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Who We Are

Seeds of Hope is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles which seeks to cultivate wellness in our communities. We provide garden-based nutrition education and practical cooking instruction to help our friends and neighbors live healthier.  We also work with congregations, communities, and schools, to transform unused land into productive gardens and orchards to provide healthy and fresh food in areas of need across the county.

In our work, we look to create, promote, and sustain urban farms, food recovery, gardens, and garden-based programs throughout the Diocese of Los Angeles to nurture the physical as well as spiritual wellness of individuals and communities.  We focus on a diocese-wide approach to food production, distribution, and preparation, in so doing,  we are able to benefit the hungry and undernourished in our churches and within our broader communities. 

Our Mission

Seeds of Hope's mission is to seek food justice - equal, affordable access to healthy, nutritious food - currently, this is not the reality in Los Angeles. In our communities:

• 4.5 million people are living in poverty.
• 3 million people, including ¼ of children, suffer from hunger or food insecurity.
• More than half of the people, including ⅕ of all children, are overweight or obese.
• Obesity causes or exacerbates numerous health conditions, which can lead to increased healthcare costs, decreased income, and shortening life spans for those affected.

​Despite these difficult circumstances, we work to replace a scarcity mindset with one of abundance.  That starts with us. We use all we have to do all we can to address the inequity in food access and disparities in health outcomes that we see in our community. 

Meet Our Team

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TIM ALDERSON

Founder

Tim Alderson is the Founder of Seeds of Hope, the food justice ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, which grows and distributes food in over 100 communities of need across six Southern California counties. His lifetime in agriculture has included nearly 20 years as CEO of AgriGator, Inc., a multi-national soil amendment manufacturer, as well as numerous industry boards including the board of directors of the National Agri-Marketing Association. He was the founding chairman of the California School Garden Network and was appointed by two California governors to the board of the Schools Agriculture and Nutrition Program where he currently serves as President. He was also appointed to the California Department of Education School Garden Advisory Committee. Tim lives in Pasadena, California where he has served as Chairman of the city’s Recreation and Parks Commission and the Mayor’s Workforce Housing Task Force.

STEVEN TRAPASSO

Executive Director

Steven Trapasso was born and raised in New Jersey. After college in New York, he joined AmeriCorps in California and found his calling to help others. He graduated with a Master of Public Health in Nutrition from Tulane’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. Steve has extensive experience growing food through his work on farms while in the WWOOF program and EnrichLA.  He considers himself very lucky to be working for Seeds of Hope and continuing its mission to “Cultivate Wellness” through nutrition education, cooking, and gardening. His favorite savory food is bread. His favorite sweet food is dark chocolate.

ARACELI NIEVES

Administrative Manager

Araceli Nieves was born and raised in San Fernando, CA. In addition to serving with Seeds' as Administrative manager, she is on a journey to further her education, studying at CSUN to receiver her BA in Accounting. As a first-time mother, Araceli finds immense joy in parenthood. She is passionate about outdoor sports and staying active, and loves experimenting with new recipes while enjoying quality time with her family.

JEREMIAH WASHINGTON

Project Coordinator

Jeremiah is a determined individual that won’t give up no matter how hard the struggle. A mentor and preacher to the new generation. Also, hardworking and focused on getting the job done. Jeremiah gives 100% in anything he does. He’s humorous when he feels comfortable. Jeremiah’s favorite fruit is mango. Moreover, he loves Anime. 

ANDREW MENDEZ​​

Distribution Coordinator

Andrew  was born in L.A. and raised in the Pico-Union District.  As the distribution coordinator at Seeds of Hope, he organizes and oversees the efficient distribution and delivery of produce to communities in need, ensuring that fresh, nutritious food reaches those who need it most. It's a rewarding role that bridges the gap between surplus food and those facing food insecurity, making a tangible difference in people's lives every day. Andrew's passion is his family and kids! He also enjoys watching sports, is a sneaker aficionado and loves modified cars, trucks, and good BBQ!

