Founder and Director of Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) and a part-time commercial organic farmer. Based in the beautiful Appalachian region of both Virginia and Tennessee, ASD is a hands-on, entrepreneurial nonprofit working to build a locally rooted, ecologically sustainable food system and economy in this region. Utilizing a field to table strategy, ASD has helped tobacco farmers and other "conventional" growers transition to organic produce, free-range eggs and other sustainable farm products that are then sold to more than 600 supermarkets in the region. A similar enterprise that ASD operates sells "green" flooring and other wood products, harvested, dried and manufactured locally from well-managed forests. Anthony writes a monthly column on food, farming and sustainable development carried by 4 local newspapers, and also speaks about these issues around the country.
Founder and current President of the Institute for Community Resource Development in Chicago, a grassroots community-based organization. In her work, she focuses on issues that relate to the development of local sustainable food systems. Interested in feeding her children healthy and high quality food, La Donna has worked to build a farmers' market, a food council and urban farms. Her organization is currently working to form a cooperative grocery store. La Donna also writes a column on current affairs in a local newspaper. She has been featured in local and national publications. La Donna sits on a number of boards and organizations in Illinois including, Center for Neighborhood Technology, League of Black Women, Austin Green Team, and Westside Health Authority.
Associate Physician-in-Chief at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, Kaiser Permanente's first hospital location. He was supported by Kaiser Permanente leadership to start a farmers' market for the benefit of staff, members, visitors, farmers and the surrounding community. The success of this first market has inspired Kaiser Permanente employees at multiple facilities in six states and the District of Columbia to create their own markets. The innovation and spirit of the local facility sponsors has resulted in different market models, community outreach and a program wide focus on healthy eating. Preston has personally supported the development of many of these markets. More recently, he has worked with Kaiser Permanente and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers to help create a system that sources produce for inpatient meals from small family farmers.
*Keynote speakers are past or present Fellows with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Program
