Eric Holt-Giménez, Executive Director
Email Eric Holt-Gimenez: eholtgim at foodfirst.org
Telephone: 510-654-4400 ext 227
Tanya Kerssen, Research Coordinator
Tanya manages the core of Food First’s long-time work: its rigorous, progressive research publications. In addition to contributing research and writing, Tanya works with Food First’s vast network of fellows, movement leaders and contributing scholars to generate timely, cutting edge analysis on food justice and food sovereignty.
Marilyn Borchardt, development director
Marilyn Borchardt grew up in Wisconsin farm country in a place so rural that she remembers when their log cabin got electricity. Aunts and uncles were dairy farmers and she has many fond memories of vacations and visits to family farms.
Marilyn was one of the first in her extended family to attend college. After receiving her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin in home economics education (via Berea College in KY), and a M.S. from Oregon State University in textile chemistry, she worked for 14 years in child welfare in Colorado and California.
In the late 70's one of her housemates invited Frances Moore Lappé and Joseph Collins, who had founded the Institute for Food and Development Policy and written the book Food First in New York, to come to dinner soon after their move to the San Francisco Bay Area. Frances' first book, Diet for a Small Planet had already become an inspiration for many folks in the Bay Area including Marilyn.
Since 1986, she has been the Development Director at Food First. When new interns ask "How long have you been here at Food First," she can often smugly reply "since before you were born." This long tenure has allowed her to enjoy the thousands of letters from adoring "Food First fans," making the task of "fundraising" a most rewarding experience. In addition to her responsibilities communicating with individual donors, Marilyn has the pleasant task of working with interns and volunteers from around the world who provide valuable service to further the Institute's research and education agenda. And she does most of the web site posting and social networking for the organization. Never a dull moment at Food First and Marilyn wouldn't have it any other way.
Email Marilyn
Telephone: 510-654-4400 ext 234.
Katie Brimm, Food Sovereignty Tours Program Coordinator
As Program Coordinator, Katie works to manage and promote the Food Sovereignty Tours Program as well as support the Tour Coordinators in planning and implementing each delegation. She holds a B.A. in Global and International Studies with an emphasis on Spanish and Latin America from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
