Simone believes that supporting farmers is one of the most direct ways to build equitable and resilient communities. Her commitment is rooted in more than a decade of work in systems change, building and managing programs across public education, urban and rural farming, and food systems.

Simone’s commitment to KTA’s work is deeply personal. She has spent years farming in California, Chile, NYC, and Mexico, working within regenerative and small family farms which have shaped her understanding of the labor, skill, and resilience at the core of our food system. As a fluent Spanish speaker, she is especially drawn to KTA’s bilingual, relationship-centered approach and is thrilled at the opportunity to work towards a more equitable, regenerative, and farmer-led food system.

She believes that strong systems are at the core of strong communities, and is excited to be rerooted and working locally in California after many years away. In her free time, you can find her biking every possible East Bay bike lane, marveling at seeds, marveling at maps, marveling at fermentation, and just generally marveling.