2026 Good Food Council Members:
Katie Collins, Council Chair, Lewiston resident since 2022 and in love with the community; in particular, the collaborative energy for revitalization and community connection in the city. A Maine resident since 2007, Katie has worked primarily in the social service realm: coordinating programs for children and young adults with intellectual disabilities with PSL/STRIVE, as a case manager for young people experiencing chronic homelessness with the Preble Street Teen Center, and as a support staff in several residences for young people with dual diagnoses at Day One. Katie also spent time working at the St. Mary’s Nutrition Center as the Youth Engagement Coordinator collaborating on programs focused on leadership development, community integration, cooking and garden education for young people in the Lewiston-Auburn area. Along with a deep personal interest in using food as medicine and recognizing how a lack of access to healthy food can be a direct threat to ongoing emotional and physical stability, Katie has integrated education of nutrition, shopping for healthy food on a budget, cooking, and growing food into her work with young people. Katie currently works as a paralegal for Maine Equal Justice, helping Mainers access SNAP, Mainecare and other public benefits. Outside of work, Katie loves exploring different corners of Maine, sampling delicious food, and tries to be in nature as much as possible: hiking, skiing, swimming, star gazing, or, her favorite activity, relaxing.
Kirsten Walter, Council Treasurer, began her food systems work in Lewiston, Maine, by founding Lots to Gardens in 1999 and now serves as director of the St. Mary’s Nutrition Center. The Nutrition Center serves as a hub for healthy food initiatives in Lewiston-Auburn and beyond. Kirsten is involved in several regional and state-wide efforts connected to food systems in Maine. She is a graduate of Bates College with a degree in Community Studies, and lives in North Yarmouth.
Emma Lorusso, Council Secretary, is the Project Director at the Androscoggin Soil and Water Conservation District in Lewiston. Emma received a B.S. in Natural Resources in 2012. She was the Naturalist at the James L Goodwin Conservation Education Center, located on the Goodwin State Forest in Connecticut for three years, where she led workshops and walks on forestry, wildlife and general conservation education. During that time she also helped to start the Center’s Master Naturalist Program, where she served as Program Coordinator. The program has continued to be successful across the state, training more and more volunteers every year. She fought wildland fires out west and taught English in China before returning to New England. She moved to Maine in 2018 and worked as a Preschool Teacher at Nature Based Preschool Mayberry Hill in Casco, where she used the surrounding forest and gardens as her classroom. She also has worked on farms, in gardens, at farmers markets, and in soup kitchens; always motivated to connect the public with where their food comes from. She has been teaching outdoor education both formally and informally for almost ten years and is working towards developing a dynamic schedule of educational events and workshops for the community of Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, gardening and foraging for wild mushrooms.
Camille Parish, is retired from the Environmental Studies Program at Bates College, where she was involved with the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) classes at Bates and within the ES curriculum. She also oversaw the internship program for ES majors. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science from Rutgers University. Camille lives in Auburn and has a long history of involvement with Lots to Gardens and Good Food for Lewiston-Auburn, including assisting with the Community Food Assessment.
Omar Hassan, is a Cooperative Developer and Technical Advisor at the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), where he brings over eight years of cooperative development experience supporting immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC-led cooperative businesses across Maine and New England. He provides culturally responsive assistance in cooperative governance, financial systems, marketing strategy, and language justice to help communities build and sustain democratically owned enterprises.
Originally from Somalia and raised in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, Omar immigrated to the United States in 2004. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with minors in Business Administration, Management & Leadership, and Project Management from the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI), and he is currently pursuing a Master’s in Organizational Leadership.
Omar has supported the development of cooperatives such as New Roots Cooperative Farm and Isuken Co-op, offering interpretation, logistical coordination, operational support, and access to funding and local markets. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of United Youth Empowerment Services (UnitedYES), a nonprofit that serves immigrant and refugee youth through trauma-informed programming, recreation, and youth leadership development.
