Matt serves as The Southwest Food Coalition’s Operations Manager and driver. After starting as a part-time delivery driver, Matt's role has grown to handling warehouse logistics, forklift certifications, team operations, and endless coordinating. He handles about 230,000 pounds of food for over two dozen community food partners in SW Denver each month.
Originally from the Boston area, Matt moved to Denver in 2020 and has been with the Southwest Food Coalition since December 2021. He has a B.S. in Sustainable Community Development with a concentration in Urban Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Matt is dedicated to improving access to food in SW Denver.

Mara manages our Healthy Food for Denver Kids Grant and coordinates our SNAP and Nutrition Ed work. She grew up in Lafayette, CO and graduated from CU Boulder with her degree in Business Administration. Mara started working in food systems as a customer care representative and marketing manager for various meal kit companies. After living for some time in New York City, Mara felt a pull to move to Hawai’i where she worked on a vegetable and flower farm that served the local community. It was there that she knew she wanted to continue working in a way that served her community and bettered the food systems that we rely on. Mara proudly lives with a chronic illness that although challenging, has been a blessing to her and her ability to empathize with others and understand the importance of having access to nourishing food.
Mara has since combined her passion for service and food access with her business education in her role here within the Southwest Food Coalition Team. Aside from her work, Mara spends her time outdoors enjoying nature, gardening, thrifting things she probably doesn’t need and snuggling with her two cats.

Michelle has over two years of experience working with children and is proud to be part of the Southwest Food Coalition. Michelle offers nutrition and cooking classes to families in the Southwest Denver community, focusing on practical, affordable, and healthy meals. She’s passionate about creating welcoming spaces where families can learn, cook, and connect.
In her free time, Michelle enjoys going on adventures with her kids and spending time in the kitchen baking. Whether it’s trying out a new recipe or exploring a local trail, she loves finding simple joys in everyday moments.

Sydney joined the Southwest Food Coalition team in January 2024. Before this, she spent her professional life building community and working in a different part of food systems via the craft beer industry. Coming from a family of chefs, her focus eventually turned to food, and she shifted to working in food equity with Denver Food Rescue in 2021. She enjoys building relationships with a diverse and powerful community of advocates, activists, and leaders that know the value of access to fresh food. She works collaboratively to build capacity amongst all of the coalition's members and partners to better meet the needs of our community.
Originally from Ohio, Sydney earned her BFA from Tufts University in Boston before moving to Denver in 2011. When she isn't working, she can be found cooking, dancing, going to shows, or spending time with friends, family, and her dogs Duke and Potato.

As the backbone of the Southwest Food Coalition, Claudia contributes to all aspects of programming and relationship building. She is an expert in food systems, manages the sourcing and ordering of food for hundreds of families each week and manages volunteers. Claudia is bilingual in English and Spanish and she is highly regarded by her co-workers and partners for her dedication to providing better, healthier, and culturally appropriate food to the community.
Claudia was born and raised in Denver but spent a lot of time in Chihuahua Mexico with her grandparents. Claudia lives in Southwest Denver with her family and enjoys going to the movies.

With over 10 years of experience as a nutrition educator, Yuridia has dedicated her career to supporting families and communities through hands-on nutrition education. She is passionate about sharing practical, culturally relevant knowledge that helps people make informed, healthy choices. Throughout her work, she has built strong relationships in the community and takes pride in helping others feel confident in the kitchen and beyond.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren and cheering them on at their football games. Her love for family, food, and community is at the heart of everything she does.

Jennifer Martinez is currently a student studying Sociology, Spanish, and Law & Legal Studies with a strong focus on community empowerment and advocacy. Her academic background is deeply rooted in her passion for food justice, equity, and access—particularly through her work with families applying for SNAP assistance and navigating public support systems.

Outside of school, Jennifer is dedicated to helping underserved communities access the resources they need to thrive. She believes that education, food, and dignity should be basic rights—not privileges—and she’s committed to continuing this work through both outreach and policy change. When Jennifer isn’t studying or working, you can usually find her experimenting in the kitchen, sharing meals with loved ones, or volunteering.

Meet the Team