Who We Are
Our team cumulatively brings over 50 years of landscaping, urban farming, programming, and culinary expertise to Star Farm community and clients. While each team member boasts speciality skills, we all work together with the underlying mission of creating a resilient food system through growing, sharing, and celebrating food.
Interested in joining our team? Submit a resume and brief coverletter to starfarmchicagohiring@gmail.com
Created by the talented local artist Francia Garcia Hernandez, The Voices of Star Farm tells the story of the individuals who have devoted themselves to working in the food justice world through Star Farm’s programming. Read in full here or find out more at the zine’s webpage.
Meet The Team
Stephanie Dunn
Founder and Executive Director
Stephanie is an experienced urban farmer focused on food production and accesibility for food insecure communities. She has managed a 10,000 lb urban farm production for more than seven years, and has extensive experience in logistics, delivery, food safety, processing, and sustainable packaging.
As a licensed general contractor, she brings construction and landscaping experience and is able to design and build small and large-scale infrastructure and farm projects, while also managing all of the moving parts of coordinating materials, staff, and contractors, while meeting fast-paced programming goals.
Johanna Luna
Program Associate
I am from Bogota, Colombia and spent most of my life living there. Prior to moving to Chicago, I spent a year living in New York. I have two daughters, a husband, and I love cats. When I am not at work, I enjoy volleyball and biking.
Sofia Calderon
Stewardship and Development Manager
Meet the Board of Directors
Carly Herron
Board Member
Carly is the Senior Program Coordinator at the Good Food Accelerator (GFA), one of the three programs at Good Food Catalyst. She runs Good Food Accelerator's classes, assisting small food and beverage business owners through education, mentorship, networking, and events.
Carly is also the Founder and Director of a community dinner project called Next Door Dinners. Through pay-what-you-can dinners, she is working to build community across the city and raise money for various Chicago-based nonprofits. Outside of work stuff, Carly loves to camp in Wisconsin, cook with friends, and play the piano.
Johari Cole-Kweli
Board Member
Johari is a sustainability professional and educator mentored by nature and years of multi-disciplinary engagement. She is passionately driven by youth, stewardship, environmental education, and innovation; as well as, a proven visionary and contributor of higher-level, circular-designed strategies and creative solutions to learning institutions, organizations, and community partners Johari currently serves as President and Managing Director of the Community Development Corporation of PHP [The CDC], a volunteer-led community development organization in Pembroke-Hopkins Park, IL; and is the owner and operator of Iyabo Farms, an organic farm and family homestead in Pembroke Township, IL, with proven devotion to local food access and education for nearly 30 years.
Caroline Pearson
Board Member
Caroline Pearson is the Executive Director of the Peterson Center on Healthcare and a nationally-recognized expert in healthcare. With over 20 years experience in research and consulting, her work seeks to increase access to insurance, improve care for aging individuals, and make healthcare more affordable. Much of her research has focused on the social determinants of health, including how food insecurity impacts health outcomes. Caroline loves living on the South Side of Chicago and is an avid cook, foodie, and parent to two hungry boys with adventurous palates.
Caroline Pearson
Board Member
Caroline Pearson is the Executive Director of the Peterson Center on Healthcare and a nationally-recognized expert in healthcare. With over 20 years experience in research and consulting, her work seeks to increase access to insurance, improve care for aging individuals, and make healthcare more affordable. Much of her research has focused on the social determinants of health, including how food insecurity impacts health outcomes. Caroline loves living on the South Side of Chicago and is an avid cook, foodie, and parent to two hungry boys with adventurous palates.
Sofía graduated from ITAM at Mexico City with a B.S in International Relations. Sofía is passionate about local initiatives and believes that community organization is capable of making significant change at different scales. For most of her career, Sofía has worked in community outreach and engagement with immigrant populations and acknowledges how fundamental it is to have a local network of resources, neighbors and organizations. In her free time, Sofía enjoys biking and taking long walks in the city.
Anthony Isherwood
Board Member
Anthony Isherwood is a Manager at Deloitte & Touche who helps clients transform Internal Audit aligning to key risks and strategies of their organization. He provides advice on process efficiency, operational quality, internal control, and regulatory compliance to improve operations and decision making. Anthony's vision is to bring his passion for fresh, locally sourced, and sustainable foods into immersive experiences that bring the local community together. He is an idea generator that enjoys opportunities to connect the dots and ways to fully leverage teams while enjoying the journey. In his free time, he loves exploring the local coffee scene and finding the best places to eat.
Jocelyn Velazquez
Board Member
Jocelyn is a passionate, solutions-oriented community development professional. She is deeply committed to a profession and life that centers advancing racial equity and in her spare time enjoys volunteering on various boards. She currently serves as a Finance Co-Chair for Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) of Chicago, Treasurer for Star Farm Chicago, a nonprofit urban farm in Back of the Yards, is a member of Elevated Chicago’s Capital and Programs Working Group and City of Chicago’s Food Equity Council Working Group, and recently joined development advisory boards for Bright Star Community Development Corporation and Turning Red Lines Green (this is in North Lawndale). In addition, she is a member of Chicago Foundation for Women’s Southside Giving Circle. Her hobbies/interest outside of work include anything in the realm of health and wellness, spending time with her brothers, and lending her financial expertise to her dad who operates a small business.
Kala Cuerington-Seller
Board Member
Kala has spent the last 10 years building a career in food and environmental justice. She has worked for the Edible Schoolyard Berkeley, Education Outside, Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, and the Urban Growers Collective. She is currently Manager of Foundation Partnerships at FoodCorps. Kala has her Masters in Social Sector Leadership from the University of Chicago. She enjoys seeing live music, spending time with her husband and son, thrifting, floral arranging, decorating, cooking, and entertaining here.