Hunger Free Colorado has just welcomed five new board members! We are so excited to have them on the team. Read more about them below.
Introducing…
Iffie Jennings – Area Manager, Community and Government Affairs at Xcel Energy; Founder of The Kindness Network
I feel I can contribute in three ways:
1) As a Board member, I would help guide the organization’s direction by providing feedback on strategic decisions and helping shape the culture of our organization through my leadership skills.
2) As an individual volunteer, I would utilize my experience in external community affairs and engagement to help grow Hunger Free’s brand and increase awareness about the mission.
3) As a donor, I would provide financial support for the organization’s efforts by donating both time and money.
I understand that as a member of the Board, I will be asked to make decisions that impact people throughout the state of Colorado, and I look forward to using my skills and resources to help achieve this goal. I believe that this is an incredible opportunity for me to make a lasting impact on Coloradoans’ quality of life by ensuring that all people have access to healthy food. This is an important time for Hunger Free Colorado, and I am eager to contribute my experience and expertise toward this goal.
Esther Fuentes – Service Integrity Manager (DISH TV & Internet)
Watching my single mother constantly struggling to provide for her four children without government assistance shaped how I would later become more involved in my adult life towards helping end hunger.
Joining the board will allow me to utilize my passion so early ingrained in my early education taught by my mother in order to help those less fortunate
My management and organizational skills will come in handy when helping to facilitate meetings, networking events, and fundraisers
Leaving the future for our children in better shape than how I found it is my ultimate goal.
Gabriela Medina – Westwood Neighborhood Health Advocate, Healthy School Meals for All Steering Committee
A Westwood neighborhood health advocate and community leader, Gaby is a member of the Steering Committee of the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition and was previously a member of Hunger Free Colorado’s Metro Denver WIC Coalition. She is a passionate speaker that inspires others to get involved in their communities.
She has also experienced food insecurity and can speak from her heart about what that feels like and does to a person.
Adela Flores-Brennan – Deputy Chief Administrator Officer, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
I have worked for over 20 years to help bring about changes to improve the lives of low-income families in Colorado. Through working on self-sufficiency, SNAP, and health care issues I have learned a great deal about the intersectionality of these issues themselves and their intersections with racial justice. Through this growth I am ever more committed to ensuring that we can bring about changes in our society that ensure that everyone has what they need to live their best lives.
I bring 20 years of policy advocacy in a range of social justice issues at both the state and general levels. I understand public policy from the advocacy perspective as well as the implementation perspective (within the state organization or agency). I also bring nearly 20 years working in small nonprofits, 8 of which as an executive director, and can understand staff, executive, and board roles and perspectives. I’ve served on several boards and can apply that experience to supporting HFC and its leadership moving forward.
Luz Valencia – Food Safety Advisor, Master Gardener, 4-H Club Leader, Hunger Free Colorado Community Council Member
Hello, my name is Luz Valencia, I am from the state of Sonora, Mexico. I have 3 children and my husband.
I am a Food Safety Advisor/Master Garden/leader of a Hispanic children’s club in 4-H. I like to participate in the community to appreciate what this country gives us and let them know that we like to help.
I want to be on the board of directors to help a little more and know how to bring better things to the communities.
How to help the board of directors is by giving ideas of what I have seen that is lacking in our community, I have had experience in this because I am on the Hunger Free Colorado community council, and I also visit the places where they offer food, and I see how there is a need to change some things here in my community.