Lupita Vazquez (she/her) is the Community Gardens and Outreach Manager at Cultivate Abundance. Lupita grew up in Immokalee as a daughter of immigrant farmworkers, and has served in the military and held positions in education, public health, and community outreach and advocacy. In her current position, Lupita Vazquez works to alleviate food insecurity, increase public knowledge on food and gardening, and promote food sovereignty through a community garden. As an indigenous descended person, Lupita Vazquez also plays an important role in the cultural preservation of Immokalee’s indigenous history, and she often hosts cultural events to highlight the contributions of indigenous peoples.

Maria Plata is a Senior Project Manager at Partners In Health and local community organizer who has been conducting public health and advocacy work in Immokalee for the majority of her adult life. Maria Plata grew up in Immokalee and co-founded Unidos to respond to the material, educational, and public health needs of the community. Through Unidos, Maria has organized several successful community programs, including thousands raised in mutual-aid for families impacted by natural disasters, regular food and resource drives, and protests and popular education initiatives in response to local anti-immigrant legislation.

Maria Cardenas is a social work professional and small business owner focused on empowering her community. As a co-founder of Unidos Immokalee and Amagia, Inc., she creates holistic programs to tackle local challenges. A lifelong immigration advocate and proud Immokalee native, Maria is dedicated to keeping families united. She also mentors both social workers and small business owners, offering guidance and support to help them thrive in their entrepreneurial journeys.

Dr. Juniace Senecharles Etienne is originally from Miragôane, Haiti and migrated to the U.S. at 16. A French teacher and professor, Dr. Etienne is passionate about education and empowering students of all abilities. She is an author, international speaker, and educational consultant advocating for accessible education. Dr. Etienne also supports Haitian schools through the Haiti Education Fund.

Jean Claude Jean is an animator and organizer who trained and organized with the Papaye Peasant Movement (MPP), an environmental grass-roots movement active in Haiti from 1973 through the 2000s. With focuses on sustainable farming, public health, literacy, and economic empowerment, the MPP became the largest peasant movement in Haiti. As a member of the MPP, Jean Claude Jean led popular education programs with rural farmworkers, and brought these skills to Immokalee’s agricultural landscape after immigrating to the United States. Jean Claude Jean has over 30 years of experience organizing the farmworker community of Immokalee, Florida.

Cathy Albisa is a constitutional and human rights lawyer who specializes in the right to health and labor rights. She co-founded the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) to advance economic and social rights in the U.S. Committed to a community-centered approach, she collaborates with organizers to enforce human rights standards and has published extensively on constitutional strategies, and law’s role in social movements.