Molly Shea

Research & Policy Associate

 


Molly is passionate about working where food, nutrition, and health intersect in the nonprofit and local government sectors. As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Molly managed a youth culinary workforce training program focused on capacity-building to expand the program’s reach and strengthen its infrastructure. Working with the Health Equity team for the San Mateo County Department of Public Health, Molly collaborated on community engagement projects to inform equity-focused program improvements. She taught nutrition and culinary lessons for a pilot produce prescription program with DC Greens, and then worked on advocacy initiatives aimed at protecting SNAP funding in the 2018 Farm Bill, meeting with legislators on Capitol Hill. This and other experiences with program management, administration, and research inform her work with New Venture Advisors.


Molly received an MPH at the University of California at Berkeley, and an additional graduate certificate in food systems. For her graduate practicum, Molly worked on a set of policy recommendations to improve nutrition program accessibility and coverage in the 2024 Farm Bill with the Food and Nutrition Security Task Force at the Bipartisan Policy Center. She also received a B.S. in Public Health from The George Washington University.


Molly is currently based in the California Bay Area where she enjoys gardening and making jam.

 

 

 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)