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.

Laura Lucas

Director of Operations

Laura Lucas is the Director of Operations and Programs, joining the team in June, 2024. In addition to her decade of experience in Human Resources and Business Management, she has devoted more than two decades working in administration for non-profit schools in Santa Cruz. She brings her extensive knowledge of supporting an organization focused on mentoring young people and building community to Teen Kitchen Project. In her time working in schools, she strived to create an inclusive and safe environment. Laura has proven leadership and teamwork skills with a long track-record of ensuring that objectives are achieved.

She believes that one of the greatest joys in working with teenagers is helping them realize their potential. Teen Kitchen Project provides an opportunity for young people to learn life skills while helping to support families in need. Laura enjoys being a part of this organization’s purposeful work. She believes that if we challenge young people to engage in new experiences, we help them develop confidence; when we show students the impact they can make when helping others, we’ve changed the world.

Raised in Santa Cruz, Laura attended UCSB and studied Early Childhood Education at Cabrillo College. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her children, watching wildlife, sea glass hunting, chasing eclipses, and going to Golden State Warriors games.

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.

Lezinah has been a dedicated student to the health sciences. She recently completed her Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health Sciences through Tulane University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from UCSC and completed her Medical Assisting AS at Cabrillo College.

In addition to her studies, Lezinah has a well-rounded professional background spanning medical, hospitality and retail. Her years of customer service experience coupled with her education in health services are great assets to Teen Kitchen Project and the clients we serve. In this capacity, she hopes to continue to create a more equitable future for the clients and our community.

When she’s got some free time, you can find Lezinah on a brisk morning run or enjoying a weekend at the beach. It’s also been told that she loves to bake, so we look forward to seeing what turns up at the proverbial water cooler!

Jason Burns

Client Services Assistant

Jason Burns joined Teen Kitchen at the end of April, 2026. Having a strong desire to follow his passion of helping others in his community, Jason jumped at the chance to work for TKP as its mission in providing quality nutritious food to those in need while supporting growth and skill building for teens, aligned with his career aspirations.

Jason has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from UC Berkeley, and a background in administration having worked in healthcare, higher education, and public transportation.

When not helping others, Jason loves spending time with his family, going to the pool, camping, and having Sunday Dinners with his in-laws and extended family.

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.

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Susan Celli

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

One of Susan Celli’s main passions has been helping to unlock true well-being through the healing power of delicious, wholesome food. Susan obtained a B.A. in Media Communications (1999) and a B.S. in Dietetics, Holistic Health (2011) from San Francisco State University, and her certification as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in 2011. She is dedicated to co-creating enjoyable, effective wellness plans that empower individuals within the community to navigate health challenges in doable ways. She is dedicated to helping guide clients facing significant health conditions such as diabetes, cardio-vascular/heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and other metabolic illnesses. At Teen Kitchen Project, her focus will be on how we can maximize wellness for those receiving medically tailored meals through personalized, nutrient-dense wellness planning, towards improved health and feeling better. With experience across diverse settings (clinical and community), she aims to bring a comprehensive and empathetic perspective to every session. Susan believes in the power of nourishing food to help connect communities and looks forward to encouraging and assisting youth who are helping with meal preparation to help our clients live better lives.

Alexis Keith

Kitchen Manager

Alexis joined TKP in November 2023. She originally joined TKP in the Nutrition department but her love of cooking and working with teens lead her to a permanent position in our kitchen. As Kitchen Manager, Alexis oversees our daily meal program production ensuring the quality of the meals being prepared, teaches our teens safety as well as gain kitchen skills, develop self-confidence and discover their own strengths and capacities both inside and out of the kitchen.

Alexis, an Aptos native, grew up in Santa Cruz County. She attended Cabrillo College after high school and then transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno where she earned a BS in Nutrition-Dietetics. She believes that food is medicine and the importance of nutrition education in our community, especially in our teens. Knowing how to cook is a necessity and skill everyone should have, and playing a role in helping teens gain this knowledge is the most rewarding for her.

Outside of work, Alexis loves to be active, spend quality time with her family and friends, read, and her cat Louie.

Eri Yamashita

Chef Assistant

Eri was born in Japan. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Wakoh College. She then came to the United States to study English and graduated from Cabrillo College with Culinary Arts A.S. degree. Utilizing these skills, she took a fun and challenging job at UCSC as the Sushi Chef where she created the menu and prepared and served food in the campus cafeterias. After that, she accepted an opportunity to work for the Seascape Beach Resort. She worked there for sixteen years as a baker and line cook. Eri joined Teen Kitchen Project in 2021 as a Chef Assistant. Her baking experience has been a tremendous asset in the kitchen. She enjoys working with the cheerful teens. Additionally, Eri LOVES animals. Her favorite hobbies are Needle Felting, Paper Quilling, Baking, Gardening, and playing the piano.

Brittany Ruiz

Medically Tailored Grocery Coordinator and Chef Assistant

Brittany became part of the TKP team in August 2024 as our MTG Coordinator & Assistant Chef. Brittany comes from a community nutrition background, with experience in nutrition education and cooking, making her a great fit! Brittany graduated from San Jose State University with her degree in Applied Nutrition & Food Science. With a passion for community nutrition, Brittany believes in the importance of being culturally inclusive and believes access to nutritious foods is a basic human right. She is excited to give back to her community and be in a position of service.

