National Farm to School Network is excited to welcome Krystal Oriadha to our team as Senior Director of Programs and Policy! Krystal brings a wealth of experience in policy advocacy, project management, and social justice activism to the National Farm to School Network. In her new role, she’ll be leading National Farm to School Network’s overall programming and policy activities.

Krystal has over 10 years of experience working for government agencies, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Human Resources Achievement Program, and Hewlett Packard. Most recently, she served as Policy Director for Prince George’s County (Maryland) Council Member Thomas Dernoga.

Krystal is a recognized leader and activist for justice in Prince George’s County and the wider community. She currently serves as Vice President of Make Smart Cool, Co-Chair of Prince George’s County Education Roundtable, and co-founder of the LGBTQ Dignity Project. She’s previously held leadership roles with Prince George’s Mass Liberation Team, Progressive Maryland, and served as a Fellow for both Hilary Clinton’s 2016 and President Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaigns. In 2019, Krystal was named one of Prince George's County Social Innovation Fund's Forty Under 40 Honorees and selected to serve on the Clinton Foundation’s 20|30 Leadership Council.

Krystal attended Howard University for her BBA in International Business. At Howard, she joined The International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, lota Rho Chapter and studied abroad in Tanzania at the University of Dar es Salaam. Krystal received her MBA from Amberton University.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with the National Farm to School Network because I believe in the mission of this organization, and my experience in understanding how to apply an equity lens to the work will help move the organization forward,” said Krystal. “I have worked for years as a justice advocate, and food justice is an area that has always been important to me. I have worked to end food deserts and food swamps in communities of color by expanding access to healthy options, and I see how the National Farm to School Network plays a significant role in bringing healthy food options to marginalized communities through the education system.”

During our interviews with Krystal, we were energized by her passion for food justice and commitment to ensuring that every voice is welcome at the farm to school table. She’s a big-picture systems thinker who’s diverse experiences and commitment to justice put her in a prime position to widen the touchpoints of our farm to school efforts and support the advancement of equity through out work.

As Senior Director of Programs and Policy, Krystal will lead the strategic direction of programming and policy advocacy of the National Farm to School Network, aimed at strengthening farm to school efforts in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories. Some of Krystal's first projects include finalizing the program lineup for the 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference (save the date! April 21-23, 2020 in Albuquerque, NM) and launching our new equity learning lab, aimed at training farm to school leaders to maximize their impact towards addressing inequities and injustices in our food system.

Krystal is based in our Washington, D.C. office. Connect with Krystal and say hello at krystal@farmtoschool.org. Welcome, Krystal!