Michelle DiMuzio

Project Management Associate

 

Michelle is passionate about collaborating with others to build sustainable and equitable foodways. She has spent eight years in the nonprofit and food business sectors and has participated in several fellowship programs including the New Sector Alliance Fellowship Program and the Neighborhood Leadership Program through the Wilder Foundation. She has been involved in the food and beverage field in many capacities including serving as the communications coordinator for Slow Food USA, consulting for a local fish company to promote the sustainable usage of invasive species, consulting for a brewery to implement sustainable operations, and volunteering at her local community garden.

Michelle holds a M.S. in Gastronomy from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy, a M.S. in Sustainability from Harvard University and a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan. Michelle currently lives in Chicago where she enjoys cooking, hiking and outdoor activities, and traveling. 

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

In 2021, the Whatcom County Food System Committee conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors partnered with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan focuses on five key goals for building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system, and was informed by an inclusive community engagement process. The Food System Plan will provide the county with a policy roadmap that will strengthen the local food system for years to come. (2023)

 Whatcom Local Food Campus

The Whatcom Community Foundation invests in activities and organizations that improve the ability of people to help themselves, increase connections among people, and take cooperative approaches to community issues. WCF is exploring the development of a local food campus on a waterfront property that would become a multi-tenant site, anchored by a collaborative production kitchen benefitting food access, school system, and community organizations. The goal is strengthening Whatcom County’s local food system by promoting health equity, forging tangible strategic connections between food production organizations, and helping farmers connect with institutional markets. The facility will also feature an incubation kitchen, demonstration kitchen, event and classroom space, collaborative office and conference facilities, and housing.  New Venture Advisors developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development through engagement and operational development. (2023)