Rizpah is the Farm Partnerships Coordinator at APC, where she supports Central Valley farmers by connecting them to stable markets, facilitating relationships with buyers, overseeing supply chain logistics, and creating opportunities for producers to grow their businesses.

Raised on a Black Angus cattle ranch and a graduate of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (BS ’15), Rizpah brings both lived experience and academic grounding to her work. Her background weaves together natural and social sciences, and her career has spanned issues ranging from mental health and homelessness to human trafficking and community development. After years of working alongside socially disadvantaged communities, she identified a root imbalance: the growing disconnect between people and their food. That realization led her to APC, where she helps bridge that gap by supporting the farmers who nourish our communities.

Nanyelis brings a deep commitment to communities of color and extensive experience in program management, partnership development, and organizational strategy—all grounded in equity and collective power. At APC, she leads relationship-building and engagement with technical assistance providers and community stakeholders across California, while also supporting strategy, operations, and internal systems.

In addition to her work at APC, Nanyelis serves on the Board of Directors of Acta Non Verba, a youth-centered urban farm and nonprofit in Oakland focused on leadership, environmental education, and community-driven food justice. Originally from the Dominican Republic and now based in the Bay Area, Nanyelis is passionate about cooking, traveling, and building connections through culture.

Raised in California’s agricultural heartland and a proud son of family farmers, José brings decades of cross-sector leadership to his role at APC. His work is rooted in a deep belief in community-led systems change, supporting grassroots investment platforms that build economic resilience in the Central Valley and beyond. Through his work, he also advances the viability, visibility, and leadership of underrepresented producers.

Before joining APC, José founded Rebozo Ventures—a consultancy grounded in humility, compassion, honor, and respect – supporting leaders and organizations in growing revenue and maximizing impact. He previously led grantmaking and partnerships at Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, served as CEO of Inner City Advisors (now ICA.fund), and was appointed Director of Equity and Strategic Partnerships under Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, where he co-founded the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation.

José is an Aspen Fellow, a Ricardo Salinas Scholar, and currently serves as Board Chair of The Unity Council. He also sits on the boards of California FarmLink and the Oakland Museum of California.

Josue helps keep the wheels turning across APC’s programs, strategy conversations, and internal systems. With a background in program and operations development, he brings a thoughtful blend of structure, care, and curiosity to his work. He’s especially focused on creating clarity across teams, supporting values-driven strategy, and ensuring APC stays grounded in farmer leadership. Outside of work, you can find him walking his dog Oliver, chasing sunsets, or breaking a sweat at the gym.

Pahoua supports Southeast Asian farmers in California’s Central Valley by building trusted relationships and advocating for their voices in spaces where they’ve long been excluded. A daughter of farmers, she brings both lived experience and cultural fluency to her work.

As a bilingual connector and community bridge, Pahoua helps growers access consistent buyers, navigate market systems, and expand their opportunities—all while honoring the values, histories, and knowledge they bring to the land. With a deep commitment to community-led change, she works to ensure farmers are not just included, but centered in conversations about food systems, sustainability, and economic resilience.