWORK
Addressing the 16 Food Action Plan Goals in 4 key Areas
The North American Food Systems Network
The North American Food Systems Network (NAFSN) works at the forefront of the food systems profession itself, providing networking opportunities, resources, career guidance, leadership opportunities, training, webinars, podcasts, and a curated jobs board for people at all levels of this critical-change work.
NAFSN convenes subject matter experts to develop training and open-access tools specifically for community food systems professionals. Our work is grounded in peer-reviewed research published by our sister program, the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD).
The California Food Policy Council
The California Food Policy Council is a coalition of local food policy groups working to ensure that California’s food system reflects the needs of all of its communities. The California Food Policy Council’s (CAFPC) purpose is to build the capacity of local food policy bodies to work on state, regional and local policy priorities, generate public support for those policies, educate policymakers on issues in our food system, and advocate for systems change in California. CAFPC is an emerging voice in California’s policy making process that strives to bring transparency to food systems legislation, and to re-envision a political process that includes a more diverse range of food and farming interests to the table.
Center for Nonprofit Leadership
Center for Nonprofit Leadership
Helping nonprofit leaders do better at doing good
We offer practical and affordable professional development opportunities for nonprofit leaders.
Since our founding, we’ve provided training, technical assistance, and access to research materials that reflects its name, strengthening the leadership of nonprofit organizations throughout Ventura County.
CalNonprofits
The California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) is a statewide membership organization that brings nonprofits together to advocate for the communities we serve.
At CalNonprofits we:
- Speak with the voice of California nonprofits to the legislature, government agencies, philanthropy, and the public.
- Work with legislators and nonprofit coalitions to develop legislation that will allow nonprofits to bring our full power to serving our communities, and remove the obstacles to efficient contracting and high-impact work.
- Bring nonprofits together to discuss and debate issues, to think through the implications of government and philanthropic actions, and to build networks that support our organizations and the communities we serve.
- Publish research, analysis, news and opinion through our website, our print newsletter, and our e-newsletter. Sign up for our free e-newsletter to keep you up to date on what you need to know about Sacramento doings and special opportunities for your nonprofit.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
COMMUNITY
- Allan Hancock College
- Chumash Band of Mission Indians
- Clevr Blends
- Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation
- Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
- North SBC Library System
- Route One Farmers Market
- St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley
- Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market
- Santa Barbara County Environmental Services Department
- Santa Barbara Middle School Kitchen
- Veggie Rescue
FOODSHED
- Agrarian Trust
- Cachuma Resource Conservation District
- Community Environmental Council
- Condor’s Hope
- Ebby’s Organic Farm
- Gaviota Coast Conservancy
- Land Equity Task Force
- Occidental Arts & Ecology Center
- Quail Springs
- Santa Barbara County Sustainability Initiatives
- Terra.do
- White Buffalo Land Trust
- Wild Farmlands Foundation
The Food Action Network works with local stakeholders, like Alan Hancock College. Volunteers at the college bag groceries for food insecure families and individuals to pick up every Saturday. Photograph: Andrew Hill | PHAROS Creative
OUR WORK
OUR VISION
We envision a future for Santa Barbara County
where locally grown, nourishing, and culturally relevant food is accessible to all;
where sustainability and agroecology are championed;
where both local food businesses and workers thrive;
where our community remains economically, physically, and environmentally resilient.
Across the Food Action Plan Areas (1.0 and 2.0), we are making change by:
Sharing Resources
We create access to and knowledge of available and innovative resources:
- Online Resource & Information Hub
- Equitable Community Direct Resourcing
- Community Informed Financing & wraparound support
Changing Policy
We creating upstream systemic change through ground up, community-informed and led action:
- Mobilization of Citizen Eaters
- Identification of shared food policy & programmatic priorities
- County, State, and Federal Advocacy
Building Networks
We create opportunities for taking shared responsibility in building food system resilience
- Connection & Coordination
- Identifying & addressing gaps and/or barriers to collaborative action
- Catalyzation of Food System Projects
CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDE:
- The first Food Justice Micro-grant Program on the Central Coast in partnership with our first LOCAL corporate partner. Launched in Spring of 2024, awardees selected in Summer of 2024.
- A federal government/nonprofit meat processing social enterprise that will be launched in 2025
SBCFAN will catalyze:- critically needed in-county meat processing,
- certification of the meat processing training for incarcerated individuals,
- policy that ensures living wages are paid,
- and an employment pipeline upon re-entry.
- A Community of Practice Group, where food system changemakers from six counties along the Central Coast collectively identified shared food policy and programmatic priorities to inform their own food policy agendas and co-develop a resilient regional food system economy of the future.
- Countywide Community Kitchens Online Hub
Explains Community Kitchens and their value in the community; provides a wealth of information and a toolkit for MEHKOs and other temporary/mobile food facilities.
SUCCESS STORIES
The Food Action Network believes that real systemic change takes equitable and patient direct community investment, continuous trust building, ongoing evaluation, transparent public reporting, and most of all – demonstrating ways every eater can take shared responsibility for building regional food system resilience.
Success stories are the annual collection and public reporting of qualitative (interviews, questionnaires) and quantitative (key metrics, etc.) data from Food Action Network grantees and individual storytelling. These stories help illustrate the ripple effect of network connection, collaboration, and catalyzation.
STORYTELLING VIDEOS
A proven method for measuring network impact is through storytelling. Therefore, another creative method of community resourcing is the Food Action Network’s partnership with Mercury Press International to produce videos that tell local food system stories first hand.
The Food Action Network supports the Santa Ynez Band of the Chumash Tribe in re-prioritizing food sovereignty, self-driven community solutions, and traditional foodsheds. Here Diego Cordero harvests from traditional food sources at the Santa Ynez Tribal Nursery.
Photograph: Andrew Hill | PHAROS Creative
INVEST IN A MORE VIBRANT, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM.
DONATE
The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Contributions to SBCFAN are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. EIN: #87-1266678
Click here to view our Candid profile.
133 E De La Guerra St, #268
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 203-6234
info@sbcfan.org
EIN: #87-1266678
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