EightFold Farms DC LLC founder and CEO, Calvin Hines, Jr., better known as JR, is a native Southeast Washingtonian with 25 years of experience within the hospitality industry, where he managed several multi-million dollar food, beverage, and service programs. A Certified Sommelier through The Court of Master Sommeliers, Jr is an Echoing Green Fellowship Finalist, has completed The Urban Agriculture Technician training program through UDC’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences and contributes to The DC Food Policy Council’s Urban Agriculture Working Group.

Lateefa "Tee" Mims began her first restaurant job, as a hostess, at the age of 16 at a small "mom & pop" lounge in New York City. Her sense of giving back and bringing awareness to issues affecting her community led her to join DC Vote as an Assistant to the Director of Operations. With DC Vote she helped bring awareness and raised money for DC voting rights. Tee's love and enthusiasm for food and beverage drew her back to restaurants and she is now the Events Coordinator for both Metropolitan Hospitality Group and EightFold Farms DC LLC.

Kyndall Elam is a native Washingtonian and dedicated educator with over a decade of teaching experience. She has a Master's in Education with a specialization in Training and Performance Improvement and is pursing her Doctorate in Education Specialization in Curriculum and Instruction. Passionate about establishing the building blocks of community, Kyndall has been an Early Childhood Educator at the same Ward 7 elementary school her and her brothers attended and now serves as the Director of Education for EightFold Farms DC LLC, where she assists in the development of The Farm To Table Program that teaches urban agricultural skills and financial literacy to children.

Marissa Nelson is the CEO and Founder of Fertility Haven. She is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator (CSE). A thought-leader in the space, she has designed mental health programs and provides patient-education consulting services for large fertility providers.

Michael Nelson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Fertility Haven. He is a Senior Operations & Risk Manager with 15 years of experience. Michael possesses a M.B.A. in Finance and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with additional certifications in agile project management.

Erin Carr is the UX / Product Lead at HomeCook where she designs human-first solutions specifically tailored to those in the culinary industry. Erin leverages her diverse educational and professional background in Accounting, Finance and Media Arts to address the socioeconomic needs of the community.

Tayana Harrison combines a dynamic blend of leadership, financial consulting, and project management experience with her passion for social good. She has been committed to improving the food landscape after witnessing changes in her community that led to an increase in the cost of food and underutilized resources during the pandemic. Tayana believes that by supporting food entrepreneurs in the community, including her own family and friends, she can help address issues related to food scarcity.

Hassan Badru is an engineer and entrepreneur driven by a mission to improve nutritious food access. His firsthand experience with socioeconomic challenges such as housing / food security was marked by resourcefulness and sparked his belief in the transformative power of resilience, creativity & innovation. After losing his orphaned father to cancer, Hassan launched HomeCook as a way to support communities & make a sustainable impact for others.

Trenell Eaton, the Founder and CEO of IABB, is a visionary leader and the author of "Triumphing over Trauma: A Childhood Trauma Recovery Manual." With a strong foundation in mental health, special education, and child and family advocacy, her passion fuels IABB's mission to empower trauma survivors, leaving a remarkable impact on the field of trauma recovery.

Jaylon Moore, LMSW, dedicates his life to blending therapy and music in a mission to heal the world. Author of "College Daze: Maintaining Faith In College," featured in HBCU Buzz and a Medium columnist. He strives to revolutionize mental health in athletics and the Christian church. As Clinical Director at IABB, he excels in swiftly cultivating spaces for health and wellness.

Avery Raynor, IABB's Program Coordinator, is a two-time author and a creative visionary. Her diverse background spans public speaking, cosmetology, and fashion design. Avery's passion for transformational change is a driving force behind our programs, making her a key advocate for empowerment and growth.

Angela Chester-Johnson, MPA, is an accomplished International Businesswoman, who is Founder, CEO and Chief Flavor Maker (CFM) at Plum Good LLC.

Zherah Collier is a young professional, passionate in food access, holistic wellness, health equity and promoting a high quality affordable life. She is a graduate of American University, and served in both FoodCorps and AmeriCorps. She currently works with the Capital Area Food Bank fighting hunger through community distributions.

Burgundie Fulton is a passionate senior executive leader with significant experience fueling initiatives from ideation to implementation, developing organization-wide strategies, systems and solutions grounded in transformative social change. Burgundie is richly experienced in leading the strategic planning of international and domestic programs, trainings, and partnerships rooted in building equity through workforce development, entrepreneurship, and education. She is also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer having served in Mali, West Africa.

Radiance Basden, a NASM certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and well-being consultant, is a pioneering advocate of mental, spiritual, and physical wellness. A Hall of Fame runner, she collaborates with notable brands like lululemon, Mental Health America, and more. As the Founder of Rooted in Radiance, based in Washington, DC, she offers comprehensive well-being programming. Radiance, a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Georgetown University, is dedicated to enabling individuals to surpass their potential, championing inclusivity, and advancing wellness.

Preston Ross III, a NASM-certified personal trainer and wellness consultant, is a dedicated coach inspiring individuals to attain peak physical and mental health while boosting self-assurance. A former professional basketball player with experience in Ireland, Germany, and China, a pivotal injury led him to discover his true calling. Preston is now the CEO and Founder of PR3 FITNESS in Maryland, offering comprehensive programs for weight loss, muscle gain, balance training, and overall well-being. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Winston-Salem State University.

Sarah Frimpong is the CEO and Founder of DC-based Wellfound Foods which has the mission to increase access to fresh and healthy food via 24-7 tech-enhanced Smart Markets. Since 2020, Wellfound has grown rapidly in the Mid-Atlantic region with high profile placements in healthcare facilities, government buildings, transportation hubs, and college campuses. In addition to making and distributing hundreds of thousands of healthy meals for satisfied customers, Wellfound also works towards donating 100% of its unsold meals to local partner organizations.

Born just outside of Washington, D.C. as the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, and raised abroad, Sarah has chosen D.C. as her home and the home base for her growing business. She received her B.A. in Economics from Mount Holyoke College.

Brian Becker is the Chief Operating Officer of DC-based Wellfound Foods which has the mission to increase access to fresh and healthy food via 24-7 tech-enhanced Smart Markets. Since 2020, Wellfound has grown rapidly in the Mid-Atlantic region with high profile placements in healthcare facilities, government buildings, transportation hubs, and college campuses. In addition to making and distributing hundreds of thousands of healthy meals for satisfied customers, Wellfound also works towards donating 100% of its unsold meals to local partner organizations.

Brian is native of the DC area, a life-long learner, and a life-long educator who has taught a variety of subjects to students grades 4 through college. He has a B.A. in English from Washington & Lee University, a M.A.L.A. from St. John’s College, and a M.A.I.S. from the Catholic University of America. Brian lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife Melanie, their two children, and their dog Ginger.