The Team

Slow Food is a grassroots movement.

Our leadership structure starts at the roots, with chapter and community leaders. Each local entity has a board, volunteers and programming that fits with that particular community, all under the framework of good, clean and fair food for all. National working groups tie Slow Food advocates interested in specific topics together with focused goals and calls to action.

National Office

The National Office supports the health and growth of the Slow Food network and serves as a national anchor and organizer for the global Slow Food movement. This all-remote team cultivates nationwide programs and a network of local chapters, hosts educational events and advocacy campaigns, and builds solidarity through partnerships.

Bilal Sarwari

Interim Executive Director

Bilal Sarwari

Interim Executive Director

Bilal Sarwari (he/him) was named Slow Food USA's interim executive director starting in April 2024. Bilal had been a Slow Food USA board member since June 2021 and has been involved with Slow Food since 2008. He was named a North American International Councilor for the global Slow Food movement in March 2023. He is an avid gardener and farmed for many years in Georgia. Most recently, he served as a group facilitator and mental health consultant for various organizations, including the USDA. The first-generation child of Afghan refugees, Bilal has learned to highlight the best of his cultures while centering joy and justice.

Brett Rapkin-Citrenbaum

Policy coordinator

Brett Rapkin-Citrenbaum

Policy coordinator

Brett (she/her) serves as the Policy Coordinator for Slow Food USA, which means she works to develop and coordinate policy and advocacy efforts of the Slow Food USA national office, supports the Food and Farm Policy Community Action Team, and organizes advocacy campaigns. Brett loves food- from seed to casserole, and everywhere in between! She has worked on a number of farms and as an educator about agriculture and nutrition at Title I schools. Brett also works with the North Carolina Food System Advocacy Coalition and Community Food Strategies to organize around food and farm policy. When she's not farming or thinking about food, Brett loves to watch basketball, explore nature, and attempt a variety of fiber arts.

Deion Jones

Director of Network Engagement

Deion Jones

Director of Network Engagement

Deion (he/him) serves as the Director of Network Engagement for Slow Food USA, which means he leads efforts in network growth, troubleshooting, and providing tools to network leaders and members.  Food has been, and continues to be, a passion for Deion throughout his academic and professional endeavors. Both his undergraduate, from Florida Gulf Coast University, and graduate work, from University of Oregon, centered on food, focusing on sustainable sourcing and immigrant identity through food, respectively. Beyond academia, Deion dedicates his time to seeing as many corners of the food realm that he studied, from urban and rural farms and food banks with Feeding America, to public health and one of the best farm-to-table fine dining establishments in the world, Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

Mara Welton

Director of Programs

Mara Welton

Director of Programs

Mara (she/her) serves as the director of programs for Slow Food USA, which means that she cultivates, develops and hosts nationwide programs and campaigns while coordinating and collaborating with global network leaders. Food production and access has been Mara’s passion for over 30 years as a farmer/chef business owner and community organizer. She volunteered abroad with the United States Peace Corps and US AID working towards village food sovereignty. Mara is based in Vermont and has served on many local boards, most recently the board of Helping And Nurturing Diverse Seniors, connecting seniors to healthy and culturally relevant food. Mara’s 20 year career in farming brought her to Slow Food with the campaign for Biodiversity and the Ark of Taste. She served for 10 years as the Chapter President of Slow Food Vermont and Regional Councilor for Slow Food USA. She currently owns and operates a seasonal food cart celebrating her native American Southwest.

Robin Mosley

Communications and Development Coordinator

Robin Mosley

Communications and Development Coordinator

Robin (she/her) is the communications and development coordinator for Slow Food USA. She supports the team by developing content that aligns with branding and promotes diverse experiences. She has 5+ years of experience in journalism, non-profit, and research experience across multiple industries. Topics such as community-building, equity, and food access in food justice are a part of her ethos.

Councilors

Regional councilors (known as “Governors” until March 1, 2022) coordinate the Slow Food community at regional level, with the goal of growing and energizing the chapters, members and supporters in their state. Regional councilors also help coordinate regional and state activities. Some regional councilors may have specific programmatic or thematic representations on the regional and/or national level. If you’re interested in considering this role or if you have questions about Slow Food activities, please email chapters@slowfoodusa.org.

Rocky Mountain/Southwest

Arizona: Molly Beverly
Nevada: Shirley Sandoval
New Mexico: Lissa Johnson

Pacific

Hawaii: Laurie Carlson
Washington: Kim Abrams-Marshall

National councilor support: Shelu Patel

INTERNATIONAL COUNCILORS

USA: Bilal Sarwari
Canada: Bobby Grégoire
international-councilors@slowfoodusa.org

National Board of Directors

The National Board of Directors provides governance to the organization and proper fiduciary oversight; aligns mission and purpose that articulates the organization’s goals, means, and primary constituents served; participates in any  planning processes for SFUSA and assist in implementing and monitoring the plan’s goals; determines which programs and campaigns are consistent with SFUSA’s mission and monitor their effectiveness and clearly articulates the organization’s mission, accomplishments, and goals to the public and garner support from the community in order to enhance SFUSA’s public standing.