Project Angel Heart – Brandy Brogan

Brandy Brogan joined Project Angel Heart in December 2002. Over the last 19 years she has worked in every department at Project Angel Heart, including the kitchen as the special diets chef. Currently, Brandy directs the staff and daily operations of the client services department, oversees Project Angel Heart client services advisory council, and manages community outreach.  Brandy is a member of the Colorado Cancer Coalition. Brandy studied at New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work and Luna Vocational Technical Institute.  Prior to working at Project Angel Heart, she was the Head Chef at Pendaries Golf Resort in New Mexico, and worked as an interpreter for One World Translation.

Metro Caring – Neambe Leadon; inquired about potential questions; will ask them to describe their shopping experience and cooking classes

As Senior Manager of Food Sovereignty Neambe supports Metro Caring’s Nutrition, Food Access and Urban Agriculture teams.  Neambe has a rich and diverse educational background beginning with a degree in Interior Design – Pre-Architecture from Florida State University; later she studied Massage Therapy; attained a Permaculture Certification; and most recently completed trainings in Herbal Medicine and Herbal Management for Acute Viral Infections and Harvard Business School’s Online Leadership Principles course.  She brings 13 years of hands-on food systems experience from urban organic farming to education and grassroots community building.  Her work and lived experiences have created a strong sense of land stewardship, and a thoughtfulness about the relationship between humans, the land that sustains us, and the systems that impact both.

Food in Communities Grantee – CouncilsWendy Smittick and one community member

My name is Wendy Smittick.  I was born in Watts, California and moved to Colorado when I was 3 years old.  I have also lived in Houston and Atlanta.  I am married with 5 adult children scattered across the nation ranging from 40 to 23 years old, the youngest of which is in his second year of medical school.  My 10th grandchild is scheduled in arrive in January.  When not globetrotting, I enjoy gardening, camping, and bike riding.  I am a vegetarian foodie in search of creating the best Acai Bowl.

My Bachelor’s Degree is in Philosophy from University of Colorado at Denver.  I presently work for DDPHE as a Food Connector with the Food In Communities Team.   I have owned a home health care agency and a medical transcription company.  Included in my resume are diverse roles within the health, nonprofit, travel, and construction industries, and all through the lens of assisting marginalized populations.

Doug Wooley – Co-Chair.  Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council

Doug is a professional Volunteer and Mischief maker. He loves to garden, as it feeds his Soul. Over the years Doug has learned that gardening and creating art are the two spaces and places where he can deal and heal. As Doug has healed from various challenges related to living with Spina Bifida, he has learned, advocated and modeled that when the most vulnerable person(s) in our community is provided the space and place at the table to advocate, lead and create the changes needed to address the challenges, then we have a diverse, healthy, and supported community. Over the past several years Doug has focused his attention on food and food insecurity with this frame of thought. This has allowed him the opportunities to serve as Co-Chair of the Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council, serve on the Nourish Colorado Double Up advisory committee, facilitator for Foods in Communities, and serve as a garden leader for two gardens. One of the gardens is located at the project-based apartment complex, where Doug lives. The community-based approach has built a Garden Club at the apartment complex that was able to provide 100 pounds of organically grown produce to Doug’s neighbors in 2021.