Our organization is led by our community members from the ground up, using a community-centered philosophy that is tied to the principles of kaizen. Kaizen emphasizes continual improvement by all members of the organization, and we innovate on this by including community, knowledge, and skills in our approach. In our model, BIPOC-impacted community members and leaders are the driving force behind our work.
Our board, volunteer team, and site managers at Kaizen Food Rescue are recruited from the same community we serve - those who faced food insecurity, its multiplying effects and interested in changing the food system. These community members engage in joint decision-making, planning, and the implementation of projects and programs to advance a collective vision that transcends organizational boundaries.
If you have time, we encourage you to join us as a volunteer and be a part of our efforts to create positive change in the community!
Management Principles:
Kaizen Food Rescue is managed through participatory processes designed and stewarded by community members, staff, and our advisory council. These processes include input from external allies when appropriate and are expected to evolve over time in response to the activities of our organization. The following four principles serve as general guidelines to inform the creation of participatory management structures:
People with the most direct experience of issues have the most insight into what action is best.
People who are affected by decisions should have the power to influence those decisions.
Professional and technical expertise should be leveraged to support, rather than overpower, the voice and needs of those directly connected to the issue.
People and teams that are not directly connected to impacted communities can be useful for coordinating collective action, supporting logistics, and holding long-term concerns (like financial planning), but can also run the risk of mistakenly consolidating power and violating principles one through three.
Visionaries of Kaizen Food Rescue
Founded by Thai Nguyen and Shawn Traylor, Kaizen Food Rescue emerged from their shared dedication to combat food waste and nutrition insecurity. Shawn's early personal funding propelled the organization's growth, and Thai’s development efforts during the pandemic secured Kaizen's inaugural grant, a turning point in their mission to salvage surplus food and create enduring community change.
Board Directors
Aleka Mayr, Director - Community Member & Food Services Assistant, Boulder Valley School District
Daniel Stange, Director - SW Denver Community Member & Fort Logan Clinic representative
LTC(R) Vinnie Nguyen - International Business Development Senior Manager, Lockheed Martin
* Board recruitment is an ongoing process that will help to ensure the continued success and viability of Kaizen Food Rescue. If you have experience in creating and developing a high-functioning board, food access work, and lived experiences of food insecurity and are interested in becoming a part of our team, please email us at info@kaizenfoodrescue.org.
We strongly encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), veterans, first-generation Americans, and those who identify as non-binary and LGBTQIA+ to apply. Your unique perspectives and experiences will be valuable assets to our organization.
Community Advisory Council Members
Aleah Traylor, Youth Community Member
Em Nguyen, Elder Community Member
James Kintner, Elder Community Member
Nhan Nguyen, Elder Community Member
Roseanne Baack, Community Member
Shawn Traylor, Community Member
Tony Baack, Elder Community Member
Community Navigators + Site Leads
Ali Mohammad, Denver Islamic Society site lead
Airille Ogawa, Mercy Housing site lead
Ebithal Esaadi, Rocky Mountain Islamic Center site lead
DeLori Norman, Englewood Denver site lead & community navigator
Mu Dah Di, East Colfax site lead & garden manager
Naomi Mills, Loretto Heights site lead
Pam Jiner, Montbello site lead
Sol Martinez, Edgewater site lead
YY Dennis, Jeffco community navigator