Jen is a Michigander and calls Detroit home. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Detroit Food Academy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Colgate University and a Master in Business Administration from Michigan State University, where she was a Michigan Non-Profit Association Scholar. In 2010, she received a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to explore the social, economic, and environmental impact of chocolate production on small scale cacao farming communities around the world. Inspired to link young people with farmers close to home, she completed two terms with national service FoodCorps and local organization Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP), connecting cafeterias and classrooms in high needs school districts with local food from Michigan farmers and school gardens. Seeing the need to engage students beyond the school year, Jen co-founded the Detroit Food Academy, bringing food, business, and learning together. As Executive Director, Jen supports our young people and the organization in visioning, strategic planning, partnership expansion, fund development, operations, food systems education, culture-building, program facilitation, and fun captain-ing.

Tiffany was raised on the westside of Detroit and is a graduate of Mumford High School. After high school she attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia where she received a BA in Communications and then Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan where she earned a MA in Counseling. Having personally experienced many adversities as a youth, Tiffany knows firsthand the importance of quality youth programs and caring adults. “I’m driven by my childhood experiences. My passion for supporting Detroit youth and helping young people access opportunities and overcome challenges is what keeps me going!” Tiffany has professional experience in leading school based workforce development programs as well as being the Founder of Developing Despite Distance, a community based program that supports children with incarcerated parents.

Kamaria was born in Detroit and has spent majority of her life within the limits of the city. Everything here is representative of nostalgic experiences and very close to her heart. She is attending Schoolcraft College for a degree in early childhood development and has a fierce commitment to improving the conditions of our public schools and the systems in place that allow those conditions to continue. Her main interests are baking and justice. She is so excited and honored to be a part of the DFA team and can not wait to see how these new students and new co-workers impact her life in the most positive of ways.

Julie is an educator, activist, artist, and adventurer that lives on the East Side of Detroit. Planted in the swamplands of Northern Ohio, she grew roots in Appalachia, bore fruit in the Windy City, and finally has begun a ripening process in the fertile lands of Detroit City, USA. She has been working with Detroit Food Academy at Cesar Chavez Academy High School in Southwest Detroit for the past two school years, and helps support the DFA summer program out of Eastern Market. Julie is passionate about educating young adults about all things food in order to build better and more sustainable food systems within the city. Julie has adopted a philosophy and lifestyle encompassing the idea of “food as healing,” along with an extreme appreciation of the cultural and social histories surrounding food. Recent projects include the opening of a package-free, dry goods and seasonal produce based, bulk food cooperative grocery store in historic East Poletown.

Jake graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Central Michigan University in 2012, where his major focuses of study were on community health and sports nutrition. After graduation, he took graduate courses in Nonprofit Organization and Management at Oakland University before accepting the position of Healthy Eating Specialist for Whole Foods Market in Naples, FL. While in this position he obtained a culinary certification in plant based nutrition, and got the opportunity to work extensively with nonprofit organizations, schools and children’s museums, teaching cooking and healthy eating classes. Jake’s passion for nutrition education, food security and sustainability lead him back to Michigan as an Americorps Vista, serving a year term with Detroit Food Academy. He is now the Director of DFA’s Small Batch.

Beyonca is a Pre-Kindergarten teacher who adores working with youth. She’s a lover of challenging herself and learning new things, cooking happens to be one of those things that she’s in the middle of learning but she knows that it is something she enjoys to do. She’s the youngest of a family of five, having two older sisters. Detroit is her hometown. People would consider her an introvert because she would rather spend a Friday night at home than go out, “which is true”.😂 She has a beautiful daughter named Naomi❤️. Her favorite things to do in her free time include: exploring nature, relaxing, movies, organizing, spending time with family, and of course playing with her daughter.

Ederique Goudia is bringing that New Orleans flavor to Detroit’s West Village community as the co-owner of Gabriel Hall, an upcoming Creole restaurant, bar, and music venue. At the intersection of food, music, and culture, Gabriel Hall’s mission will also focus on environmental and community-centered stewardship and to be an advocate for those that make up Detroit’s good food community.

