Food Justice Northwest Aurora Reflects on a Year of Growth
In 2024, Food Justice NW Aurora (FJNWA) continued making impactful strides toward building a multicultural, intergenerational, and intersectional movement for food justice and food sovereignty in NW Aurora. This year, the organization continued to grow as the food justice movement in NW Aurora continued to take shape, paving the way for an even stronger foundation in 2025.
Major Milestones
MAY
This past May, FJNWA became a fiscally sponsored program partner with the Barton Institute. This collaboration has bolstered FJNWA’s infrastructure, enabling the organization to secure greater stability while bolstering its impact strategy.
AUG
In August, FJNWA relocated to a new office within The Village Institute, a community-focused space dedicated to empowering immigrant and refugee families. This new location reflects the organization’s commitment to collaboration because its vision is to be deeply rooted in the heart of NW Aurora.
OCT
One of the most exciting milestones came in October and November when FJNWA doubled its staff, growing from two team members to four. This increase in capacity allows them to expand their outreach capacity in order to deepen relationships and strengthen connections with the community in NW Aurora.
Meet the Team
The growth of FJNWA has been powered and led by Caitlin Matthews, Executive Director, who has brought together a diverse team committed to food equity including:
Anjani Moro, Organizational Development Specialist
Anjani’s background in public health and nonprofit development is invaluable in creating efficient organizational systems for FJNWA. Anjani fosters collaboration within the team, ensuring that operations align with the organization’s mission. As an Indian immigrant growing up in rural South Carolina, reclaiming foodways and understanding the inequity in the food system and policy, she wanted to make her passion for sustainable food systems her profession.
Jorge Michovich, Community Organizer
As a former high school Spanish teacher and longtime Denver resident, he draws on over 20 years of experience working in underserved communities. Jorge’s artistic talents and love of poetry bring creativity to his organizing efforts, engaging residents in food justice initiatives with both heart and vision. Jorge brings a rich multicultural perspective to FJNWA.
Imelda Gutierrez, Community Organizer
Imelda’s dedication to study and work in preventative health education and equitable food systems grew from her Texan upbringing and her Mexican heritage. Before joining FJNWA, Imelda led a rural middle school opioid prevention program and worked with United Way of Greater Knoxville to engage community gardeners to assess garden needs and support garden expansion and resource allocation. Her expertise in public health and community engagement will be instrumental in expanding FJNWA’s reach. In her free time, she enjoys living a mindful and healthy lifestyle.
Caitlin Matthews, Executive Director
Caitlin brings a wealth of experience to FJNWA, combining a background in education, community-based food initiatives, and public health. Raised in Colorado with farming and ranching roots, Caitlin is a founding member of the FJNWA steering committee. Her leadership reflects her commitment to addressing systemic inequities in NW Aurora’s food system. Outside of work, Caitlin tends her community garden plot, where her Jurassic-sized collard greens shine as a testament to her green thumb.
Looking Ahead for 2025
With a strong team, a new home, and a wonderful partnership with the Barton Institute, FJNWA is well-positioned to amplify its impact in the coming year. As they prepare to welcome their 2025 board and deepen and strengthen community relationships, FJWNA remains committed to its mission: to create a resilient and just food system for all residents of NW Aurora.