LANI ABRAMS​​

Nutrition Coordinator

Lani was raised in Washington State and graduated from Gonzaga University with a bachelor's in Sociology, Psychology, and Social Justice. She came to Los Angeles as a Jubilee Consortium Fellow and then worked as a Housing Case Manager for Los Angeles's unhoused population. In her role as Nutrition  Coordinator, Lani manages food distributions while aiding the nutrition education classes. Lani brings experience in social services to help connect individuals to services and resources. In her free time, Lani loves exploring the city, staying active, and building community!

JILL WEIDE

Nutrition + Horticulture

Jill was born and raised in Southern California and has called Los Angeles home for the past 10 years. She pursued her passion for health and wellness by attending California State University, Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science. With a strong commitment to making a positive impact on both individuals and the planet, Jill actively promotes environmental sustainability, composting, and plant-based nutrition, while also living a low-waste lifestyle. Outside of her professional work, Jill is an avid volunteer and enjoys finding ways to contribute to her community. Her hobbies include spending time with her beloved German Shepherd, Yuki, running, reading, and exploring new coffee shops, vegan restaurants, libraries, and used bookstores alongside her partner, Los.

ANGEL ANDERSON

Sustainability Analyst

Angel is a native Californian who joined Seeds of Hope as California Climate Action Corps Fellow to help the organization increase food security and sustainability in Los Angeles. Leveraging 15+ years of organizational leadership expertise, Angel is strengthening internal operations and engaging volunteers in transformative food justice work, and working with Seeds of Hope partners to set zero-waste policies. In her free time, Angel grows vegetables, shares produce with neighbors, and explores Los Angeles through urban foraging.

CHRISTIAN CASTILLO

Climate Action Fellow

Christian was born and raised in the beautiful mountain community of Lake Arrowhead, CA. He began his studies at San Bernardino Valley College and eventually transferred to Cal State Long Beach where he completed his bachelor's degree in political science. Music is his passion, and he spends most of his free time singing, dancing, or playing guitar. He is also an avid lover of the visual arts and enjoys going to museums and local art galleries. Most of all, he is dedicated to serving the diverse communities in the city he now calls home.

DARIA KIM-PERCY

Nutrition + Horticulture

Daria was born in Michigan, raised in Los Angeles, and attended college in Massachusetts. She studied biology at Amherst College due to her love of science. During her studies, she learned about regenerative farming and bioremediation, which led her to discover her passion for climate justice. She joined Seeds of Hope as a California Climate Action Corps fellow to pursue a career in urban farming, food justice, and zero waste. Outside of Seeds of Hope, Daria enjoys playing volleyball and boxing, exploring new restaurants around LA (her favorites are Mexican and Korean food), and engaging in crafts such as crocheting and jewelry making.

NICO GIST

Zero Waste Coordinator

Nico was raised in Pasadena and is working with Seeds of Hope as part of the California Climate Action Corps year of service program. He graduated from UCLA where he majored in Political Science and got involved in environmental advocacy and protection, primarily working on clean energy and zero waste policies. He’s excited to spend this year giving back to his home city and making a tangible impact through direct service. In his free time, Nico enjoys seeing movies, spending time with his cat, and playing the Pokemon trading card game.

CAMI TREMAIN

Resource Navigator

Cami was born in Napa Valley and completed her undergraduate degree at UC Santa Cruz in Psychology and Sociology. As a post-graduate, she lived in the Midwest working at a domestic violence shelter to provide mental health services to community members. She is now based in Los Angeles working for Seeds of Hope and is the lead urban agriculture fellow at St. Barnabas Episcopal church.

STEVE CHUN

Distribution Associate

Steve was born and raised on the east coast but now calls L.A. home. He has degrees from VCU, Fuller Seminary, and Duke University. He joined Seeds of Hope via California Climate Action Core as a way to give back to the community, learn more about nonprofits, and gain experience. He has been active throughout the San Gabriel Valley by helping to build outdoor learning spaces at inner-city schools and encouraging others to get outside.  Steve hanging out with his wife and dog, trying new restaurants, backpacking, and fly fishing.