As Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) Campaign, Ribka leads, mobilizes and supports the NY GFPP Coalition in all activities related to advancing the adoption of the GFPP in New York City and State. Ribka is a graduate of Columbia University. She currently resides in Brooklyn.

What attracted you to Community Food Advocates?

CFA’s significant food justice impact on New Yorkers and the way coalition relationships guide all its advocacy efforts led me to join our ‘small by mighty’ staff - and continue to keep me here. After spending several years with my remarkable colleagues, I now add: our commitment to shared honesty and care, consistency in showing up for one another, and accountability to the incredibly dynamic coalitions we lead.

What inspires you to strive for racial and identity justice?

Advocating for racial and identity justice is intrinsic to who I am and how I orient myself to the world around me. Born and raised in New York, I was ‘other’ed’ as a female Black Ethiopian-American from a young age. I became aware very early of how one’s identity affects how others treat them and the access society grants to them. All of these experiences are the reason advocating for racial and identity justice is so central to me. I have a large family and am surrounded by young children. Most important, I'm inspired by my drive to ensure they will live in a world that values and honors them. I often revisit the writings and reflections of bell hooks – and other novelists, poets, researchers, and thinkers – to reinvigorate my commitment. In short, I strive for racial and identity justice because I stand for what is right and advocate for justice in practice and not only in name.

When you were a kid, what did you want to grow up to be?

In the 3rd grade, I was convinced I’d become an Egyptologist. I was obsessed with ancient Egyptian civilization – from archaeological phenomena and agricultural advancements to ancient Egyptian art and culture and their knowledge of astronomy. It’s perhaps not ironic that I majored in African History as an undergraduate student.

What is your superpower?

My superpowers are listening deeply – with a full heart – and connecting people whose goals, visions, and ways of relating to the world align. I am fueled by and fortunate to contribute to and work daily to sustain these meaningful relationships.

What are your favorite hobbies? Where can we find you when you are not working?

I absolutely love cooking and creating nourishing meals, especially for my loved ones. On a warm day, I like to bike through nature - in parks, by the river, or on a beach boardwalk. I travel to new parts of the world and take pleasure in meaningfully engaging with and exploring new cultures. I listen to and create music and attend live concerts!