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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. 

ADRIANA ARCE 

Project & Program Manager

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 her 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.

ALEX FRENCH

Climate Action Fellow 

Born to parents in the military, Alex moved around at a young age but settled in Denver, Colorado, graduating high school and attending college at the Community College of Denver and Community College of Aurora. Moving to Los Angeles in 2019, he worked in the entertainment industry for a number of years before seeking a career change to something more community-focused. Hobbies include watching movies or basketball, writing, podcasting, and learning new recipes to improve his cooking skills.

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.

ASHER TOWNER

Climate Action Fellow 

Asher is a Los Angeles native with a background in government relations, global affairs, and advocacy. After graduating from American University in Washington DC, he returned to his hometown to serve his community through the California Climate Actions Corps. In his free time, Asher enjoys traveling, watching movies, and keeping up with the news.

LOWELL HEFLIN

Climate Action Fellow

STEVE CHUN

NUTRITION SERVICES COORDINATOR

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.

STELLA JARVIS

Climate Action Fellow 

Stella was born in Echo Park, but raised on the East Coast, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She has recently moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Boston University, where she studied Psychology and Sociology. In her free time, Stella enjoys knitting/crocheting, yoga/pilates, cooking/baking, and going to the beach!

BIANCA ORTEGA

Climate Action Fellow 

Bianca was born and raised in Los Angeles. She began her studies at her local community college, transferring to and graduating from California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry. Following her passion for ecology and science communication, she worked as an environmental educator with various non-profits until she became a California Climate Action Corps fellow with Seeds of Hope. She is excited to work with a diverse team to provide free produce to her community. In her free time, Bianca enjoys to crochet, watch movies, and camp.