CRRA 2023 Conference and Trade Show

Executive Director

Frank Green is the Executive Director of Victory Mission based in Salinas California. Victory Mission has been reaching out to the homeless of Salinas and Monterey County for over 63 years, helping to provide both emergency and transitional housing for men in the region. This faith-based program provides 250 meals a day to individuals. Frank is a licensed minister and has spent several years in community outreach. Utilizing his background as an Army cook, Frank is also working on reducing waste at the on-site kitchen to ensure donations go further and safety programs are paramount to the operations.

The View: Victory Mission

The VIEW from Victory Mission will be a discussion of the day-to-day operational realities of the non-profit and how the recent edible food recovery grants has impacted the operation. Frank will also discuss the current kitchen operations, donation programs, the dynamics of the non-profit world and how SB 1383 could provide opportunities to support Victory Mission. In addition, Frank will discuss what more needs to be done, what other opportunities are out there for the Mission and what he sees as the next steps for his operation. This guided discussion will provide an opportunity to share stories of the successes and opportunities of Victory Mission. Importantly the audience will walk away with a better understanding of non-profit operations and how they may be impacted by SB 1383.

Director/Co-Founder

Elizabeth volunteers as the Director/Co-Founder of Life Acts, an outreach of Life Christian Center International Ministries. She & her family have led food rescue efforts for 34yrs. Since her teen community leadership until now, she has studied, trained, & invested years in cultural diversity & engagement, in the government, corporate, & nonprofit sectors. Her heart is to encourage collaboration & bring solutions to food rescue, ultimately addressing food insecurity & climate issues. She believes in the Biblical principle of "we are blessed to be a blessing" - how to unite forces & maximize resources, as generous givers & grateful receivers.

The View: Life Acts

The VIEW from Life Acts will be a discussion of the 100% volunteer operation, based in San Diego County. They conduct weekly food distributions & community outreach, as well as global relief projects, helping provide essential resources & food for up to 16,000+ people per month, to date. Their food rescue advocacy has been featured on Netflix, NBC news & the front cover of the San Diego Union Tribune, with a unique perspective on how organizations can work together to support the mission to end food insecurity. Elizabeth will present their current operational trends & how their outreach mobilizes to strengthen SB 1383 goals. Most importantly, the audience will understand the resources non-profits need & and the best ways for groups to collaborate, beyond SB 1383 compliance, with the visionary focus to provide important resources for battling food insecurity.

Executive Director

Yuka leads Food Shift, a nonprofit shifting the way people think and interact with food by uplifting communities through rescued produce: reducing waste, nourishing our neighbors, and building community capacity. As a turnaround expert guided by values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI), Yuka excels at creating roadmaps for organizations and communities at a point of inflection by focusing on comprehensive strategies that are collaboratively implemented, and mindfully minimizing and navigating financial, operational, and cultural risks. Yuka was born and raised in Japan, educated in North America, and eventually settling in SF Bay Area via Denmark.

The View: Food Shift

The VIEW from Food Shift will be a discussion on their battle against food insecurity in the Bay Area and their innovation regarding community approaches to addressing hunger. Working to recover surplus and imperfect foods Food Shift looks for innovations to move beyond traditional models of food recovery and charity. Food Shift will discuss how they are working on these initiatives and how their approach goals beyond SB 1383 compliance. In addition Food Shift will discuss their operational realities, trends, dynamics with other non-profit organizations large and small, how food recovery policy is changing trends and where their program is headed. Food Shift will present the opportunities as they see it and discuss their future. Importantly the audience will gain a better understanding of how to assist non-profit organizations in achieving their goals in partnership with the goals of SB 1383.

President/Community Relations Coordinator