About CFI

Molly is an OU Alumni and was a VISTA with Rural Action in the Sustainable Agriculture program before moving out West for 13 years. She returned to be closer to family, plentiful water, and verdant land. She lives on a farm with her husband and two young boys where she enjoys swimming, biking, baking, yoga, and gardening.

Email Molly at: molly@communityfoodinitiatives.org

Susie comes to Athens by way of Michigan, North Carolina, Colorado, and Indiana. Born in the northern part of the Hoosier state, she’s a flat-lander who fell head-over-heels for Appalachia while living in the South. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa University and an MS in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College. Prior to joining CFI she worked in education and culinary arts, and sees sustainable food as a fundamental component of community resilience. She spends as much time as possible outside with her dog Marla, and is excited to keep connecting with and learning from the Athens County community.

Paige is originally from south-central Pennsylvania, growing up in the snack food capital of the United States. After finishing her undergraduate degrees, she worked in management at a local snack food company for almost 3 years. Relocating to the Athens area in 2014, she fell in love with the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio and the Athens’ food culture. She holds Masters’ degrees in International Development Studies and Public Administration from Ohio University. She is passionate about equitable access to fresh foods, and loves discovering new recipes and eating delicious food.

Email Paige at: seofoodlink@communityfoodinitiatives.org

Bailey is serving their second year with COMCoprs as the gardens coordinator with CFI. This year their role is expanding to include school and community gardens and they are excited for the new opportunities to bring gardening education to people of all ages. Bailey is passionate about food justice and renewable agriculture and has been studying these topics both in and out of school for the past 4 years. After Bailey’s second term at CFI, they will finish their degree with Sterling College in Vermont where they will earn a degree in Sustainable Agriculture. They are very excited to have another year in Athens with Community Food Initiatives!  

E-mail Bailey: gardens@communityfoodinitiatives.org

Sierra is originally from the Cleveland area, but has fully embraced life as an Athens resident in the vibrant and supportive community. She absolutely loved her first term as a COMCorps member and has decided to return to CFI for a second year. This upcoming year will be filled with literally TONS of produce. A very fresh way to spend a year! Sierra is passionate about sustainability and human rights and is morally aligned with the mission, values, and vision of CFI. Sierra enjoys laughing and learning. She is excited for her second year of service! 

Contact Sierra: discoverykitchen@communityfoodinitiatives.org

Caleigh is an Ohio University Alumni who now considers Athens home, after only a few years. She decided to serve here after falling in love with the local food scene and exploring her passion for sustainable food production. After interning with Live Healthy Appalachia last year, Caleigh discovered she really loves working with kids and sees exponential potential in future generations. She is very interested in environmental preservation, community engagement, and grassroots change. She hopes to make a lasting impression on the students and community she works with this year and ultimately develop healthier lifestyles for them all!

As Food Access Partners Coordinator, Carrie Carson is housed out of ACEnet and works closely with ACEnet, CFI, and Rural Action to coordinate the Appalachia Accessible Food Network, a collaboration between these three partners.  You can read her full bio on the ACEnet website, linked here.

Ruth is a Certified Health Educator at the Athens City-County Health Department. She assists schools, worksites, communities and health care agencies to develop policies, systems and environmental changes that promote health. The goal of the Creating Healthy Communities collaborative, which Ruth coordinates, is to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Elected 2013, re-elected in 2015 and 2016.

Steve has an M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from Ohio State and is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Ohio University. Motivated primarily by interests in social justice and inequality, he teaches and does research in the areas of hunger and food insecurity, international development, poverty, environmental justice, and social change. He grew up in the countryside near Stoutsville, Ohio where he fostered his love for the outdoors with the family garden, pond, and wooded creek. Steve has lived in Athens since 2006 and enjoys cooking and vegetable/flower gardening with his wife as well as bird-watching, biking, and hiking in the region and beyond. Elected in 2015, and re-elected in 2017.

Kip’s formative years in his journey through life took place on a cattle and tobacco farm in Kentucky. He came to Athens in 1970 to attend Ohio University and has been in love with the area ever since. Over the last 48 years, Kip has worked as a wildlife technician for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Kip owned a Court Street business for 20 years, has been a real estate appraiser for 20 years, and has been manager of the Athens Farmers Market for 10 years. He lives in the country near Shade with the love of his life Patricia and their jack russell terrier, Sparky.

Linda Parsons is a retired teacher from the Athens City Schools, where she taught for many years. She now grows as much food as possible in her backyard garden and is particularly excited about seed saving. Linda has enjoyed volunteering for CFI over the last few years and is excited to be part of a group that is working to ensure that everyone in our community has access to healthy local food. Linda has learned a lot from participating in many CFI workshops, from making kefir to building raised beds. She has also completed the Master Gardener program, likes running , hiking , reading, cooking and shopping at the Farmers Market.

Angie is a retired registered dietitian and has lived in Athens for over 40 years. She is an avid gardener and advocate for local food for local people. She feels in order to have a healthy community we must support a sustainable local food system which encompasses access to quality food and education for its uses. She enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, walking/hiking, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Susan has a diverse background in plant biology, nursing, development and marketing and is working presently as a financial advisor with Modern Woodmen of America Fraternal Financial. She has years of experience serving on board of directors with United Campus Ministry, the Athens Foundation Women’s Fund Advisory Board and Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio’s Women Raise the Roof. Currently, she is serving as chair of Christ Lutheran Board of Directors.

From her experience working for a sustainable economic organization and volunteering with social justice organizations, she better understands food systems and inequality. She looks forward to working with CFI to increase food security in our region. In addition to obtaining more licenses and spending time with her daughters, Susan enjoys gardening, home projects, networking, music, snowboarding, craft beer, wine and woodworking.

Amanda is a licensed real estate agent with The Athens Real Estate Company and has an extensive background in non-profit project management, development, and event planning. Amanda moved to Southeastern Ohio 14 years ago and has been on the CFI Orchard Advisory Council for the past few years. Her passions include gardening, healthy eating, yoga, and hiking. Amanda has a degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University and is an AmeriCorps VISTA Alum!

Sydney works at OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital as the director of marketing and communication. Passionate about healthy food and the outdoors, Sydney moved to Athens from New York City in 2010 in order to grow her own food, hike and forage close to home. She considers access to healthy food, and the ability to prepare it, foundational to individual health-and-wellbeing and to a strong community.