Erin Martinez, CEO
The FEI Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Martinez as Chief Executive Officer of Food Equality Initiative. We are looking forward to the next chapter of work under her leadership.
A Note from Erin:
I am both honored and humbled to be named CEO of Food Equality Initiative. I would like to say thank you to our founder, Emily Brown, for bringing me on the team nearly 4 years ago, and thank you to the Board of Directors for their support and trust in me. I am privileged to continue advocating for Food is Medicine and serving families across the country the education and nutrition access we all need.
As a mother of children impacted by diet-treated disease, I am eager to carry on the cause of improving access to and education about free-from foods for families like my own. About 12 years ago, my 4 year old son was diagnosed with celiac disease. When the doctor called us at dinnertime with his test results, I was serving him our family-favorite - spaghetti and garlic bread - loaded with gluten, the exact element that was making my son sick. Overwhelmed, I broke down and cried.
Prior to my son’s diagnosis, we had numerous doctor’s office visits, ER visits, missed days of preschool, and heartache at not knowing what was causing our son’s discomfort and illness. Once we got our diagnosis, we knew what the problem was, but we received no help, no education, no guidance for how to go forward living a gluten-free life - we did not know what to do.
No family should have to go through a diet-treated diagnosis alone.
Since working at FEI, I have spoken with numerous families with diet-treated conditions and heard stories of heartbreak and hope. Families are fighting, they are persevering, they are banding together to advocate for what they need to improve their health. I believe FEI’s vision of a world where safe and nutritious food is accessible to everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions, race, or income is possible. I want to see it realized through the power of community and realization that food is medicine.
As CEO of Food Equality Initiative, I promise to fight for nutrition security and health equity for all. I will lead our team to produce work that nourishes minds and bodies while creating a more equitable health system. I will continue to be a mother advocating for what our children need to be safe, healthy, and strong.
