Our Staff
Tasha Powell
Co-Founder, President
Tasha leads the organization as President, guiding AFC’s members, programming, and path. She is a lifelong North Minneapolis resident and has been active in the local food justice movement, advocating for and giving back to her community. Tasha is passionate about food access and knowledge for Northside families.
Michelle Horovitz
Co-Founder, Vice President of Innovation
Michelle grows networks, opportunities, and advocacy efforts as VP of Innovation. She has worked as a public defender and in the kitchen of an award-winning chef. Michelle’s father’s family is from the Northside, and she has a passion for building racial and social equity in this community.
Princess Haley
Co-Founder, Senior Engagement Officer
Princess builds connections and nurtures relationships as Senior Engagement Officer. She has worked in North Minneapolis as a licensed trainer and educator for more than twenty years. Princess is passionate about working with families to build healthy foundations for lifelong learning.
Aaron Palm
Vice President of Strategy & Finance
Aaron has been in the hospitality field for over 15 years. He enjoys the dynamic and fast-paced environment of hospitality and food service, having worked through college as a bartender, server, cook, cabana, and banquet supervisor. Aaron has worked with Breaking Bread Café in Minneapolis and, in a variety of capacities, with Kaskaid Hospitality as a General Manager and Director for Crave restaurants and Crave catering.
Darryl Lindsey
Vice President of Programming
Darryl supervises day-to-day operations at AFC, providing human resources support and management expertise. A Los Angeles native, Darryl brings 25 years of experience working in the private sector, as a high school teacher, private investigator and database administrator. He is an avid urban farmer, maintaining his own plots at his home in North Minneapolis.
Stephanie Malone
Vice President of Advancement
Stephanie holds a Master’s in Public Health Administration and Policy and brings two decades of service in the nonprofit sector, public health, and civic engagement. She’s led advancement for Twin Cities RISE, established major gifts and planned giving efforts at CaringBridge, fundraised for a capital campaign at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MN, and overseen annual fund and alumni giving for Augsburg University, and directed institutional giving for Girl Scouts. When not working, she spends time in her garden with her two young children and volunteers in the community. Her favorite produce is brussels sprouts, but also loves a tomato plucked fresh from the vine.
Geoffrey Wilson
Director of Breaking Bread Catering Sales
Geoffrey is a Minnesota native who recently returned to Minneapolis after many years living and working in New York City. He has a passion for food and hospitality. His first job was as a barista at Caribou Coffee at age 16 and he has worked in cafés and restaurants ever since. In addition to making great latte art, Geoffrey is a professional musician and composer, performing shows around the Twin Cities.
Meghan Healy
Director of Communications & Marketing
Meghan oversees marketing and communications for AFC’s social enterprises. Food is her love language and has always helped her connect with other people. Meghan left the advertising industry in 2017 and joined AFC as a volunteer and contractor before transitioning into her current role. Meghan received her Masters in Creative Brand Management from the Brandcenter at Virginia Commonwealth University. She hails from Virginia and after living on both coasts is happy to call Minneapolis her home.
Tom Vance
Director of Development
Tom is a seasoned nonprofit professional navigating programming, fundraising, communications, technology, and culture. He has served in philanthropy with PFund Foundation, deploying a grasstops fundraising strategy called the BEtter OUTcomes Initiative, giving to LGBTQ people and communities. Tom also has experience working on a $15 million capital campaign with Central Iowa Shelter & Services. During his free time, Tom sings with One Voice Mixed chorus, serves on the board of Out and Sober Minnesota, and hangs out with Mac, a very anxious and always cold chihuahua-terrier.
Amy Shanafelt
Grants Manager
Amy has a Master’s degree in Community Psychology from Metropolitan State University where she studied community health psychology, health equity, and food justice. Amy continued her work in that field at the University of Minnesota as a Research Grants Manager, bringing nearly 10 years of experience in grant management to AFC. When she’s not doing all things grants, Amy loves to spend time with her family, learn new skills in the kitchen, work in her garden, and hone her artistic skills through painting.
Antwayn Hunter
Breaking Bread Logistics Manager
Boakai M. Dorley
Controller
Boakai is a former Bank Examiner from the Central Bank of Liberia with more than 10 years in the financial sectors. In 2015, he obtained a MA Degree in Labor & Social Economics, from the State University of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil and BBA in Accounting & Economics, University of Liberia, 2009. He is responsible for preparing and overseeing AFC financial reports. Boakai has passion for teaching and mentoring youth on the importance of financial management.
Brett Weber
Breaking Bread Catering Executive Chef
Brett was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin where his mother and grandmother introduced him to the love of food. He started cooking in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during college. He then attended The Culinary Institute of America in Upstate New York upon graduating in 2007. From there he spent the next 6 years cooking in renowned restaurants in Chicago (Charlie Trotter’s) and New York (Blue Hill). He then moved to Door County, Wisconsin for his first opportunity to become an executive chef at a small restaurant and inn. He moved to Minneapolis in 2012 where he held positions as sous chef and chef de cuisine at Heartland and The Bachelor Farmer.
