Our Team
Get to know our small, but mighty GFC family
Rachel's belief in the power of food systems to act as a near 'cure all' for many of our social and environmental challenges started in 2001 on a homestead in upstate New York. On the shores of Lake Masseweepie, food was a source of purpose, community, joy, identity, and stewardship.
Now off the homestead, she has sought out opportunities that weave together community-building, sustainability, and food systems. The Good Food Collective is a near-perfect union of all three. Rachel hopes to find ways for the GFC to address root causes of inequity and poverty, as well as, mitigate climate change and build local resilience.
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Rachel can be reached at rachel@goodfoodcollective.org​​
Rachel Landis - Director & LPFEC Project Weaver
Lauren's passion for food, community, and mountain adventures landed her in Durango after graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a master’s degree in Sustainable Food Systems.
Her previous work in food spans the nonprofit, agriculture, education, and service industries. Paired with a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Lauren is excited to leverage her experience working at the intersection of value chain coordination and equitable food system design to strengthen regional food sheds. She is a firm believer that through food we can build a better future for people and the planet.
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Lauren can be reached at foodsecurity@goodfoodcollective.org
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Lauren ames - Food security director
Erin Jolley - Food business project manager
Erin is a passionate champion for food equity and social justice who discovered her calling while pursuing Environmental Studies in college. Her commitment to impactful causes has shaped her career in nutrition education, hunger relief, and promoting equitable and sustainable food systems. Drawing on more than 15 years of community organizing experience and a deep commitment to food justice, Erin looks forward to contributing her expertise to the La Plata Food Equity Coalition's Food Business Initiatives.
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Erin can be reached at foodaccess@goodfoodcollective.org.
Erin can be reached at foodaccess@goodfoodcollective.org
Silvana Torres - Community Empowerment Coordinator
Silvana is an immigrant originally from Peru. Like many people, she is navigating the United State’s complex immigration process, which is why she identifies with the problems and needs of the Latino community in Durango and La Plata County. She firmly believes her community has an important voice and that big changes can be made to achieve greater equity. She has a degree in Accounting and Auditing, working in recent years in internal auditing in the banking industry in her home country. In addition to working, she likes to travel, learn about new cultures and help the community however she can.
Silvana can be reached at communityvoice@goodfoodcollective.org
Tiffany Chacon- Early Childhood project manager
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Tiffany Chacon is an Early Childhood Champion whose purpose is to shake up the Early Childhood and Family-centered domains to provide the opportunity for success to all. Utilizing her love for human nature and community connection, lives will be changed. She hopes that the work she has a hand in will not end with her, but be transferred to each individual and organization she engages with.
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Tiffany can be reached at childcare@goodfoodcollective.org
DAELYN BENALLY - CULTURAL RESOURCE NAVIGATOR
Daelyn is an Alumni of Fort Lewis College with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology & Human Services and a certificate in Regenerative Food Systems. Originally from the four corners area, as a Diné Woman, she has a strong orientation to serve others and make a difference for the greater social systems and environment. She has participated two consecutive terms of the National AmeriCorps program including the Old Fort in Hesperus Farmers in Training program and at Fort Lewis College Grub Hub Food Pantry as a Basic Needs Case Manager. Currently she is the Cultural Resources Navigation Coordinator in which she is bridging the gap between food access for the native american and indigenous populations in La Plata County.
Daelyn can be reached at daelyn@goodfoodcollective.org.
alix Midgley - rural food access coordinator
Alix arrives to The Good Food Collective with many years of experience as a farmer, community organizer, social worker, and justice advocate. She is passionate about building inclusive communities where everyone has access to what they need to thrive. About her position Alix shared "I am really looking forward to deepening my connections across the region and working alongside my fellow community members toward greater food security for all."
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Alix can be reached at alix@goodfoodcollective.org.
Kate has worked in communications for over a decade, beginning as an entrepreneur with a goat dairy herdshare, then as a Clinical Herbalist, and starting a non-profit that offered free alternative medicine clinics to underserved people. She's a plant person, a writer, a mom, and in previous lives she's been a farmer of produce, meat, and dairy. She loves helping the GFC and LPFEC improve our local food system.
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Kate can be reached at info@goodfoodcollective.org
kate husted - communications, administrative, and project associate
