Kerry Rodgers

Kerry serves as Chief of Staff for KickStart International, a nonprofit committed to empowering small holder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa. Previously Kerry served as a Co-Executive Director of Farming Hope, a food justice and culinary job training nonprofit in San Francisco. Kerry also worked for many years in corporate philanthropy at Salesforce and Airbnb, was a co-founder of an international volunteering nonprofit, Give A Day Global. Kerry began her career as a high school teacher and professional photographer. She graduated from Stanford with a degree in art and philosophy and from Claremont Graduate University with a Masters of Fine Arts. She has volunteered as a teacher for inmates at San Quentin Prison, a mentor for teens in Haiti, and as an advisor for numerous nonprofit organizations.

Alleviating extreme poverty and eradicating malnutrition. I’m also passionate about art, culture, dancing, and justice.

The countries in Sub-Saharan Africa spend over $50B annually in imported food. More food could be produced locally, creating increased food security and much needed income for smallholder farmers. Irrigation is key: only 4% of farmland in Sub-Saharan Africa is irrigated (compared with 40% in Asia). Irrigation can be done responsibly and sustainably with the right tools, empowering farmers to triple their yields and their profits, and increasing nutrition and food security for all.

Being a “usavore!” That means I try not to waste any food, and instead find a way to use everything in my fridge.