Angela founded Teen Kitchen Project (TKP) in 2012 after her son’s bout with pediatric cancer. The gift of prepared meals during this challenging time provided inspiration to deliver the same gift to others facing a health crisis. Her son was released from treatment in May of 2012. He has a good prognosis and is currently a thriving teenager.Angela leads the Teen Kitchen Project in fulfilling the mission to build healthier communities by delivering the finest quality nutritious food to those living with illness and offer youth valuable opportunities for learning and growth. Through her leadership, TKP has earned reliable sources of revenue by building out catering and cooking class programs and securing contracts with county and state agencies. This foundational support allowed TKP to be a key first responder to the needs of the medically fragile during the Pandemic. In 2021, through Angela’s advocacy and leadership, Teen Kitchen Project entered into contract with Medi-Cal as a provider of billable services. Her advocacy will continue until all healthcare providers recognize and cover the benefit of meal delivery, ensuring those in need of prepared meal support are provided the nourishment they need to live a life free from hunger.Angela survived teaching first, second and third grade for 17 years, an experience preparing her for nonprofit life in the tenacity, flexibility, and humor it takes to survive and thrive in a dynamic work environment. Her B.A. is in Environmental Studies from San Jose State and she holds an A.M.I. Montessori Elementary Teaching Credential. She is currently the Vice Chair of the California Food is Medicine Coalition, a state coalition of medically tailored meal providers.When not at work you can find Angela hiking the mountains of Santa Cruz with her two sons and sweet senior chihuahua, Mambo.