DeVon Nolen
West Broadway Farmers Market Manager
DeVon is born and raised in the North Minneapolis community. She studied at Northwestern College, pursuing a degree in Psychology and began her career through the TCF Banking Apprenticeship program at Patrick Henry High school. She has since worked in tandem with community for over 20 years, holding various roles in non-profit work and banking including Pillsbury United Communities, helping to found Emerge Community Development, TCF Bank and First National Bank of the Lakes. DeVon also serves on the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council Executive and is a community activist/organizer who takes great pride in her city, and is committed to fighting for fair and just systems at every level and discipline.
Emmiet Webb
Breaking Bread Chef de Cuisine
Emmiet is Chef de Cuisine for Breaking Bread Cafe. He’s a Chicago native cooking and thriving in Minneapolis. Emmiet’s passion for food comes from his roots where good food isn’t a secret! Providing people and communities with delicious scratch based foods is his passion.
Ibrahim Mohammed
Urban Agriculture Program Manager
Ibrahim is guardian of the gardens. He provides the day-to-day maintenance of our plots to ensure quality produce and admirable gardens. He is a freelance landscaper and has worked in mentoring youth as well as several local co-ops in the Twin Cities. Providing healthy foods for the community is one of Ibrahim’s passions because he believes healthy foods nurture the body and mind which contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
Jadea Washington
Communications Manager
Jadea moved to St. Paul from rural Minnesota in 2013 to pursue her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English and American Culture and Difference studies at the University of St. Thomas. Her work with BrightSide Produce, a nonprofit distributing fresh produce throughout North Minneapolis, cultivated in her a passion for social justice, particularly where race, class, space, and food access intersect. Jadea hopes to put her passion for and knowledge of radical social change into action through language.
Jim Pfeffer
Station 81 Kitchen Manager
Jim leads production out of our St. Paul kitchen at Station 81. A Minnesota native (with brief detours on the West Coast and as a cruise ship musician in the Caribbean), he has a deep connection to the land and culture of the Midwest. With over a decade of experience in the restaurant industry, he is committed to local and sustainable agriculture and celebrating the best of our region. Jim’s favorite produce is asparagus, as it only comes into season when winter is really over in MN and there is a full growing season to look forward to.
Jon Slock
Human Resources and Accounting Manager
Jon is responsible for financial planning, reporting, and auditing for the organization and each of its social enterprises. Prior to joining the AFC team, Jon taught accounting and finance at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. He enjoys volunteering with Habitat For Humanity both locally and abroad. He has also been involved in his neighborhood community garden, although that usually results in a lot of overgrown zucchini.
Laura Gondek
Breaking Bread Catering Sales Manager
Laura was born in Illinois but has since lived in 5 other states before finally settling in Minnesota. She absolutely loves city life in Minneapolis and has called it home for over 9 year. Laura’s first job was as a hostess and she’s been in the service industry up until joining Breaking Bread as Sales Manager. Laura is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Minnesota and when she’s not studying or working, she runs a small jewelry business out of her apartment!
Nicole Powell
Community Cooks Program Manager
Nicole was born and raised in North Minneapolis and is passionate about her community. Nicole studied Human Service at MCTC. Nicole started out as a participant in AFC’s Community Cooks and is now a Program Manager. Nicole’s hard work and devotion helps change the way community members eat, think, and live. Nicole believes in meeting people where they’re at and working with them to help improve the way they eat.
Tiara White
Breaking Bread Catering Sales Manager
Tiara grew up in North Minneapolis and, after a little bit of traveling, has returned home to share positivity and growth in her community. She brings a rich passion for sales, marketing, and (of course) food to her role at Appetite For Change. Tiara’s favorite produce items are basil and chamomile—not just from anywhere, but from the raised beds outside Breaking Bread Café!
Taronda Richardson
Youth Training & Opportunities Program Manager
Taronda is welcomed to AFC after recently serving as a Branch Director of the Harold Mezile Youth & Teen Enrichment Center at North Community YMCA. Taronda also brings her leadership expertise from experience as the Program & Operations Director at Cookie Cart where developed experiential training programming for teens in an urban nonprofit bakery and classroom. Taronda is from the Southside of Chicago and a former foster kid—a key part of her journey. She is a skilled baker and loves to share her peach cobbler and chocolate chip cookies.
Maci Bekele
Development Facilitator
Maci has roots in Ethiopia, having come to St. Paul when she was 11. She studied Psychology and Public Health at the University of Minnesota. After graduating, she became a Public Allies AmeriCorps member building capacity in various non-profit organizations. She is passionate about food, social justice and using technology and community to co-create a sustainable environment
LaTaijah Powell
Evaluation Specialist & Program Facilitator
LaTaijah began working with Appetite For Change in 2012 on the Corner Store Project campaign as well as helping with Community Cooks. She took the initiative to be a leader, bringing her peers to the programs and by being a positive force in her community. LaTaijah has lived in North Minneapolis her entire life and recently graduated from Patrick Henry High School. She attends MCTC and loves performing arts, music and hanging out with her friends and family.
Savannah McCullough
Community Cooks Program Facilitator
Savannah is studying Psychology at Metropolitan State University and has been engaged with Community Cooks since she was 15, as participant, youth leader, and facilitator. She brings a passion for trying and cooking new food, having raw connection & dialogue with community members, and building relationships with people to AFC. Savannah’s favorite produce is kale and you can find her at Breaking Bread enjoying the Northside Breakfast.