Network Weavers are contracted by backbone organizations, and help make the gears of MFJN move. Our current Network Weavers are leaders who have been doing food justice work collectively for over 20 years and each has their own area of expertise: Action Teams, Sustainability, and Engagement. These amazing humans pull all of the moving parts together; weaving a network that is dedicated to doing things differently.
DeVon Nolen
A Graduate of the Urban Land Institute – Professional Real Estate Development course & former board member of the West Broadway Business & Area Coalition. DeVon serves on the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Policy Council Executive Committee, the Operations Team of the Northside Fresh Coalition, is a Union of Concerned Scientist Good Food Advocate and with the Council on Black Minnesotans of African Heritage Urban Agriculture efforts, with global efforts through the Social Gastronomy Movement. She serves as Secretary with the MN Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy. The proud mother of 4 children and big sister to many. DeVon is a community activist/organizer that takes great pride in her city and is committed to fighting for fair and just systems at every level and discipline.
Hilary Otey
Hilary comes to MFJN after years as a social sector leader building cross-sector collaborations and initiatives both in the local food system and broader community. Hilary started her career managing a shelter kitchen that fed 300 women and children daily. Over the years, she has worked in restaurants, shelters, schools, hunger relief organizations and farms. Hilary is committed to learning, unlearning and advancing social justice in her work. She lives and gardens in St. Paul with her three kids and big dog.
Allyson Green
Allyson (she/they) first got to know the local food scene as the Campus Kitchen and Community Garden Coordinator at Augsburg University and is excited to get plugged in with MFJN and reconnect with all you fabulous food folks! Her most precious food systems learning has come from digging in the dirt with old people, washing dishes with students and recent immigrants when everyone else has clocked out for the night, and sitting on front porches swapping stories with whoever is around. Those experiences helped make their academic training in Environmental Justice and Environmental Health more real and more human. She lives, gardens, bakes, and bikes in South Minneapolis with housemates and neighbors.