Ra Primus is an interdisciplinary artist who has been living in West Philadelphia for the past six years. They are originally from P.G. County, Maryland. Their practices include, audio collages, bass guitar, poetry, singing, and painting. They have a strong belief that life itself is one’s greatest performance. With every conversation, outfit and space occupied, Ra makes the intentional effort to create and curate their time into a living masterpiece. As a 2023 recipient of Leeway’s Media Artist in Residency, Ra plans to collaborate with Food Moxie in order to document the creation of seed to table food systems that benefit marginalized communities in Northwest Philadelphia. With an audio journal splicing together meetings, interviews, testimonials, speeches, poetry, music and found sound, the collaboration will speak to bridging food and economic insecurity and creating food sovereignty, in the context of racial justice.

Timothy “Tim” Branner is an accomplished management professional with thirty-plus years of experience in advancing diverse talent acquisition, equal employment, and compliance.  He is currently the Associate Director of Affirmative Action Programs with Raytheon Technologies (RTX).  In this role, Tim is responsible for providing direction for Raytheon’s national affirmative action objectives and related strategic initiatives, partnerships, and activities.  He is also responsible for supporting the implementation of HR compliance programs. 

Before joining the Raytheon Technologies Corporate staff, He served with United Technologies Corporation (“UTC”) for 14 years in progressively increasing roles supporting UTC – Climate, Controls & Security Systems, and the Otis Elevator Company’s EEO and HR Compliance functions.  

He also worked for the INROADS organization, where he spent 15 years in leadership, serving in his final role as the Area Manager for the Western-Tristate & Canada area.  

A recipient of various awards and recognition throughout his career for his involvement and participation in professional and community organizations.  Including direct service as a member of the Board of Directors for the Urban League of Greater Hartford, a Saint Francis Hospital Foundation Board of Corporators, and a past member of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation’s (Amtrak) Customer Advisory Committee (ACAC).  

He is a recent past member of the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees and a past vice president of the South Florida Tuskegee Alumni Club.  In addition to these positions, he has served as a volunteer alumni recruiter, past national co-chair of Tuskegee University’s Business & Industry Cluster, and the lead for United Technologies’ national recruiting relationship with the university.

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Tim currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Dr. Lisa Russell Branner, a Philadelphia native and graduate of Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, and their youngest son, Clinton.  Tim holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Tuskegee University.

Catherine has worked at the intersection of energy, environmental policy, and business for over a decade. Her background in ecology inspires her to take a holistic approach to solving issues related to social justice and urban sustainability. In her current role she works for Tesla where she works to expand the presence of sustainable energy solutions across the Greater Philadelphia region. She and her partner are part of the Ralph Brooks Community Garden. Her passion for urban farming began while volunteering at Common Good City Farm in Washington, DC.  Determined to continue to build upon this impactful work in Philadelphia, Catherine began volunteering with FOOD MOXIE four years ago.

Samantha has over a decade of experience working in nutrition, food systems, and public health. Currently, she serves as the Senior Manager of Ending Hunger for Good at Philabundance where she collaboratively works across sectors and alongside Philadelphia residents to address the root causes of hunger. Prior to joining Philabundance, Samantha served as the Director of Community Impact at the American Heart Association in Philadelphia and as the Manager of Government and Community Affairs at Share Food Program. Samantha is an appointed member of the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC) and co-chairs the FPAC Anti-Hunger Subcommittee.

Samantha received a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of North Carolina – Asheville. She also earned a Certificate in Community Development from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, and she is a licensed Registered Dietitian.

Passionate about social justice from an early age, Samantha believes that the food system poses opportunities to confront systems of oppression and promote racial and economic justice. She lives in South Philadelphia where she serves as an elected committee person of the Democratic First Ward. Samantha loves traveling, spending time in nature, and eating delicious vegan food!

Liz has been part of Food Moxie since its inception. She is deeply interested in our community and in supporting families and children. She believes that working on critical issues on a small scale can teach us much about how to have real impact with families as Food Moxie is doing at Stenton Family Manor and through its other programs at Saul, MLK HS and Awbury Agricultural Village.