Meet our Staff
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Nathan Lou - Co-founder and Executive Director
Nathan is a San Diego native with an Associate of Science in Agriculture from Yuba College, and Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from Oregon State University. With over 15 years of cultivation experience, Nathan has developed a passion for agro-ecology and urban food forestry. Nathan is the co-owner and operator of Lou Family Farm and Nursery, a one-acre permaculture research site located in Bonita, CA. With 1/5-acre in production, in the three years of operation he has produced more than 40 different agriculture commodities and over 6,000 pounds of produce for his family and friends. Additionally, he has planted over 30 fruit trees and rooted more than 200 fruit tree cuttings as nursery stock. Nathan currently provides consultation services with a special emphasis in backyard orchards and food cultivation. Some of the gardens that Nathan has provided his consultation services to includes the Mt. Hope Community Garden in City Heights, Joe’s Pocket Farm in National City, and the High Tech High School Garden in Point Loma. Nathan is an active participant in empowering the local food system and sits on the board of Slow Food Urban San Diego as the Food Justice Co-chair. |
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Alicia Lou - Co-founder and Wellness Director, CMT, NCBTMB
Alicia is a devoted and empowered mother that lives a holistic lifestyle. Alicia has nearly 15 years of experience working in the wellness industry, graduating from the Aveda Institute in 2005 for Massage Therapy. Alicia is currently in pursuit of an A.S. in Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College with aspirations for a doctorate. Presently, Alicia is the Lead Massage Therapist at the Willow’s Spa. Inspired by her grandmothers’ devotion to the cultivation of a deep connection to all living beings, Alicia continues to serve and advocate for human equality. She has a profound appreciation for plants and their medicinal uses to harmonize imbalances in the earth and ourselves. With a keen understanding about how to support others in their healing, Alicia has an incredible ability to recognize opportunity for growth. Alicia provides an enriching and dynamic perspective to our wellness program and its enrichment. |
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Dan Mueller - Managing Director
Dan has a degree in Communication, Culture and Community (Saint Louis University, 2015), training in Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation and Program Design and Management, and currently serves as Managing Director to Mongol Tribe. A passion for intercultural exchange has sent Dan to Belize, Jamaica and Puerto Rico to support grassroots community development initiatives in Education and Agriculture through various organizations, such as the United States Peace Corps. Dan’s work with food access and policy coalitions has allowed her to expand upon the social theories from her undergraduate studies and put them into practice developing programming for communities of concern across various contexts. Dan has more than seven years experience assisting numerous nonprofits with board development, community outreach and engagement, content development and editing, fundraising (event planning), program design and management, and strategic planning. She has been offering nonprofit management consultation services as an independent contractor in the following areas: civic ecology, community development and wellness, food and medicine sovereignty, social enterprise, urban agriculture, youth development and education. |
Meet our Board of Directors
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Jason Williams - President
Bio here. |
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Brian Lewandowski - Treasurer
Bio here. |
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Kristin Lewandowski - Secretary
Bio here. |
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Ron McCord - Regenerative Agriculture Director
Bio here. |
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Matthew Sablove - Education Director
Bio here. |
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Lacey & Paul Cannon - Honorary Board Members
Bio here. |