The Team

Head Chef and Program Lead

Khadija Ahmed is the Founder and Board President at Food For All Services (‘FFA’) and is a firm believer in equity and food justice as well as a militant for human rights. She works for Good Shepherd Food Bank as an Equity and Impact Manager. At FFA her work primarily serves immigrant and asylum seekers by addressing barriers such as access to transportation, language, and cultural relevance. Khadija also serves as a board member of Full Plates Full Potential, Cultivating Community, and Black Owned Maine. Additionally, she works as a chef, teaches cooking classes, and trains school staff on preparing meals that reflect the student body.

Program Manager

Rose is a social entrepreneur located in Portland, ME. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Black Owned Maine and Principal Consultant at Barboza Consulting. Her work lays at the intersection of education and advocacy and she is very passionate about helping to create a Maine where communities of color feel welcomed and appreciated. She has sat on many grant making committees, nonprofit boards and advisory committees, and is currently a Board Member at Fork Food Lab.

School Food Systems Manager

Zoe Grodsky works at the Cumberland County Food Security Council and a member of the Halal School Meals Network Leadership Team. Before joining the council in 2021 as the Food Fuels Learning Coordinator, Zoe worked as a Farm School Educator and a Researcher studying the U.S. Environmental Movement.

Communication Coordinator

Firdaws Hakizimana is a first-generation African American, is dedicated to fostering unity among diverse cultures, a commitment rooted in her upbringing and experiences. She also work as a Relations Specialist for the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center and Marketing Coordinator at Black Owned Maine.

Having graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 2020, Firdaws is currently pursuing a degree in media studies and communications at the University of Southern Maine. Her academic journey mirrors her passion for amplifying voices and creating meaningful connections in today's media landscape.

Research Assistant

Amelia (she/her) is deeply committed to advancing social justice through food, with a focus on advocacy, community, and grassroots organizing. She currently serves as a Policy Associate at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, where she works on state and local campaigns to promote healthy, sustainable, and values-driven food purchasing and food service policies.

Before joining CSPI, Amelia was the Food and Health Equity Program Coordinator at the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America. She has also worked as a research and writing fellow at Food Tank and supported the food and agriculture team at Ketchum PR + Marketing Communications Consulting. Amelia holds a BA in American Studies and Anthropology from Bates College.