Omar’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to equity, community healing, and economic self-determination for marginalized communities.
Jeff Newell, grew up in Auburn and attended Edward Little High School. He worked at Hannaford for 43 years working his way up from a stock clerk to Store Manager. Jeff managed stores in Lewiston, Topsham, Yarmouth and Brunswick. The last five years of his career Jeff worked in the corporate office in the Retail Communications department. Jeff retired in 2015 and in 2016 became a Master Gardener through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and has been an active volunteer with the program. Jeff volunteers with Durham Community School garden working with the 7th and 8th grade classes in the Jobs for Maine Graduates program. He is also involved with the Androscoggin Gleaners. The Gleaners work with local farms in establishing a Gleaning program. In 2018 the group gleaned over 7800 pounds of fresh produce and delivered to St Mary’s Nutrition Center and 3 low-income housing units in Lewiston. Jeff believes in giving back to the community and helping the less fortunate become contributing members of the community. Providing education and healthy meal options will assist members in this goal.
Kyra Bleicher, is a 2019 Bates College graduate who has served as a team-member at Wild Mountain Cooperative Farm in Greene, Maine since graduation. She worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member at St. Mary’s Nutrition Center for two years (2019-2021), where she helped improve systems and offered direct service at the Community Gardens and the Food Pantry. During her engagement in both places, Kyra deepened interest in projects seeking to build just local food systems and efforts to grow equitable rural land access. She is currently working as a direct-service AmeriCorps Member with Cooking Matters and the Good Shepherd Food Bank. In addition, Kyra is a student and aspiring teacher of life sciences, and she is a passionate fiddle player and an avid French speaker. She connected with local beekeepers and bee-researchers as part of an undergraduate thesis project, and she currently tends to honeybee hives at a local farm.
Chris Piercey, is the School Nutrition Director for the Auburn Public Schools. He is actively involved in advancing local food initiatives meeting regularly with the Natural Products and Agriculture Workgroup and the Maine Food Convergence’s Processing Workgroup. In 2024, Chris received the prestigious Healthy Androscoggin Will Bartlett Award for his contributions to community health and nutrition. Under his leadership, Auburn’s School Nutrition Program earned the inaugural Local Seafood Spirit Award and was recognized with the Spirit of America Foundation Award in 2020. Chris is the current lead on a Food System Innovation Grant in collaboration with the School Nutrition Programs in Lewiston and Lisbon to increase local foods in their combined school districts. A culinary arts graduate from Sullivan University in Lexington, Kentucky, Chris brings energy and passion to furthering the Farm to Table movement. When not working he enjoys embracing the chaos that exists with his wife and raising his son and daughter.
Becca Schoen, grew up in the foothills of western Maine, and was delighted to return nearly a decade ago to settle here. Over the years Becca has worked primarily at the intersections of agriculture, education and food access, including the last 8 years in her current role at Healthy Androscoggin. There she focuses on education with all ages: teaching about where our food comes from and how it grows; basic cooking skills; nutrition literacy, and food budgeting skills. She also is a long-time member of the Androscoggin Gleaners and Maine Gleaning Network and is a Network Partner as part of the Maine Food Convergence Project.
Becca is excited to join the council because she believes that our communities can provide nourishment from within, and that food is central in so many ways to an individual’s and a community’s ability to thrive. When not working, Becca can be found exploring in nature, searching for edible mushrooms, collecting and propagating native seeds, skiing, hiking, camping, and keeping her hands in the garden dirt.
Chloé Meyers, is a Certified Nutritional Therapist and small-scale organic fruit, vegetable, herb, and flower farmer. She co-owns Open Heart Farm with her husband, Grant, in Auburn. Open Heart Farm follows low-till and deep composting methods that work to build soil vitality. Nourishing the earth organically improves soil health – this in turn allows the farmers to grow crops sustainably while mitigating erosion, compaction, and nutrient depletion.
