2025 Maine Food Convergence
The goal of the 2025 Convergence Event is to co-create a space for the Convergence Community to explore how shifts in the food system can advance social and racial equity while also increasing climate resilience.
In-Person Convergence Event Day
Jefferson, Maine
Kieve Wavus Campus
May 29, 2025
Please see our session offerings for the in-person event day on May 29th below:
Niaz Dorry
Keynote Speaker
Niaz has been a community organizer for over 35 years working on environmental, social, and economic justice issues. The life-changing moment came in 1994 when she switched from organizing in communities fighting for environmental justice to organizing fishing communities. From the start, she recognized the similarities between family farmers’ fight for a more just and ecologically responsible land-based food system and that of community-based fishermen fighting to fix the broken sea-based food system. She has been serving as the North American Marine Alliance Coordinating Director since 2008. One of the first things NAMA did after Niaz took the helm was to join the National Family Farm Coalition as its first non-farming member. The two organizations entered into an innovative shared-leadership model on May 1, 2018, putting Niaz in the new role of serving the work of both organizations and further cementing the relationship and interdependence between land and sea.
Virtual Convergence Event Sessions
(Click each graphic to go to the individual event registration page!)
Elena Peters
Marketing Associate, Atlantic Sea Farms
Elena is a recent college graduate and Mainer working to build a better future through food on the women-led team at Atlantic Sea Farms. When she isn't building a market for regeneratively grown kelp, you can find her on the pottery wheel or at her local yoga studio.
Rose Barboza
Black Owned Maine - Chief Executive Officer, Oga Suya - Office Manager and Co-owner, Barboza Consulting - Principal Consultant
Rose Barboza is a racial justice advocate with a focus on disrupting the entrepreneurial ecosystem through a Black-focused lense.Event Planning Committee
Houda Aden
2024 Youth Food Champion Awardee, Good Food Council of Lewiston Auburn
Houda Aden is a junior in Edward little high school, she loves being part of a bigger picture helping the community, she would like to go to law school
Azenaide Pedro
Heather Flor Cron
Farm Programs Manager, Presente! Maine
Flor is a farmer, artist & organizer who works with dirt, food, intuitive movement, printmaking, and public engagement. She lives, works, and stewards land in Maine, which is settled on stolen and occupied territory of the Wabanaki Confederacy. Flor's work plants seeds for futures where Black and Indigenous people are centered .
Khadija Ahmed
Founder and President of Food For All, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Halal School Meals Network
Malia Demers
FoodCorps
Malia is the Student Impact Lead for FoodCorps ME and loves working to ensure that kids in public school experience mastery of food literacy, belonging, and agency of their learning and their school food environment. Accessibility:
There will be some handicap accessible parking spaces near the Main Lodge and golf carts for those who park further away. Trails on the campus are ADA accessible. Bathrooms are on all floors of the Main Lodge. For those with sensory sensitivities and/or who are hearing impaired, please note that a sound system will be used by presenters. At times throughout the day, there will be people within close proximity to each other and the space may get loud.
All spaces are heated, and layered clothing is encouraged for varying temperatures (and outside hangs!)
There is lodging available on the evening of May 28th.
Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Preferences will be accomodated. The space will be a nut-free environment. Snacks and lunch will accommodate food allergies, intolerances and preferences.
