Executive Director
execdirector@nfwm.org
Kathleen lives in Western North Carolina and brings nearly 20 years of experience in farm worker justice, faith-based organizing, nonprofit leadership, and community-centered food systems work.
Her introduction to farm worker organizing began while working alongside Sisters of Charity near her hometown of Pueblo, Colorado. She later trained as an allied organizer with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, supporting early Fair Food campaigns through faith-based organizing and community engagement in Florida and Chicago. She also organized nationally around equitable agricultural policy through Faith Farm Teams during the 2008 Farm Bill and worked with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s advocacy office on food and agricultural programs impacting farm workers, small farmers, and rural communities.
Over the past decade, Kathleen has led and grown community-based food systems organizations in North Carolina, including serving seven years as Executive Director of Dig In! Yancey. Most recently, she helped develop and manage North Carolina’s first statewide registered agricultural apprenticeship program through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, working alongside farm workers, beginning farmers, community organizations, and policy stakeholders.
Her work is grounded in relational organizing, faith-rooted solidarity, and the belief that meaningful change happens when those most impacted lead.
Kathleen is honored to bring her experience and commitment to NFWM’s work of accompanying farm worker-led movements.