Our Staff
Toto Alimasi, Delivery Driver
Alimasi is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where he was a high school French teacher and a human rights activist. He and his family (to include his wife, PIF Farmer Fatuma) spent many years in Uganda after being forced to flee the DRC, and it was there where they learned market farming techniques. They were granted resettlement in the U.S. and arrived here in 2011. Alimasi speaks English, Swahili, French, Lingala, and Fuliiru. What he most loves about Houston is “the welcoming people and the community around my children’s school.” His favorite thing about farming is to see the culmination of his hard work through harvesting and sharing a meal of food he grew himself with his family. His favorite crop to grow is okra!
Rachel Folkerts, Farm Programs Manager
Rachel manages our farmer education and farm production programs. She earned a B.A. in Environmental Science from Washington University in St. Louis, then spent two years with the Peace Corps in Senegal advising on sustainable agriculture techniques. She speaks Wolof and French. Originally from Iowa, Rachel quickly adapted to the Houston climate and is enjoying the diversity this international city has to offer. Her favorite PIF crop is Swiss chard!
Daniella Lewis, Enterprise Programs Manager
Daniella is a Southwest Houston-native who manages our sales, marketing, and business development activities. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Texas. While in Austin, she discovered her love of urban agriculture while volunteering at Green Gate Farms and led an effort to start a student-run farm, UT Micro Farm, on campus. Daniella speaks some Russian, as her mother’s family were refugees from the Soviet Union. One of her favorite things about Houston is the ever-present vibe of opportunity. Daniella looks forward to eggplant season each year!
Liz Vallette, President
Liz is a Houston-native with over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector. She earned an engineering degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served as an officer in the Army for six years. A deployment to Iraq and economic development work in Afghanistan gave her insight to the plight of refugees and the underlying causes of their forced migration. She advocates for soft/smart power-oriented foreign policy and for continuing America’s tradition of welcoming refugees. Having been an avid traveler, Liz loves that you can go around the world and back right here in Houston. Her favorite PIF crop is Christine’s red onions!
Shaban Wazili, Food Hub Coordinator
Shaban is a graduate of PIF’s Urban Farming Business Course and was our part-time Operations Associate until getting promoted and brought on full-time in 2019 to run our Food Hub. He’s originally from Congo-Kinshasa and spent years in a Ugandan refugee camp before being resettled in Houston in 2016. He’s diligently studying English at Houston Community College and enjoys working the farm stand so he can practice speaking with customers. The climate in Houston and the opportunity to grow food is what Shaban loves most about Houston. His favorite PIF crop is…all of them!
Consultants
Constant Ngoula, Agriculture Consultant
Guy Moulet, Chef Consultant
Guy was forced to flee the Republic of Congo during the civil war and spent several years in Gabon. There he worked his way up from server to executive chef at the Intercontinental Hotel, receiving his formal culinary training and cultivating a small garden that supplied the hotel’s kitchen. After being resettled in Houston he became one of Plant It Forward’s first farmers, tending his plot in the mornings while spending his afternoons and evenings working at various restaurants. He now has his eyes set on opening his own restaurant that will focus on garden-to-table international food and finishing his memoir/cookbook, which he is writing in French. Guy is now a chef at The Briar Club in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood.
AmeriCorps VISTAs
N’deye (Fatou) Diakite, AmeriCorps VISTA (Community & Volunteer Engagement)
N’deye has lived in Houston for almost 10 years. She was born in Mali and spent most of her childhood living in Mali and Paris. After high school, she moved to Ghana to learn English and pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology. She also taught French to English, Japanese, Korean, Ghanaian, and German natives. After college, she moved to Paris for an internship with Natixis, a top-ranked bank in Europe. After her internship, she moved to Houston to continue her studies. She’s worked in several different positions, but the best one thus far has been working with nonprofit organizations and helping immigrants and lower income communities achieve their full potential. She chose Plant It Forward as her AmeriCorps VISTA service site because they assist new Americans and help immigrants improve skills they already have while meeting an existing need in the community. Her favorite PIF produce is parsley.
Danielle Newman, AmeriCorps VISTA (Marketing & Communications)
For her AmeriCorps VISTA year, Danielle is providing marketing and design expertise, photography, and increasing community outreach for PIF. A native of Illinois, she arrived in Houston in August 2019 and loves the Gulf Coast weather and diverse food scene. She has a BFA in Visual Communications from Northern Illinois University and is a member of the AIGA. Danielle loves making tea with PIF’s roselle!
Key Volunteers
Cathy Stewart, Veggie Educator & Volunteer Trainer
Skyler Smith, Farm Steward
Skyler began volunteering at Plant It Forward by helping Constant at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market on Saturdays. He is originally from Orem, Utah, and graduated from Utah State University. He now lives in Houston and works for the Design Workshop, a landscape design and urban planning studio. He volunteers with PIF because he’s interested in local food systems and wants to learn more about them. He also loves fresh veggies! In December 2019, he became Plant It Forward’s first volunteer Farm Steward. His favorite PIF produce is a tie between molokhia and Mexican mint marigold.
Tiffany Jin, Farm Steward & Veggie Educator
Tiffany is a Houston native who joined the PIF volunteer team because she is passionate about sharing immigrant stories in our community. She loves working with PIF because she is inspired by “the vibrancy and diversity of the local farmers market,” which she sees a “snapshot of what is happening around the city.” Contrary to the common perception of Houston as being filled with fast food joints and strip malls, she sees the personal relationships built between customers and vendors from different walks of life as a “beautiful symbiosis, and this more sustainable model of production and consumption that [she’s] happy to see grow in the city.” You can find her twice a month with Farmer Sarment at the Memorial Villages Farmers Market, and once a month hosting a volunteer work day at Fondren with Farmer Christine!
