Karaline Black

Background

About Karaline Black

I always thought I wanted to be a professional dancer. Then when I injured my back, I pivoted and was accepted to Marquette University to study and become a Physical Therapist. I loved my classes but it was because I loved learning and thinking creatively. I pivoted several times during my undergraduate journey and ended up graduating in Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies with a special interest in the food system. My great grandfather and many relatives on my mother's extended side are farmers in Louisiana on Tunica-Biloxi Traditional lands, where my Cajun French relatives settled. I have farming in my blood and a particular interest in the disconnect of our food system. Over the last 4 years, I've gained invaluable experience in program planning and management, environmental policy and advocacy, and systems change efforts through positions with the Orutsararmiut Native Council of Bethel, Alaska and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Currently, I am working on multi-stakeholder teams to disrupt the broken food system as a procurement and program manager with a non-profit food bank. My job is to manage fresh food procurement from local and regional farmers as well as manage multiple programs which focus on connecting vulnerable populations through the emergency food system to fresh, locally grown foods with cultural relevance. I love my job! I work with systems thinkers who are passionate about getting things done and moving incredibly important work forward. I focus my efforts around supporting sovereign Tribal Nations in forwarding their liberation movements becauses I believe it is deeply important reparation work for historical disruption of colonization. I believe culture is not alive without a deep connection with food, and that consistent access to healthy food is a basic human right. When I'm not at work, I'm volunteering to further political action around food system and climate change policy, I'm hiking, birding, or running with my husband and dog, or I'm reading and sipping a delicious oat milk latte. At the core, I am flexible, adaptable, and capable of pivoting and learning. I believe we were given two ears and one mouth so we can listen, listen some more, and then speak. I look forward to spending my professional life working through community to create a more resilient, localized and accessible food system.