Gov. Gavin Newsom announced this week he has appointed Doria Robinson, 48, of Richmond, to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.
Since 2008, Robinson has been executive director of Urban Tilth, which works to build a just local food system by, in part, educating, training and hiring community members to grow their own edible gardens to provide healthy foods to the community. The nonprofit operates more than a half-dozen school and community gardens, including the North Richmond Farm.
Robinson “becomes the first Urban Agriculture representative and the first Black Woman to serve on this board,” according to Urban Tilth.
“We are so incredibly proud of Doria to be recognized for all her hard work in our community and be given this position as a representative!,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “We are excited for the future as we can now shine more light on our community and organization by having our voice heard!”
From 2008-2009, Robinson served as creeks and communities program manager for the Urban Creeks Council, and for three years starting in 2005 she served as community programs coordinator and manager for the Watershed Project, according to the Governor’s Office. From 2004-2006, she was nutrition educator for the University of California Cooperative Extension San Mateo County.
Robinson is a member of Cooperation Richmond, Richmond Our Power Coalition, Climate Justice Alliance, U.S., Food Sovereignty Alliance and the Richmond Food Policy Council.
Her position on the state board does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation, the governor’s office said.
In the same announcement this week, Gov. Newsom appointed Tracy Arnold, 48, of Sacramento as assistant director at the California Department of Health Care Services,
and Julia Jackson, 34, of Healdsburg, to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture.
