Board

Mindy “Minty” Arndt rejoins the board after a 5 year hiatus while she moved with her family to Chicago. Mindy has lived all over the country, but no matter where she lives she has pursued her passion to help others discover healthier lifestyle behaviors. Prior to leaving Louisville, Mindy worked on YCAP programming while pursuing her Masters of Public Health degree at the University of Louisville. At KentuckyOne Health, she educated and supported cardiac patients on adopting healthier, well-rounded, realistic changes to reverse or lessen the impact of heart disease. Once in Chicago Mindy joined an organization delivering health education to youth through cooking education in Chicago Public Schools. She is looking forward to inspiring the next generation of Louisville youth in learning to love and appreciate the healthful foods and where they come from.

Nikki “Nutrition” Boyd joined the board in December 2019. Currently the Coordinator of Health and Wellness with Norton Children’s Prevention and Wellness, Nikki’s passion lies in ensuring that our community of kids grows up healthy and safe. Nikki joined the Board because she shares the same core values and she wants to support the Food Literacy Project in providing young people the opportunity to engage in urban agriculture, entrepreneurship, and health education. Nikki’s father was a teacher and her mother was a nurse, so naturally she followed both of their paths to become a health educator, a job she’s done tirelessly and passionately for over 15 years. Nikki grew up in Charlestown, IN, but now resides in the Beechmont area of Louisville. Nikki’s background is in exercise science, public health and health behavior. She is also a Certified Health Coach and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. In her spare time, Nikki enjoys spending time with her family, board games, and traveling.

With over 15 years of experience as an executive chef at some of Louisville, Kentucky’s most prestigious restaurants, Chef Jeff Dailey is a culinary force to be reckoned with. A proud graduate of Sullivan University, he holds degrees in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, and Business Management, blending his passion for cooking with a keen understanding of the hospitality industry. Currently at the helm of Ashbourne Farms, Chef Dailey is known for his innovative approach to farm-to-table dining, celebrating local ingredients and flavors. His dedication to excellence and creativity has earned him a loyal following and numerous accolades throughout his career. Beyond the kitchen, Chef Jeff is committed to mentoring the next generation of culinary talent and is actively involved in community initiatives that promote sustainable food practices. With a flair for both traditional and contemporary techniques, he continues to inspire diners and fellow chefs alike, making a lasting impact on Louisville’s vibrant culinary scene.

Bob “Bok Choy” Dixon is currently an educator at Seneca HS. As a lifelong learner, he has followed his interest in geography to explore how culture and the natural environment interact to create a sense of place. After extended travels in Latin America, he and his wife developed a new connection with the food they were consuming and determined it was necessary to work a full growing season. They worked on a 35-acre organic farm in Pennsylvania, solidifying a new relationship between producing food and the land that sustains life. Returning to Louisville, he became involved with the farm down the street, Iroquois Urban Farm. He feels grateful to be joining the board in 2021. FLP’s work at IUF encapsulates his interests in nature, global culture, community building, and food. He firmly believes in the mission to provide space and resources for youth to transform their communities through food, farming, and the land.

Michelle “Ensalata” Elisburg joined the Food Literacy Project Board in April 2021. She has been a pediatrician with Family Health Centers at Iroquois for 15 years. She became interested in the Food Literacy Project when the Iroquois Urban Farm sprouted up in the vacant lot next door to the clinic. She wants children to have the opportunity to learn about health and nutrition and spend more time outdoors getting dirty. She is originally from Maryland and has lived in Floyds Knobs, IN for 16 years. She has incrementally improved growing her own backyard garden vegetables and believes that if children learn about where and how food grows, they will make healthier food choices later. She has two teenage daughters who learned how to cook and thanked her for teaching them to like salad.

Chef Maggie Epperson has had a long history with The Food Literacy. She began her journey with them in 2017 as a High School student where she became a part of The Youth Community Agriculture Program (YCAP) which strengthened her love of food. In part because of that experience she now holds a bachelor’s degree in Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University. Maggie came back to the Food Literacy Project in the Summer of 2021 to complete her senior internship at School. Today she is taking a year of service with Food Corps- a national nonprofit that is a part of Americorps Public Health programming whose mission is “Partnering with schools and communities to nourish kid’s health, education, and sense of belonging.” And whose vision is “Every child, in every school, experiences the joy and power of food.” She is completing her service term in Springfield, MA partnering with Home Grown Springfield whose focus is to provide nourishing school meals to its students. Maggie is extremely excited to join the board of directors and to dive deeper into the world of nutrition and food justice

Martha “Mushroom” Geier is a ten-year volunteer with the Food Literacy Project. A retired manager/librarian in the library software and research product industries and public libraries, she has been an active community volunteer with nonprofits that work toward social and racial justice and teen development. The Food Literacy Project is a perfect match for those commitments as well as her love of nature, fresh vegetables, and respect for those who grow them.