Chloé’s great love for nutritious, delicious, and affordable food developed early on in her life while working in kitchens and bakeries in upstate New York. A kitchen garden at a retreat center, where Chloé worked as a baker, inspired her fascination with growing food. In addition to farming, Chloé works for a family-owned seed and garden supply company in New Gloucester. She is a member of the Auburn Natural Products and Agriculture Working Group and the Androscoggin Soil and Water Conservation Board. She enjoys attending community events like The Corner storytelling nights at LA Arts, sharing home-made dishes at Community Plate dinners, reading, growing food, and being outside above all else.
My name is Isha Kasai, and I am a mother of two boys who wears many hats in both my professional and personal life. I serve as the Family & Youth Resources Manager at the Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) in Lewiston, Maine. In this role, I oversee youth and family support programs that uplift our community through culturally grounded education, mental health resources, and strong community partnerships. I organize events, workshops, and educational initiatives that help youth and families overcome barriers and access the tools they need to thrive.
During the summer, I coordinate the Kashekee Youth Program, an eight-week program that engages 30 Somali Bantu youth ages 5–13 in gardening, farming, enrichment activities, and field trips to new and exciting places. In the fall, I facilitate Oh Yeah! Grows True Leaders in partnership with the 4-H Cooperative Extension. In the spring, I coordinate ECHO (Explore Careers, Honor the Outdoors!), an after-school program designed for middle and high school students. ECHO introduces youth to outdoor education and careers in agriculture and the food system, while honoring cultural identity and traditional knowledge. At the heart of all my work is a deep belief that when young people are nurtured, celebrated, and connected to their culture and community, they grow into resilient, visionary leaders.
Wil Libby, has lived and worked in Androscoggin County for most of his life. He is the Executive Director of Evergreen Outdoor Education, out of Auburn, and a Trail Builder with OBP Trailworks, out of Turner.
An Army Veteran and Registered Maine Guide, Wil has led outings and trips from the Allagash River, 100 Mile Wilderness, Katahdin Woods and Waters, and many other areas of the Maine Woods.
For the last 10 years he has been focused on conservation, sustainability, and outdoor education, working with
community organizations to help create, maintain, and provide experiences in the green spaces of our community.
Zoe Caron, is a lifelong Lewiston resident and the current manager of the Lewiston Farmers’ Market. She attended Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont where she received her B.S. in Environmental Studies & Policy in 2019. Upon moving back to Maine, she reconnected with her local community and took part in grassroots organizing. This work brought her to her current role as LFMA manager, where she helps bring together community members and local producers. She is passionate about making local food accessible and approachable, with a focus on growing resilient systems.
John Painter was born and raised in the fishing village of Owls Head, Maine, John began his career in commercial fishing before pursuing higher education, earning a B.A. in Psychology from The Evergreen State College and an M.S. in Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Rutgers University. For over 27 years, John has lived in Lewiston with his wife, Kati, and their two rescue miniature Schnauzers. He currently works in HUD-subsidized senior housing, where he holds national certification in HUD service coordination and supports aging residents in maintaining health and independence. Prior to this role, John spent more than two decades in senior management providing community-based mental health program development and administration, leading initiatives to improve access to behavioral health services across Maine.
In addition to his work in human services, John remains connected to his coastal roots through his involvement in sustainable fisheries. He commercially harvests invasive green crabs (Carcinus maenas) and actively collaborates with researchers and community organizations throughout Maine and New England to educate the public and foster emerging markets that mitigate the species’ ecological impact.
Staff
Stephanie Broido, is the Coordinator for the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn, a role that aligns with her longstanding passion for local food, community, and public health. She has worked in many parts of the Maine food System, including small organic farms, school & community gardens, and farm-to-table restaurants.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from the University of Southern Maine. Outside of her professional work, Stephanie finds joy growing food and herbs in her ever growing gardens, cooking for friends, playing with baby goats, and spending as much time as possible outside.