Grow Food Northampton Announces Co-executive Directors

NORTHAMPTON — On Jan. 1, Michael Skillicorn joined Alisa Klein as co-executive director of Grow Food Northampton (GFN). Together, they say their complementary strengths and shared vision will lead Grow Food Northampton into an exciting new chapter, advancing its mission as a food and farming justice organization.

Skillicorn joined Grow Food Northampton eight years ago as program director and was promoted five years ago to associate director. Over the last five years, Klein has led Grow Food Northampton as the sole executive director — through the pandemic, the catastrophic flood of the Grow Food Northampton Community Farm in July 2023, and a period of growth and stability for the organization.

In announcing this new model of leadership for Grow Food Northampton, Diego Irrizary-Gerould, president of the organization’s board of directors, noted that “the board unanimously approved this decision out of deep respect and appreciation for both Alisa and Michael, whose complementary experience and expertise are extraordinarily well-suited to meet the needs of GFN. By shifting our structure to one that elevates and formalizes shared responsibility, we are aligning internal practices with the justice-oriented work we do in the community.”

In a joint statement, Klein and Skillicorn added, “it is an honor and a pleasure to work side by side to lead Grow Food Northampton. We believe that our partnership will enable each of us to bring our best selves to the organization. Community food security is a collective responsibility, and it is through collaborative leadership that we can best work with GFN’s remarkable staff, board, and community advisors to fulfill the organization’s mission of nourishing our community and the earth.”