Our Story
Our roots were planted in the belief that food is more than just nourishment — it’s a powerful tool for healing, justice, and connection. What started as a grassroots effort to address food insecurity in our community has grown into a movement for reclaiming land, honoring cultural traditions, and building a just local food system.
Meet the Team
Public Health Policy Associate
Hellen Muma
A Kenyan immigrant and proud daughter of farmers, she brings a deep understanding of the vital connection between food, health, and community. Hellen earned her Bachelor’s in Public Health and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, equipping her with both the technical expertise and lived experience to support equitable, data-driven solutions. At the Springfield Food Policy Council, she works to expand access to healthy, affordable foods and promote policies that strengthen resilient food systems.
Health Policy Intern
Kosisona Igbobi
Kosisonna Igbobi is a master’s student in Health Policy and Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Growing up in Boston, she developed a deep interest in understanding how systemic factors impact community health, specifically Black and immigrant communities. She chose to pursue public health to turn her dedication to equity into actionable solutions—particularly around food access, digital health equity, and reducing barriers to healthcare—ensuring that all communities have the resources to thrive. Through her work and studies, Kosisonna aims to leverage her expertise in health policy and management to create sustainable, community-centered solutions and programs that improve health outcomes, creating lasting impacts, and foster resilience in underserved populations.
Executive Director
Liz O'Gilvie
Liz O’Gilvie, GTC’s Executive Director since 2022, has been with the organization for 13 years, previously serving as Board Chair; she also serves as Convener of the Springfield Food Policy Council. She practices a community-centered leadership approach grounded in shared decision-making— collaborating with partners and actively listening to constituent feedback to ensure initiatives reflect community needs.
Through both organizations, Liz leads grassroots SNAP and HIP outreach efforts—work that has become increasingly vital following recent federal cuts to SNAP-Ed funding. The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) is a Massachusetts initiative that provides SNAP/EBT recipients with monthly cash incentives to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from participating local farms. GTC/SFPC educates residents on how to maximize their HIP benefits to access more fresh produce and trains community partners to conduct HIP outreach, building a coordinated, citywide strategy to expand participation. SFPC co-authored the original HIP legislation, and GTC served as the first pilot site in 2011. Today, HIP has grown into a $25 million state-funded program.
Liz is deeply engaged with policy advocates at the state and federal levels to advance equitable food access and systemic reform. Last year, she advanced three state food system bills advocating for HIP funding and farmland access for BIPOC farmers. Liz currently serves as an advisory member of the Transformational Farm Bill Funding & Technical Assistance Committee, Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Massachusetts Public Health Alliance Policy Council, and Springfield Public Schools Wellness Committee. She was also recently appointed to the Governor’s Anti-Hunger Task Force.