Board of Directors 2025/26
We bring different experiences and perspectives to the table, but we’re united by a shared commitment to community, good food and building a stronger Dorchester.
Sarah Assefa
Acting Board President
Sarah has spent years working in cooperative development, food systems and community organizing. She served as Co-Director of Worcester Roots Project, supporting youth-led cooperative businesses, and helped establish the Empower Energy Cooperative in Worcester. Sarah also participated in an agroecology network in Ethiopia focused on food and seed sovereignty, soil health and agricultural cooperatives. She lives in Dorchester and organizes with the Coalition for Worker Ownership and Power (COWOP).
Sonia Carter, MS, LDN Board Member
Sonia is the Director of Quality Improvement and Community Nutrition at the Boston Public Health Commission. Her work focuses on nutrition education, healthy eating and chronic disease prevention, with an emphasis on addressing health inequities through policy and systems change. She leads several nutrition initiatives serving child care and youth programs across Boston and is also a faculty member at Urban College of Boston.
Jenny Silverman Founder & Board Treasurer
Jenny has been involved in the cooperative movement for more than 35 years and was one of the founders of Dorchester Community Food Co-op. She spent more than two decades as Sales Manager of Red Sun Press, a Boston worker cooperative, and has been active in regional and national cooperative organizations. A longtime Dorchester resident, Jenny currently serves as Education Director at Boston Workmen’s Circle.
Alyssa Melendez, MS Board Clerk
Alyssa is the Operations and Supply Chain Manager for Burlap & Barrel, a single-origin spice company. Her work in food access, environmental policy and sustainable agriculture has taken her from community programs in Oregon to farms and food supply chains across the country. Alyssa holds a Master of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environment from Tufts University and is passionate about building equitable and sustainable food systems.
Roudnie Célestin
Board Member
Roudnie recently completed her term as Board President and continues to serve as a dedicated Board Member. Born and raised in Haiti, she is a quadrilingual leader, singer and writer whose work spans public service, education, equity and the arts. Her passion for food justice has been shaped by her family’s agricultural roots, urban farming experiences and work supporting food businesses in marginalized communities. She has served under three Boston mayors and was the inaugural Equity Officer for the Boston Public Library.
Robin Saunders
Board Member
Robin brings more than 30 years of experience in business administration, marketing, media and community engagement. She has worked with both nonprofit and corporate organizations and served as a community producer for BNN-TV and a radio host and producer at WRBB-FM. Her work has focused on sharing culturally relevant information with Boston communities. Robin also enjoys cooking for family and friends using produce grown in her garden.