About

Pati played a key role in bringing together Native people to form a National organization dedicated to addressing Native Food Sovereignty, by calling upon people who have been working in the community on Native Food issues for many years co-directors formed NAFSA Founding Council. This work has taken Pati to NGO events in China, Italy, and the United Nations, where the co-directors conducted workshops and trainings and shared their community development model. In addition, they have worked with organizations such as; the First Nations Development Institute, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the Rural Development Leadership Network, the Sister Fund Grantees, and working through an Oxfam America Mentorship Program with seven Native American organizations. She has vast experience in program and organizational development as well as project management and evaluation. She has worked to raise millions of dollars for communities. 

Originally from Long Island, NY, Caitlin Smyth moved to Ajo after previously serving there as a Team Leader for three months with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), where she was a service member for two years. During her time in college at SUNY Farmingdale, while receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Caitlin learned about AmeriCorps NCCC. In her current position as Program Director, Caitlin works with youth, gardeners and farmers in Ajo and throughout the state of Arizona. Caitlin works on developing and implementing programs including the Adopt-A-Sonoran-Desert-Crop Program that gives out native grown seeds, and a variety of youth programming including schools and youth internships. Building relationships with vendors, she works with the O’odham Farmers Market on promotions, marketing and the development of websites for the organization. 

I have lived in Ajo my whole life. I have a lot of family here. I love our close knit community. I was a pharmacy technician from 2006-2022. I am the Operations Director/ Human Resources. I have 2 amazing kids. My son started in 2019 as an intern and promoted to apprentice in 2023. We love helping our community.

My Name is Alessandra Molina and I was born and raised in Ajo. I graduated in 1997 from Ajo High School and moved to Tucson to pursue a career in healthcare. I attended Pima Medical Institute and completed the Phlebotomy course. In 2008 I began my career with the American Red Cross in the blood services department. Through hard work and dedication I achieved the charge position. As a charge my role was to provide guidance to staff, leadership skills, and technical knowledge. Unfortunately, after 10 years with the American Red Cross, I left the organization and returned to Ajo with my 2 children, In 2022, I became the Food Pantry Manager for Ajo CSA and was able to open the first walk-in pantry, expanded the internship program, and provided the community with fresh produce and eggs from local farms. I have been able to partner with great organizations like the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Olsen's IGA, Family Dollar, and Dollar General to give back to the community. 

Cody Manuel is a Native American chef and member of the Gila River Nation, Akimel O'odham. He has been in the culinary field since the age of 17 and is a graduate of Scottsdale Culinary Institute, a Le Cordon Bleu school. He was a culinary arts instructor at Ajo High School for 3 years where he worked and learned with his students. Cody learned much from his family and elders about native ingredients but was able to broaden his horizons once he joined Ajo CSA. Once with Ajo CSA, Cody had the opportunity to use more Native ingredients and learn how they are used traditionally. Using his culinary background and the new tools given, he puts a bit of a modern twist on traditional ingredients. He does love to pay respect to where he came from by giving what knowledge he has to all he speaks with. Cody has spoken with classes from all over the country about the importance of traditional foods and how they are grow and used. He enjoys his weekends when he makes chumuth or fry bread where he and his family spread their knowledge to the next generation.

Hello my name is DeAnndra Porter. I am a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, and the Outreach Coordinator for Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture. I am an alumni of Tohono O'odham Community College (TOCC) and University of Arizona with a bachelors of science in Nutrition and Food Systems. I am working towards growing and promoting Tohono O'odham crops as well as health and nutrition throughout the Tohono O'odham Nation and other communities. I began my journey of traditional Tohono O'odham foods as a youth with Tohono O'odham Community Action (TOCA) and as an agriculture intern with TOCC. I also work with Tohono O'odham Community College as a Traditional Food Systems Outreach with the same goal and mission of creating a food secure and sovereign system. My hobbies are gardening, cooking, reading and jogging, I enjoy spending time with my family, learning, and nature.

My name is Ju:ki Patricio and I reside in Sells, Arizona on the Tohono O'odham reservation however, I am from Big Fields or Ge Oidag. Agriculture has become a big part of my life ever since I was younger growing with my family in our home gardens. I've been working in the agriculture field (pun intended) professionally for a little over 10 years now. After high school in the summer of 2012, I joined an internship with Tohono O'odham Community Action. I was with the program for about two years working with a group called Project Oidag. There we helped establish school gardens and worked with the youth and community to promote traditional foods and practices. In 2020 I joined Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture in their Farmer Apprenticeship program. In January 2022 I became the Youth Coordinator, where I go to schools and do presentations helping promote climate smart, self sustainability, and growing your own food to the students. I manage and teach our youth interns not only planting and garden management, but exposing them to different aspects on professional agricultural practices, as well as the cultural side of who we are as traditional farmers. I'm also an artist and have created illustrations and coloring pages that showcase our traditional O'odham crops to be shared with schools, elders, and the community. I have been fortunate to learn from and work alongside so many amazing known farmers, teachers, and leaders that have been doing outstanding work in the community. I am always learning and growing myself, and have a daughter now that I've been trying to raise in this lifestyle. I'm always willing to share and assist with whoever is interested. 

My name is Jesse Garcia and I'm from Cowlic Village on the Tohono O'odham Nation and have been farming for over 10 years. I have worked with Ajo CSA for a few years now and am currently the Garden Supervisor. I have started my own garden business/ nursery at home from the skills I have learned from Ajo CSA and other places I have worked over the past 12 years. The skills I have learned I use in my own garden as trials to see what works and what does not work and used these try outs to help others start their own garden at home. It is exciting to see how far I have come in doing this kind of work. I'm hoping to pass it on to my kids and the next generation and so on to help others grow their own foods. 

I've lived in Ajo most of my life. I have two beautiful daughters that are 3 and 4 years old. I started with Ajo CSA working at the cafe and then started the position as Case Worker where I work with Ajo Food Pantry clients to connect them with other resources such as SNAP, TEFAP, AHCCCS, etc. I assist clients with accessing additional resources and benefits. I work alongside Alessandra, the Pantry Manager, with all distributions including the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. I enjoy helping others and trying to make a difference in our community. 

I'm from Gu'vo District. I've been working with Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture since December 2020. I was hired as an apprentice and am now working as a Garden Coordinator.