Our Team
Angela Farley
Founder and Executive Director
Angela founded Teen Kitchen Project (TKP) in 2012 after her son’s bout with pediatric cancer. The gift of prepared meals during this challenging time provided inspiration to deliver the same gift to others facing a health crisis. Her son was released from treatment in May of 2012 (he has a good prognosis and is currently a thriving teenager).
Angela leads the Teen Kitchen Project in fulfilling the mission to build healthier communities by delivering the finest quality nutritious food to those living with illness and offer youth valuable opportunities for learning and growth. Through her leadership, TKP has earned reliable sources of revenue by building out catering and cooking class programs and securing contracts with county and state agencies. This foundational support allowed TKP to be a key first responder to the needs of the medically fragile during the Pandemic. In 2021, through Angela’s advocacy and leadership, Teen Kitchen Project entered into contract with Medi-Cal as a provider of billable services. Her advocacy will continue until all healthcare providers recognize and cover the benefit of meal delivery, ensuring those in need of prepared meal support are provided the nourishment they need to live a life free from hunger.
Angela survived teaching first, second and third grade for 17 years, an experience preparing her for nonprofit life in the tenacity, flexibility, and humor it takes to survive and thrive in a dynamic work environment. Her B.A. is in Environmental Studies from San Jose State and she holds an A.M.I. Montessori Elementary Teaching Credential. She is currently the Vice Chair of the California Food is Medicine Coalition, a state coalition of medically tailored meal providers.
When not at work you can find Angela hiking the mountains of Santa Cruz with her two sons and sweet senior chihuahua, Mambo.
Rachel Lintott
Director of Operations and Programs
Rachel Lintott is the Director of Operations and Programs for Teen Kitchen Project. Having spent seven years working for the International Culinary Center in Campbell, she brings her knowledge of running and supporting an organization focused on building culinary skills and creating delicious food to the Teen Kitchen Project team.
She believes that connection to food through cooking and sharing meals builds compassion for each other and reverence for where our food comes from. It instills in our youth lifelong skills that will support healthy lifestyle choices, and, for some, the start of vocational training. At the same time, Teen Kitchen Project’s commitment to supporting families in need fills a critical piece of the whole wellness puzzle.
Besides nearly a decade working in food and wine, she also holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Santa Clara University, a Professional Culinary Arts diploma from the International Culinary Center, and is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers AmericasTM.
Lezinah Ncube
Client Services Manager
Lezinah Ncube joined Teen Kitchen Project in March 2022 as Client Services Assistant. Having previously volunteered with TKP, she was inspired by the organization’s mission to build community through food while involving youth.
Sophie Bassett
Volunteer Manager and Database Coordinator
Sophie has lived in Santa Cruz for over 10 years and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Latin American Studies & Politics from UC Santa Cruz. For the past 7 years she has done urban gardening, worked at local farmer’s markets, and worked alongside students and intergenerational community in agroecology and food justice groups throughout Santa Cruz County.
Sophie believes our relationship with food is at the heart of real social change, and that community-based solutions for food sovereignty are the best way to bring that change. She is passionate about empowering youth to be part of building healthy and connected communities, and is excited to join the Teen Kitchen Project as Volunteer Manager and Database Coordinator.
In her free time you can find her doing mutual aid and volunteer work with houseless advocacy groups, gardening, listening to kpop, and checking out thrift stores with her partner.
Tyler Reiner
Executive Chef
Tyler has lived a nomadic life, with close to 40 moves between 7 states and 2 countries. However, for the last 10 years, his roots have grown deep on the Central Coast. Together with his wife Adriana and their children, he has lived in the Santa Cruz mountains for the past 7 years. They recently finished building a poultry coop and are raising their first flock.
Tyler was raised in Costa Rica as an MK/PK(missionary kid/pastors kid). Much of his childhood was spent in villages helping to improve living conditions and empowering people to not be defeated by their circumstances.
Tyler had a very early love affair with food. By the age of 4, he knew he wanted to become a chef. While in junior in high school, he enrolled in a cooking school in Costa Rica. After high school, he moved to the US and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona. His professional culinary career has spanned over 20 years and has been very vast, colorful, and adventurous. Working with food is an ethereal and spiritual experience for him. The very element that keeps us alive also brings us together.
Currently, Tyler holds an AOS in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s in Culinary & Hospitality Management.
Tyler enjoys mentoring the minds of tomorrow, to help those in need today.
Sergio Garcia
Sous Chef
Sergio joined the team of Teen Kitchen Project in April of 2024. Sergio is excited to continue his mentorship of our teen chefs, as well as expand his nutrition and food-as-medicine knowledge.
Sergio‘s management experience includes running his own catering business for 5 years in San Diego, including one event where they executed a meal that involved hand-pressing tortillas for 500 people!
He also holds an International Business degree with a minor in Spanish from San Diego State University.
Natasha Eastin
Client Services Assistant
Natasha Eastin supports our Client Services Team through all forms of client communication and data management. If you call Teen Kitchen Project, chances are, you’ll hear her warm welcome on the other end of the line. In addition to helping onboard new clients, Natasha coordinates our client birthday program.
Natasha is also a self-proclaimed dog mom to her German Shepherd, Max, who she loves to hike with and bring to dog beach. Growing up in Santa Cruz County, she has been an avid beach volleyball player since high school, and you can also find her cooking in her free time. Her cheesecake is to die for.
Kelly Sandlin
Nutrition Services Manager
Kelly Sandlin is the Manager of Nutrition Services and Food as Medicine Interventions for Teen Kitchen Project. Having a catering business and attending California Culinary Academy College of Food gave her the idea to study nutritional science and become a registered dietitian nutritionist. When it was time to go back to school, that was her clear path and passion.
Kelly enjoys hiking, camping and being out in nature. She was an outings leader for the Sierra Club for 10 years and was an enthusiastic community volunteer for many years in her longtime home of Sunol, CA, before moving to Aptos in 2019. She is a firm believer in community and the idea that a dedicated group of individuals can make things better. She loves food and cooking and believes that the fundamental act of community is to share a meal.
Kelly holds associate degrees in Biology – Allied Health Care, Social Science, and Language Arts from Las Positas College. She holds BS and MS degrees in Nutritional Science from San José State University. She brings her experience as a business owner and entrepreneur to Teen Kitchen Project, and, as a registered dietitian nutritionist, is excited to help people by nourishing them.
Alexis Keith
Nutrition Services Assistant
Alexis Keith joined Teen Kitchen Project in November 2023. In her role as Nutrition Care Assistant, she coordinates our Medically Tailored Groceries program, assists in client nutritional counseling, and helps evaluate our meals to ensure they meet our nutritional guidelines.
Alexis, an Aptos native, is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, with a B.S. in Nutrition-Dietetics. When she’s not helping clients achieve nutrition success, she loves to cook and spend time with her cat, Louie.
Ali McCargo
Delivery Coordinator, Dispatcher and Driver
Ali McCargo started with Teen Kitchen Project as a delivery driver—ensuring clients across the county receive their meals safely and on schedule. She recently stepped up to coordinate the ever-shifting routes, drivers, and corresponding clients and meals. Her knowledge of the Santa Cruz roads and excellent communication skills shine in her role with Teen Kitchen Project.
Ali previously worked career in sales, and outside her career, she enjoys golf, paddle boarding, and brewing beer!