LeTicia “Land Cress” Marshall was born and raised in rural Kentucky. As a child, she remembers doing chores on her grandparents’ farm, paylake, and in the family-owned grocery store. As an adult, vegetable and herb gardening and farming has become a passion of hers; so much so that she started BearFruit & Grow. Here, the community can receive garden coaching services, buy plant starts for their gardens, and purchase farm fresh produce grown in outdoor and indoor urban farm gardens. LeTicia was led to the Food Literacy Project in October 2021, offering advocacy assistance after learning that the farm was being displaced. Currently, LeTicia is working to solve the issues of food apartheid, lack of food access, and other systemic food injustices in the Southwest and West communities of Louisville. LeTicia graduated in 2008 from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Social Sciences. She then went on to complete a Master of Science in Social Work from the Kent School. LeTicia has lived in Louisville for the past 18 years.

Kurt “Dirt” Mason grew up playing in the dirt on his family’s beef cattle and tobacco farm in Scott County, Kentucky. He was always amazed that his mother could tell where he and his brother were playing on the farm based on the “kind of dirt ground into the knees of our blue jeans.” His fascination of dirt led him to a long career with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, beginning while in college at Morehead State University and ending in 2020. Helping people to understanding the soil (and it’s really not “dirt”) and our connection to this fantastic medium continues to be his passion. Also a graduate of the University of Louisville ‘s MPA program, he serves on a number of boards and organizations committed to addressing natural resources concerns.

Craig “Carrot” Oeswein has been Board member since February 2019. Since 2005, Craig and his wife Jenny Kute have owned and operated the Taylor Blvd. Save-A-Lot, which is located in front of the Iroquois Farm. Born and raised in Louisville, Craig has a strong passion for operating his business with a strong community focus. Craig and Jenny have 3 children: Megan, Ellen and Henry. Craig has a degree in Finance from Washington University in St. Louis.

Sam “Spinach” Overbee joined the board in February 2022. A native of Lexington, KY, Sam has many close friends who’ve operated farms, and has always had a passion for local produce. He strongly believes in the importance of the relationship between the food we consume, and its impact on physical and mental health. Moreover, the Food Literacy Projects attention to accessibility and equity are initiatives that Sam believes will continue to play an increasingly important role in our society. A graduate of Bellarmine University, Sam currently works as a relationship manager for Old National Bank. He holds certifications as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Treasury Professional.

Ginger completed four years as the Director of Development for the Parks Alliance of Louisville in March 2024. She is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and retired from the Air Force in 2017. During her Air Force career, she commanded twice and ended her career leading the professional development for Air Force Intelligence professionals. In 2018, she co-chaired Metro government’s first-ever participatory budgeting initiative and served on the Original Highlands Neighborhood Association Board. Ginger is currently secretary for the Belknap Neighborhood Association Board, a member of the Louisville Rotary Club, and a volunteer in Leadership Louisville’s Encore program.

Annie “Appleseed” Williams moved to Louisville in 2014 where she landed her first job post-undergrad at The Food Literacy Project as a Farm-Based Educator. Her love for farming and cooking truly blossomed here, and the direct service with families shaped her decision to obtain her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Annie is now a Marriage and Family Therapist and provides school-based therapy for elementary school children through Seven Counties Services. Joining the board of the Food Literacy Project has combined her passions and educational background to do the work that her heart so loves—connecting families and youth to life-sustaining resources like food access, community, and opportunities to steward the land and the relationships that come with that.

Mindy Arndt

Nikki Boyd

Chef Jeff Dailey

Bob Dixon

Michelle Elisburg

Chef Maggie Epperson

Martha Geier

LeTicia Marshall

Kurt Mason

Craig Oeswein

Sam Overbee

Ginger Wallace

Annie Williams