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.

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.

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.

Bio Coming Soon!

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!

Erin Krier is a Produce Safety Alliance grower trainer, with advanced Produce Safety Rule training from the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Erin has partnered with a diverse group of food safety specialists and researchers across the country to improve her understanding of how the Food Safety Modernization Act, and the Produce Safety Rule in particular, impact small and very small specialty crop growers.

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.

Herschelle Milford, the Director of Programs at PATH Santa Barbara, brings over 30 years of professional and personal experience in South Africa’s ethnically diverse society. A graduate of the University of the Western Cape, she holds a Higher Education diploma and has worked as a teaching professional in both governmental and non-profit settings. For the last 18 years, Herschelle dedicated her career to leadership in a land justice non-profit, leading transformative processes around race, inclusivity, equity, and diversity.

As the first black director/director of color, Herschelle played a crucial role in guiding workplace transformation. Her personal experience of racial injustice informs her commitment to dismantling exclusion and promoting dignity. Having worked with disadvantaged communities in the post-Apartheid era, she brings valuable insights to her board roles. Herschelle serves on the Social and Ethics Committee of the mothers2mothers South Africa board, is a member of the Thousand Currents Board, and a board member of the Environmental Monitoring Group.

Believing in the power of collectivism and solidarity, Herschelle advocates for establishing and maintaining relationships with community partners, stakeholders, and international alliances.

Bio coming soon!