Jessica Culley has been working with CATA since the year 2000, starting as an intern and now working as CATA's General Coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating CATA's work throughout southern New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Delmarva Peninsula.  Jessica is originally from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania but has lived in the Philadelphia area for 20 years.  In her former life, she studied Environmental Science in Northwestern, PA, lived and worked in rural Honduras, and studied massage therapy.   Her favorite farm produce is a slice of watermelon on a hot day in July.

My name is Edgar Aquino-Huerta, and I come from a small town in Puebla, Mexico, called San Nicolas Tolentino. In 1998, when I was two, my mother and I migrated to South Jersey in search of opportunities. I am a filmmaker with a focus on screenwriting but also an educator, community organizer, and public speaker. 

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My stories come from my own experience and different influential people in my life, such as family friends, agriculture workers, and undocumented entrepreneurs. My vision is to tell coherent stories with different scenarios that center around Mexican leads and culture; because people of color have narratives that are more than social justice/immigration. 

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One of my biggest dreams is to write/direct my first feature film, "Made in America," before I turn 30 and use my earnings to open a film school in my hometown to provide opportunities, resources, and jobs for my community. 

Originally from El Rancho de las Penas, municipality of Moroleón, Guanajuato, Mexico. Very proud to be “panza verde.” He came to this country in the early 80's and worked in the mushroom industry for 14 years in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1993 he helped form the Kaolin Workers Union, organizing workers to achieve better conditions and fair treatment at work. Manuel started working at CATA in 1994 as an organizer. Since then, he has trained thousands of workers on health and safety programs such as the pesticide program and the Voces program, promoting the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and training workers on rights at work.

Meghan Hurley began working for CATA - The Farmworker Support Committee in 2012, first as Communications Coordinator and currently as the Policy and Advocacy Organizer. She manages CATA’s community radio station and coordinates their advocacy work on local, state, and national issues impacting the immigrant community. Before starting at CATA, Meghan spent two years living in Peru as a volunteer with the Good Shepherd Volunteer program working with youth and indigenous communities around Cusco. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English and Communication and a Master's Degree in Global Development and Social Justice.

Margaret Niedda, originally from Niagara Falls, New York, has worked with CATA since 1994 as Program Coordinator, then Program Developer in 1996, and as the Administrator since 2005. Marge is responsible for the grant writing, reporting, and financial management of the organization. She received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Niagara University and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Temple University. 

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Over the years, Marge has committed herself to social justice and brings with her the grant writing and financial skills needed to assist CATA in its advancement. Before CATA, Marge was a volunteer in Philadelphia with the Vincentian Service Corps working with low-income communities and individuals with mental disabilities. She worked for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the US Department of Treasury. Marge enjoys spending time with family and friends in her off-hours, cooking Italian cuisine, and playing bocce.
 

Erika Perez is the daughter of Peruvian immigrants, granddaughter of farmers, and a native to South Jersey. Before joining CATA, Erika dreamt of saving the kiwi birds in New Zealand. However, after working as a tutor for students from K-12, interning at the Stockton University Sustainable Farm, and volunteering as a canvasser in low-income neighborhoods, she has found her passion: justice for the people by the people. She can be found reading, hanging out with friends and family, and attending the Shore Points Church in her spare time. 

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Her favorite thing about working with CATA is learning about the interconnectedness of the work. Whether immigration, workers' rights and food justice, each component is just as important as the other for her. She believes this approach will be the key to dismantling a very complex and broken food system. Furthermore, she feels it will pave the way towards rectification and reclaiming the power that the community of farmworkers can truly accomplish with the support of their allies.

At just 17 years old, Felicita has already shown immense dedication to her community, graduating from Bridgeton High School in June 2023. 🎓

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Felicita's heart beats for her community, and her compassion extends to caring for street cats. 🐱 Her commitment to making a difference doesn't stop there – she aspires to join the military force after gaining valuable experiences through our program.

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With enthusiasm and a hunger for learning, Felicita can't wait to connect with fellow community members and deepen her understanding of life's many facets. She's setting her sights on meaningful accomplishments, not only for herself but also for our community garden and its members.

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Felicita beautifully captures her spirit with the words of Robert Louis Stevenson: "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." 🌿 These words echo her determination to sow seeds of positive change.

Jose continues his journey in agriculture, engaging youth and interacting with the community in the garden. Before joining CATA, he spent time learning how to grow food and cultivating friendships on both the east and west coasts. Jose is eager to share his passion and enthusiasm for exploring food and culture through the lens of the food justice system. 

His path to agriculture began by seeking to make homemade salsa that he missed from his childhood, and it has led him to explore the interconnectedness of the systems that put food on our table. 

His family has settled their roots in South Jersey, where Jose, his partner, and his kid are constantly growing.

"In youth we learn: In age we understand" - ESCHENBACH. Esmeralda embodies this quote as a 17-year-old senior at Bridgeton High School. She says being in our program has allowed her to learn more about plants, mother nature, and caring for our environment - knowledge that is so valuable for today's youth.

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As a food justice leader, Esmeralda will work to create a more just and equitable food system by organizing and educating other young people about these critical issues, and advocating for policies that promote healthy and sustainable food access for all.

My name is Katherin Zepeda, I was born in Honduras, but I have lived in the United States for the last 22 years. My passion for helping others has led me to work with organizations that greatly support the Hispanic community in the United States. 

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I have an M.S.M. from the University of Wilmington, Delaware, that I hope to enhance by helping the community. 

One of my great passions is traveling around the world. Traveling allows me to get to know different cultures in all their aspects, which as a result, brings to my personal and professional life a range of experiences that make me live a life with fewer prejudices and a clear mind. It also helps me be more open and evolve daily into a better human being who helps others with empathy and love.

I am originally from Mexico City. I arrived in the United States in February of 1999, and I have always been amazed by the world of communications. I have had the opportunity to be part of radio projects here in the south of New Jersey. I am grateful to my mentor in this branch of my life, Mr. Efrain Muñiz Campos. Temporarily I was part of the beginnings of RADIO CATA 102.5 FM as a volunteer DJ. For work reasons, I had to walk away from this great project. Over time, an opportunity arose with C.A.T.A.

I am happy to be part of this organization that cares that the Latino community receives information about their rights as immigrants in this great nation. I am pleased to be part of the bridge to get information to our community through our radio station. Thank you very much for your support.

My name is Joseline Rodriguez. I have a passion for assisting the immigrant community due to watching the struggles of my family and friends when I was a child. I made it a goal to learn as much as I could to assist my family. That later turned into a passion for helping not only my family but anyone that needed it. If I have the opportunity to assist someone and make their day easier, I'm all in! I hope to expand my knowledge in order to better serve my community by working with CATA. Outside of work, I enjoy shopping and visiting new places. My all-time favorite food is Jamaican food. I could eat it every day if I could. 

Diana is originally from Colombia. She completed her Master in Business Administration at the University of Texas at El Paso, TX.

Diana helps organizations to deliver unique content experiences and to connect with their communities authentically. She designs, implements, and evaluates CATA's communications and digital marketing strategy. Diana is a self-motivated leader, passionate about creating social change, with diverse experiences, including public administration, event planning, and community engagement.

She has strong cultural competency, and she has experience working with Latinx and Spanish-speaking communities. Diana is Bilingual in English and Spanish.