Event & Speaker Information

Lariza was born in Bogota, Colombia. She moved to the United States and attended Stetson University in Deland, FL. Lariza has been working with farmworker communities since 2004, when she was still in college. She is passionate about food production systems and farmworker justice.

Savi Horne is the Executive Director of the NC Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project. She completed six years of service on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Savi serves on the boards of the National Family Farm Coalition and the Rural Coalition and is a member of the Coordinating Council of Black Land and Power Intitiative of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance. She is also a recipient of the 2020 American Bar Association of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) Award for Excellence in Environmental, Energy, and Resources Stewardship. As a state, regional, and national non-governmental organization leader, she has been instrumental in addressing the needs of small and socially diadvantaged farmers. She is graduate of the Rutgers University School of Law- Newark (JD) and the City College of New York (BA).

Rachel Lechuga was born in Chicago, Illinois. She received her B.S. from Northern Illinois University in Environmental Studies with a focus in Sustainable and Local Food Systems. For the past years, she has worked as a farmer taking various roles in the production of organic vegetables. In the last year, she moved into a position at Northern Illinois Food Bank working for the online food assistance program, MyPantry Express. She is a dedicated advocate for racial and social justice through reimagining new food systems and frameworks that include those of historically marginalized communities. In her spare time she is in her garden, reading, or preparing and eating food.

Julianne is a recent NCSU graduate and current AmeriCorps Service Member serving at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. She graduated with a degree in Communication and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management. While at NC State, Julianne founded and led the National Parks Club, which grew to have over 700 members by the time she graduated. In June 2020, she was hired as a part-time COVID-19 response member and launched the new Gardens for Everyone project in September. Now, she runs the project full-time and applies her passion for connecting people with natural resources in sustainable ways, whether it is National Parks or fresh produce.

Beth has been involved in volunteerism and activist efforts for decades, especially those revolving around inequality and social issues that affect her neighbors, friends, and self. She leads with hope and intention to inspire others and the next generation to find organizations and issues that resonate with them, one person at a time.

Sooyoung earned a Bachelors in History with an interest in teaching before returning for a Bachelors in Nutrition from the University of Maryland College Park. She completed her dietetic internship at Keene State College and began work as an outpatient dietitian in VT and NH. She moved south for warmer weather and has been working with Student Health Services at NCSU for the last three years.

Erin White is a designer, entrepreneur, and planner working for healthy food systems. Trained as an architect, he built Community Food Lab as a hybrid practice at the intersection of design, consulting, and social entrepreneurship to allow free exploration into what it means to design for the human-centered territory of food systems. He is also a co-founder and leader of the Capital Area Food Network, a food council for Wake County.