A Louisiana native with over 15 years of restaurant industry experience, Ederique understands the many challenges that food entrepreneurs face, which is why she co-founded In the Business of Food, LLC. IBF Detroit is a consulting agency that aids food entrepreneurs by providing guidance on pressing issues like funding, marketing, and scaling.

Ederique’s commitment and passion for a more healthy, fair, sustainable, and equitable economy in Detroit extends into her work as a program associate for FoodLab Detroit, a non-profit organization that provides under-represented food entrepreneurs with tools and resources to grow and scale a values-based food business. In this role, Ederique executes workshops and events to support and educate FoodLab’s network of diverse locally-owned food businesses. As a result of her work with the community, emerging restaurateur, and entrepreneur, Ederique is regularly sought out to speak on the experiences of women of color in Detroit’s food scene.

Marguerite is a Michigan native who has called Detroit home for the last 5 years. Since moving to the city, Marguerite has explored many aspects of the local food industry to understand how our communities can be better connected, supported, and sustained by the food we eat. Through her personal journey with chronic illness, she has come to see our relationship to food as our most critical practice of preventative care, and is honored to have the opportunity to share that fundamental passion for nourishment in the classroom through DFA. Marguerite enjoys making things by hand, learning new skills, and collaborating with people who inspire her.

My name is Diamond Dantzler. I am a recent Graduate of Henry Ford High School for Creative Studies.
I am an aspiring chef. I plan to attend Schoolcraft College to pursue my culinary degree. I am currently a Classroom Coordinator with Detroit Food Academy, and I am a prep cook for Guerilla Food. I love to try new flavors and do exciting things with food.

My name is De’Shawn Lindsay I am 19 years old and I was born and raised in Detroit, MI in a single parent household, being the youngest of 3 siblings. My biggest passions are dogs and teaching, but it was until I joined DFA (Detroit Food Academy) that I realized I had a passion for culinary arts and local businesses in my city, causing me to want to create things to help and give back to my city.

Hassan was raised in Detroit and just recently graduated from Cody High School. Working full time with Small Batch is his dream job. As an aspiring culinary arts chef, he is currently earning his degree in culinary arts at Schoolcraft College.

Jarrell George is a recent graduate of Fraser High School. Jarrell is a charismatic leader who has been involved in everything from Youth and Government to Marching Band. He is working as part of the grocery staff at Whole Foods this summer.

Daimonae Thomas is a rising senior at Tri-County Education Center High School. Daimonae is a passionate and driven individual with an interest in alternative medicine and healing methods. She is working at Brother Nature farm this summer. 

Tremon Williams is a recent graduate of Osborn High School. He will be pursuing his culinary arts degree at Schoolcraft College beginning next year. Tremon is a reliable worker with an amazing sense of humor. He’s working at Detroit Institute of Bagels this summer.

Jordan Grimes is a rising senior at Cass Technical High School. She’s an innovative problem solver and a very creative thinker. Jordan is working with Henry Ford Hospital this summer.

Emerald Green is a rising senior at Denby High School. She’s an energetic and collaborative worker with a genuine desire to learn. Emerald is working with Small Batch this summer, running market stands and selling Mitten Bites, Pop Shop Popsicles and Slow Jams.

Amy Berkhoudt is passionate about building innovative educational communities where kids and adults feel capable of changing their lives and the world. During her time as an high school ELA teacher in Detroit, she began exploring new educational opportunities for her students beyond the traditional classroom. She co-founded Detroit Food Academy in 2011, helping to guide, build, and run the foundation of the curricula and programmatic aspects of the organization.

Patti Aaron, Whole Heart Group
Joe Gaglio, Deloitte
Yodit Mesfin Johnson, Non-profit Enterprise at Work (NEW)
Jay Rayford, Rep your City
Chris Uhl, Rock Ventures
Crystal Motts, Good People Popcorn
Dan Carmody, Eastern Market
Hedy Blatt, Education Management
Wayne Ramocan, Osborn Neighborhood Alliance
Jessican Nabongo, United Nations Food & Agriculture
Paul Saginaw, Zingermans
Tammy Tedesco, Edibles Rex
David Broner, SCORE – SBA
Michael Graub, Woodward Check Cashing
Marshall Rader, Gluten Free Bar