Our new crop of board members brings a breadth of experiences and expertise. With these new members, come new interests and skills, expanding the Alaska Food Policy’s capacities for supporting a stronger Alaskan food system for all. Join us as we welcome these fine folks:
Marissa Wilson, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Executive Director
Marissa has commercial fished for halibut, sablefish, and salmon along Alaska's Gulf Coast since the age of fourteen. Her career in nonprofit work also began at that formative age and has included roles as an organizer, advocate, operations manager, and development director. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Washington and considers the cultural and spiritual value of wild harvest to be paramount in her wellness. Marissa is currently the Executive Director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council.
Tikaan Galbreath, Intertribal Agriculture Council, Alaska Region- TA Specialist
Tikaan is Ahtna Athabaskan and a Tribal member of the Mentasta Lake Tribe. In his role, he supports the 229 Tribes throughout Alaska to accomplish resilience through agriculture by assisting in access to USDA programming and funding as well as opportunities offered by various national and Alaska-based nonprofits. Tikaan is currently engaged with multiple projects focused on food security in Alaska that range from grassroots efforts promoting individual engagement with gardening and subsistence practices to advocacy around policy change that will support increased access to activities that support food security in the state.
Tikaan has a dynamic history that demonstrates a commitment to food and the many ways it intersects with individual and community wellness, including co-founding a community group focused on fostering a healthy food system for all Alaskans, and previously serving as a board member for the Alaska Botanical Garden. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in English, and a minor in Plant and Soil Sciences with a focus on sustainable agriculture and traditional herbalism. Currently he is enrolled in the Institute for American Indian Art's Masters in Fine Arts program with a focus on creative nonfiction.
Sara Renard, Seeds of Change - Lead Greenhouse Grower and Coordinator
As a Lead Greenhouse Grower Sara focuses on the production of the farm's culinary herbs and lettuce varieties in addition to supporting youth staff and apprentices in their vocational training. Some of her responsibilities are to help the growth of the program, onboarding, and supervising the staff and apprentices. Renard works with partners in the community to bring in apprentices that can gain vocational skills and find pathways to being successful.
Renard picked up a love for health of body, mind, and spirit when she was in high school. It can be observed in her work that she is driven by her love and wish for everyone to experience a balanced, healthy, life. It started with assisting others with yoga and weight training and continued into an interest in healthy, local food.