Outside of TKP, Brittany is an artist and photographer. When she’s not working in nutrition, she is managing her art business and spending time with her family. Living in Pleasure Point, Brittany loves to walk along the coast, spend time at the beach and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Santa Cruz coast. Above all else, Brittany loves her two cats, Bowie & Ava, her husband, stepdaughter, family, and eating burritos.

Tico Andrea

Summer Camp Instructor and Chef Assistant

Tico joined TKP in 2026 as Summer Camp Lead, bringing more than a decade of volunteer experience teaching kids to cook. Trained at Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts Program, he leads our 8-week summer camp program — designing menus, mentoring teen kitchen assistants, and guiding campers through hands-on cooking sessions where they build real culinary skills and the confidence to make a meal from scratch.

A longtime Corralitos resident, Tico began teaching kids to cook in 2007 as a volunteer instructor at Santa Cruz Montessori School and later at Live Earth Farm’s farm-to-table program for junior high students. For roughly a decade, he also catered the school’s annual Indonesian donation dinner in support of its largest fundraiser. Alongside his culinary work, Tico spent 20+ years in international product and team leadership roles in tech — experience he draws upon in the kitchen, where calm pacing and clear communication matter as much as good knife skills.

Outside of work, Tico leads the water quality monitoring program for Surfrider Santa Cruz, gardens in coastal Corralitos, follows professional cycling, and cooks his way through cuisines from around the world. He speaks Dutch, English, French, and German.

Omar Ortiz

Delivery Coordinator and Driver

Omar joined Teen Kitchen Project in July of 2024 as a Delivery Driver. In addition to being a driver for TKP, Omar also designs delivery routes for our volunteer delivery angels. Prior to working at TKP, he worked in the agricultural industry for nearly a decade selling irrigation materials and helping local farmers implement efficient water use practices all throughout Santa Cruz County.

Omar enjoys meeting clients and seeing how our services make a difference in their lives. He also enjoys being part of a team that helps members of the local community when they need help the most.

Outside of work, Omar enjoys live music, sports, spending time with his family and relaxing with movies alongside his wife.

Allie Marconi

Delivery Driver

Allie joined the Teen Kitchen Project team in the summer of 2023 as a Delivery Driver. In her pre-TKP years she lived in San Diego until moving to Santa Cruz in 2009, where she currently lives with her husband and two daughters. After working in the food and beverage industry for several years, she was delighted to transition into an organization that supports vulnerable community members with food. Her love of cooking, teenagers and helping others made it a natural fit. Allie enjoys connecting with TKP clients and seeing the impact our program has on their lives. She is inspired by the dedication and generosity of our volunteers, the Delivery Angels, whom she refers to as “the best people with the biggest hearts.”

In her free time Allie enjoys cooking, golfing, fishing, taking walks on the beach and spending time outdoors with her family.

Lauren Turner

Development Assistant

Lauren Turner joined Teen Kitchen Project in August 2024 as a Development Assistant. She was a Delivery Angel for over 3 years and was so inspired by the positive impact of TKP that she joined the permanent staff. As a former high school teacher, she is excited to be part of an organization that gives unique opportunities for youth to develop life skills and engage with the community.

Lauren grew up in the Midwest but found her happy place when she moved to Santa Cruz in 2002. When she’s not hiking in the redwoods or travelling, she’s in the kitchen with her 11-year-old twins preparing them to be future TKP chefs.

Kimberly Sprague

Medical Billing Assistant

Kimberly was born in Okinawa Japan and moved with her family at 2 years old to Rio Del Mar California. She attended Cabrillo College studying Bilingual Bi Cultural Studies and medical assisting. She also attended the University of Guadalajara Mexico where she emerged herself in the rich cultural experience.

Working in the medical field in Santa Cruz County for 40 years, she has enjoyed working and interacting with patients, providing support and guidance. Obtaining a certification as a Certified Medical Billing Associate and her vast knowledge and years of medical billing experience make her a valuable asset to TKP.

At the young age of 34 with two small children Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer.

During that difficult time, friends’ family and neighbors rallied around her and provided meals which she was so grateful for because there were times she was too sick to prepare meals herself and this allowed her time to focus on healing and spending quality time with her family. When offered the opportunity to become part of the TKP team, providing healthy meals and produce to those with serious health issues, it was an amazing opportunity to give back.

Kim hopes her experience will help ensure the continued success of this amazing asset to the community.

In her down time, she enjoys supporting her favorite team the San Jose Sharks, gardening, cooking delicious meals, and most of all, spoiling her grandsons whenever possible.

Mambo Sito

Director of Treat Distribution

Mambo completed his barklaureate degree in cuteness at SPCA University in Santa Cruz, where he was a regular cast member in dog trio known as “The Dancing Chihuahuas”, with the other members being his mother, Cha Cha and his sister, Samba. After touring extensively at the SPCA offices, Cha Cha and Samba were adopted, and then, six months later, Executive Director Angela and her family were smitten by Mambo Sito’s shy, sweet nature and he joined their family. At TKP, Mambo currently serves as the Director of Treat Distribution, ensuring all staff receive regular training on the flow chart to determine what conditions are needed to make him sit and shake previous to official treat versus when to give him treats simply because he is cute. When not managing treats, he can be found summiting mountains of laundry or licking the couch. At 16 years young, Mambo is sleeping more these days, and is kind of deaf, but he can still hear the treat jar and continues to be a very, very good boy.